The "Frills" Include Urinating
Ryanair may charge to use the bathroom on the plane. From Reuters:
LONDON (Reuters) - Irish carrier Ryanair, Europe's largest budget airline, might start charging passengers for using the toilet while flying, chief executive Michael O'Leary said on Friday."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 actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny in future," he told BBC television.
He said this would not inconvenience passengers travelling without cash. "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."
O'Leary has a reputation as a cost cutter, expanding Ryanair by offering low headline fares and charging extra for items such as additional luggage.
via Consumerist
Comments
Ryanair what scroungers charging to use the toilet on a short flight it makes me so angry!
Posted by: Karen Lloyd at February 27, 2009 9:27 AM
20 bucks says they drop this after they get sued by someone with a war wound or diability or someone whos drug causes them to use the bathroom more often using as dricrimination against the disabled claim
Posted by: lujlp at February 27, 2009 9:56 AM
So angry that you want to pee?
I took a taxi the other day. Imagine my horror to discover that there was no toilet on board. And when he stopped to let me use a public convenience, he kept the meter running!
I'll take my pee elsewhere from now on.
Posted by: Norman at February 27, 2009 9:57 AM
It's funny how things have reversed in our lifetime, heck just since the last 10 years or so. Water and bathrooms used to be free, and you had to pay for music and newspapers...
Posted by: Eric at February 27, 2009 9:59 AM
This won't last long. Airport bars all over Ryanair's service area will be up in arms. Imagine the impact: "No ale for me, mate, thanks! They'll hit me up for a pound just to use the 'loo on the plane!"
Now, if they charged people for piddle-packs, like the fighter pilots use...oh, let's not go there...
Posted by: old rpm daddy at February 27, 2009 10:07 AM
US Air just reversed their policy of charging for drinks. P.S. I've heard that airplane ice is made out of nasty stuff. Does anybody who's a flight attendant or knows one know if that's true?
Actually, here's a USA Today piece on the subject:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/baskas/2005-04-12-baskas_x.htm
The EPA is responsible for insuring the safety of our drinking water, both from our home taps and on airplanes. So last summer, and again late last year, the agency randomlu tested the drinking water aboard hundreds of domestic and international passenger planes.The results were not very encouraging: In the summer test, nearly 13% of tested aircraft carried water was contaminated with coliform bacteria, thus failing to meet EPA standards. In November and December 2004, the water on more than 17% of the aircraft tested fell below the agency's standards.
How does the water on airplanes get contaminated? The EPA isn't sure. In an e-mail response to a long list of questions on this subject, an agency spokesperson told me, "In general, there are multiple sources that potentially cause contamination on the aircraft that have been identified with the water transfer equipment such as the hoses, water carts and water cabinets."
Posted by: Amy Alkon at February 27, 2009 10:23 AM
Speaking of which -- ever used a hotel remote? With or without a plastic bag over it?
And P.S. I'm not particularly germ-fearing. Our immune system seems to need germs to be a strong defender. But, hotel remotes...the maid ain't cleaning 'em. And think about some of those people you see leaving their hotels rooms in the morning and the porn they might've watched the night before. Ick. Next time you're in a hotel room, put the condom on the remote.
Oh, and it's possible the guy at Ryanair was making this up -- that occurred to me as I posted it (there's a new post on Consumerist saying that). But, they are the nickel-and-dime airline, more than others. They wrote the book on it.
Posted by: Amy Alkon at February 27, 2009 10:24 AM
US Air just reversed their policy of charging for drinks.
Good. I hadn't been thinking good thoughts about those guys. I flew out to the West Coast on business last month with a couple other guys, and was rather unimpressed with them charging for absolutely everything. Worse, the restroom on the connecting flight out of Vegas was out of order. I wish they'd told us that before we'd had the beers in the airport bar. So USAir isn't exactly high in my regard right now. By the way, years ago, USAir was known as Allegheny Airlines; my dad called it "Agony Airlines." I can understand that.
Workaround for nasty airline ice: Order your drinks neat.
Posted by: old rpm daddy at February 27, 2009 10:52 AM
Are you sure this is an Irish airline? Sounds like a Scotsman is running the operation.
Posted by: Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at February 27, 2009 11:02 AM
No a Scot would let you pee in the aisle
Posted by: lujlp at February 27, 2009 11:31 AM
Just wait until some folks (it does pay to be a man some time!) decide to pass on the 'loo and just pee on the floor of the plane, or in a handy water bottle then left behind. That'll teach 'em!
Posted by: Jay R at February 27, 2009 2:03 PM
The market will take care of this one way or the other.
Meanwhile, aren't we all grateful that the margins are so tight for commercial air travel that this is what happens?
Posted by: Crid at February 27, 2009 2:48 PM
Did anyone link this yet?
Sounded like nerd-gossip to me, but maybe that's because I understood almost none of it.
Posted by: old rpm daddy at February 28, 2009 6:03 AM
I find it amusing that Ryanair seems to have this churlish corporate culture (then again, I don't fly them).
Posted by: Amy Alkon 
at February 28, 2009 6:18 AM
