Yes. Bristol Airport has self-service bag drop kiosks in the check-in concourse, and they're used by easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and Jet2.com — the airport's four highest-volume airlines. If you've already checked in online and just need to drop a hold bag, you can skip the desk queue, tag and weigh your bag at a kiosk, and hand it to the belt yourself, with airport customer hosts nearby if anything goes wrong. Checked 2026.
How self-service bag drop works at Bristol Airport
Bristol has a single terminal, so the check-in concourse, security search and departure lounge all sit in one building with no inter-terminal transfers to plan around. The self-service bag drop process follows the same basic pattern for each of the four airlines that offer it:
- Check in online first, through your airline's app or website, so you already have a boarding pass (printed or digital) before you reach the airport.
- Head to your airline's self-service bag drop kiosks in the check-in hall rather than joining the staffed desk queue.
- Scan your boarding pass or booking reference at the kiosk, print a bag tag, and attach it securely to your hold luggage.
- Place the bag on the kiosk's belt or scale so it can be weighed and sent through to the baggage system.
- If the kiosk flags an issue — an oversized or overweight bag, a tag that won't scan, or a document check — a customer host or airline staff member on the concourse can step in and help, or direct you to the staffed desk.
If you're only travelling with hand luggage and have already checked in online, you don't need to visit a kiosk or a desk at all: you can go straight to the security search.
Which airlines use it, and which don't
- easyJet – self-service bag drop kiosks, in addition to easyJet's regular check-in desks.
- Ryanair – self-service bag drop kiosks, alongside its standard check-in process.
- TUI Airways – self-service bag drop kiosks; TUI first introduced a permanent two-step kiosk system at Bristol and still lists Bristol among the airports where the service is available.
- Jet2.com / Jet2holidays – self-service bag drop kiosks, alongside its own check-in desks.
Smaller carriers flying from Bristol, such as Aer Lingus, KLM or Loganair, aren't confirmed to run the same kiosk setup, so if you're flying with one of them, check that airline's own check-in page or ask at the terminal information screens on the day.
Don't confuse it with Twilight Bag Drop
Bristol Airport also runs a separate Twilight Bag Drop service, and it's easy to mix the two up:
| Self-service bag drop | Twilight Bag Drop | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Departure day, during normal check-in hours | The evening before an early departure |
| Covers | Checking a hold bag yourself at a kiosk | Checking a hold bag with a handling agent the night before |
| Airlines | easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, Jet2.com | Jet2.com, Jet2holidays, easyJet, TUI (not Ryanair) |
| Where | Check-in concourse kiosks | Short Stay car park, handling agent desk |
In short: self-service bag drop is the kiosk you use on the day of travel; Twilight Bag Drop is for checking luggage in the evening before, and Ryanair isn't part of that second service.
Timing: how late can you use the kiosk?
Bag drop desks and kiosks for the low-cost carriers generally close in line with the airline's overall check-in cutoff, which at Bristol has historically been around 40 minutes before departure for Ryanair and easyJet. Ryanair has confirmed that from Tuesday 10 November 2026 it is moving its airport check-in and bag drop cutoff from 40 to 60 minutes before departure, specifically to give passengers more time to clear security. Jet2 and TUI set their own cutoffs separately. Because these deadlines are set by the airline, not the airport, and can change, confirm the current cutoff on your booking confirmation or the airline's check-in deadlines before you travel — and build in Bristol's own recommended arrival window of at least two hours before a short-haul departure regardless.
What to do if you can't use the kiosk
Self-service bag drop isn't compulsory. You'll still need the staffed desk if:
- You haven't checked in online, or your airline requires document checks (for example, some visa or Advance Passenger Information requirements).
- Your booking includes an infant without their own seat, which some airlines won't let you check in online.
- Your bag is oversized, overweight, or needs a special category tag (sports equipment, musical instruments, mobility aids).
In any of these cases, join the regular check-in desk queue instead — Bristol's terminal information screens show which desk serves your flight.
FAQs
Does Bristol Airport have self-service bag drop?
Yes. Self-service bag drop kiosks are available in the check-in concourse for easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and Jet2.com passengers who have already checked in online.
Which airlines use self-service bag drop at Bristol Airport?
easyJet, Ryanair, TUI Airways and Jet2.com/Jet2holidays. Smaller carriers may not offer the same kiosk setup, so check with your airline directly.
Do I need to check in online before using a bag drop kiosk?
Yes. You need a boarding pass from online check-in before the kiosk will let you tag and drop a bag.
What's the difference between self-service bag drop and Twilight Bag Drop?
Self-service bag drop is a same-day kiosk you use yourself during normal check-in hours. Twilight Bag Drop is a separate service for checking a bag the evening before an early flight, run by a handling agent rather than a kiosk, and Ryanair doesn't offer it.
How late can I use self-service bag drop before my flight?
In line with the airline's check-in cutoff, which has generally been around 40 minutes before departure for the low-cost carriers, moving to 60 minutes for Ryanair from 10 November 2026. Confirm the current deadline for your airline before you travel.
What happens if the bag drop kiosk won't accept my bag?
A customer host or airline staff member on the concourse can help, or direct you to the staffed check-in desk for oversized, overweight or document-check cases.