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Travel expert Simon Calder has been on the programme to talk about a service called Twilight Check-in, or Overnight Bag Drop. That’s when as a passenger on a morning flight, you can turn up at the airport with your bags the night before, the airline will check them in, and the next morning you can head straight for the departure gate. It can be a valuable time-saver and stress-reducer but not every airline or airport offers it.
Research by the Rip-Off Britain team found the following availability for this service at some of the major UK airports, as of October 2023.

The information below is for guidance only. We’d advise you to check with your airline whether the service is available before travelling.
Note that some airlines require all passengers to be present, whereas others just request passports and boarding passes be provided for each passenger.

Heathrow
British Airways offers Overnight Bag Drop at Britain’s busiest airport. It’s available if you are travelling on a flight departing before 10am. You can check in your bags between 4pm and 10pm the evening before. Passports and boarding passes are required for each passenger.

Gatwick
The service is offered by British Airways, easyJet and Tui at Gatwick Airport.
For BA, it’s available from 6pm to 10pm for flights departing before 1pm the next day and all passengers must be present.
With easyJet it’s open for a two-hour window between 8-10pm on flights before 8am. Passports and boarding passengers for each passenger must be provided.
TUI passengers can drop bags any time between 2pm and 9pm for flights departing before 1pm, but not for flights to the USA. All passengers must be present.

Birmingham
Jet2 passengers can make use of the Twilight Check-in service after they have checked in online. It’s available on flights departing before midday from 4.30pm until 9pm the evening before departure. One person in the travelling party can drop off up to six people’s bags as long as passports and travel documents are shown for each passenger.
TUI offers day-before check-in on flights before midday, with drop-off open from 2pm-9pm the day before. It’s not available on flights to the USA or P&O Cruises flights to Malta. Passports and travel documents must be shown.

Newcastle
Twilight Check-in is offered for Jet2 customers from 4.30pm to 9pm on flights departing before midday the next day. As is standard for Jet2, one person in the travelling party can drop off up to six people’s bags as long as passports and travel documents are shown for each passenger.

Edinburgh
The Scottish capital’s airport offers the largest selection we found of airlines offering the service. The airport says a lead passenger can drop-off up to six people’s bags, as long as they have passports and travel documents for each passenger.
Those travelling with Jet2 can drop bags from 4.30pm to 9pm for flights departing before 12 midday. Passengers must check in online first.
easyJet passengers can also make use of the service for flights departing before 12 midday, with check-in open from 4pm to 9pm.
British Airways only offers the service from Monday to Friday. It’s available 4pm to 7pm for flights leaving before 12 midday.
Ryanair passengers can only make use of the service if the flight departs before 8am. Twilight bag-drop is open from 5pm to 9pm.

Manchester
Virgin Atlantic offers overnight bag drop at Manchester Airport, from 4pm to 8pm on flights leaving at any time the next day. But all passengers must be present to complete the process and the airline says people travelling with pushchairs or requiring special assistance will need to come to check in on the day of departure.
As at other airports, Jet2 Twilight Check-in is open from 4.30pm to 9pm on flights departing before midday the next day. One person in the travelling party can drop off up to six people’s bags as long as passports and travel documents are shown for each passenger, and online check-in has been completed.
TUI also offers the service in Manchester for flights leaving before 12pm. It’s open 2pm to 9pm the day before but not for flights to the USA or P&O Cruises flights to Malta.

Note: All information correct as of 4 October 2023