Toilet Usage Charge Looms
Airline travel keeps getting more ridiculous
First they took away the peanuts, then the pillows and blankets. Now an airline is mulling over charging for toilet usage, too?
The CEO of European low-cost carrier Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, has caught the attention of the world anew when he announced that he may soon be installing pay toilets, which “would lower ticket costs and make flying, somehow, easier for all.”
"One thing we have looked at in the past, and are looking at again, is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door, so that people might have to actually spend a pound to 'spend a penny' in future," O'Leary was quoted as saying.
In a BBC Television interview, the Ryanair boss was asked what would happen if a customer really had to go but didn't have correct change, O'Leary said, "I don't think there's anybody in history (who has) gone on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound (US$1.42).”
Stephen McNamara, spokesman for the Ireland-based carrier, said the idea of in-flight pay toilets is part of a logical trend. "Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce it," McNamara told the Associated Press.
He added, "Passengers using train and bus stations are already accustomed to paying to use the toilet, so why not on airplanes? Not everyone uses the toilet on board one of our flights, but those that do could help to reduce airfares for all passengers."
However, given O’Leary’s track record of having a proclivity for the outrageous in his effort to gain free publicity, the latest remark may just be another one of his shenanigans.
The idea isn’t far-fetched considering Ryanair is looked upon as the pioneer in charging passengers to check bags, to use a check-in desk, and even to use a credit or debit card to make an online booking. Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners in London, told the Associated Press that there might be some truth to O'Leary's statement. "This begs a simple question retort of: Is there absolutely nothing that this airline won't do? Not really, so if you are thinking about flying cattle-class Ryanair in the future, beware.”
The announcement was made last Friday, and it has so far elicited both humor and anger (see today’s R.O.A.R. entry).
Comments
They showed an interview with Michael O'Leary on BBC a week ago,the guy is trying so hard to have an "over-the-top" hyperactive "enterpreneur genius" attitude.
this guy who is seriously considering to make passengers pay for their toilets kept saying that he wants to put Luftansa and Air France out of business.
His next big idea to cut costs will probably be to replace the engines in his planes with coal-powered turbines, where the passangers can pay to not have to shovel coal the whole way to their destination.
what a jackass...
What a sad state of affairs at Ryan when the CEO actually believes the additional 50 pound income per flight the pay-toilets would generate will lower the price of air travel for everyone ... exactly, how much savings can we expect?
This is not a new idea. I suggested this in jest to a visiting executive of Air Asia who requested for a meeting with me when I was still the president of a travel association. This was 4 years ago. Some of the "suggestions" I made were to give me the concession to sell magazines and newspapers on board their flights; to have coin-operated life-jacket dispensers, coin-operated locked overhead bins, and a host of others. I could serve as Mr. O'Leary's consultant and give him more ridiculous ideas.
For those Men who are thinking of flying
Ryanair - there is a Simple Way Out - your empty Plastic Water Bottle would do it nicely.For the ladies - diapers !
Whats next with Ryanair ? Charging us for the floatation device and life jacket - by the way, don't forget the seat belts.
If it isn't bad enough that Hawaiian Air won't accept cash for en flight drinks (no credit card, no service), now Ryan Air wants us to carry spare change just to use the toilet. With no "Go now, Pay later" plan, this could backfire if passengers leave their seats wet. Airplanes, like coffee shops, restaurants and pubs owe it to their customers to provide toilet facilities. Especially so en flight when the opportunity to "go" next door is not an option. A piss poor plan if you ask me.
FREE PAY TOILETS!
Or dare revolt, fights and peeing in the aisles.
I have predicted that airlines, now the public
transportation for the want-to-be and got-to-be
mobile, will mirror bus stations in the sky. We are
handling it well, considering.
Please have a modicum of respect for yourself
as an airline and us as passengers.
FREE PAY TOILETS!
Jessica Stockwell
Author
LIVE and TRAVEL WELL
It' takes technique, tolerance and toilet paper (2003)
I think we should be careful here, next they will charge for the toilet seat to a paying passanger and will be asked to give up your seat on request!!
I for one, being disabled, do not take change on Ryanair flight as it falls out of my pocket and I don't buy the over priced goods onboard. But then again, he doesn't like the disabled either! So I guess they will have to clean up after me, it will smell like a hospital ward soon.
And why not? I remember as a child crapping in my pants whilst fumbling for a penny to get in a public lavatory in Buxton. Memories are made of this and imagine joining such a unique mile high club on board Ryanair? No-one experiencing the(dubious,) pleasure, would ever forget Ryanair ever again.
The man is a genius:)
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