Ryanair mulls charge for toilets

[MOHD RAMZAN FADZIL 0]

Published Date: 27 February 2009

LOW-fare airline Ryanair is considering charging passengers to use the toilets on its planes, it was revealed today.

Customers of the Irish no-frills carrier might have to fork out £1 to "spend a penny" on flights, Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary said.

 

Which? Holiday magazine condemned the plan, saying Ryanair was "plumbing the depths".

 

Speaking on the BBC1 Breakfast programme, Mr O'Leary said: "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 went on: "We are always looking at ways of making air travel cheaper. We are all about finding ways of raising revenue so we can keep lowering air fares."

 

Asked if this meant passengers being charged as much as £1 for a loo visit on Ryanair flights, Mr O'Leary replied: "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."

 

Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said: "It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers.

 

"Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though – that would serve Ryanair right."

 

Last week, Ryanair announced it was to shut all check-in desks at airports by the end of the year, with all passengers having to check in online instead.

 

The Irish budget carrier also charges for hold luggage and – like other low-fare airlines – charges for on-board food and drink.

 

 

Is Michael O'Leary's idea a step too far by the frugal airline or a clever way of reducing air fares?

 

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/uk/Ryanair...pend.5024488.jp

 

 

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary

[Gavin Andrew David 6]

Goooot idea!! charge!!!!

[KK Lee 5]

Ryanair mulls charge for toilets

 

 

Irish budget airline Ryanair has said it is considering charging passengers for using the toilet while flying.

 

Chief executive Michael O'Leary told the BBC that the Dublin-based carrier was looking at maybe installing a "coin slot on the toilet door".

 

Consumer group Which? said the airline was putting "profit before passengers".

 

Ryanair's PR chief Steven McNamara later played down the idea, saying: "I don't think it's going to happen in the foreseeable future".

 

"Will it happen long-term, I'm not really sure," he said.

 

"It's one of those things that when Michael starts looking at something, you know, it's always up for discussion."

 

Last week Ryanair confirmed it planned to close all of its airport check-in desks by the end of the year in a bid to reduce the cost of its flights.

 

'Fast buck'

 

Ryanair aims to offer low basic ticket prices, and then charge extra for items such as checking in at the airport or for additional luggage.

 

"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 the BBC.

 

He added: "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."

 

But Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, said: "It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers.

 

"Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though - that would serve Ryanair right."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7914542.stm

 

 

What's next? To weight each pax?

 

 

 

[Waiping 12]

Hey another incentive to bring your own container. After you finish your food/drinks just use the container.

[Hakan 2]

This is really big nonsense!!! I understand "LOC COST CARRIER" Logic with limited service in cabin, maximum seat capacity in airplane with the most smallest pitch of seats,marketing strategy, prepaid or payware meal service...thats ok but the last one about toilet using is really idiotic desicion. I'm sure ryanair can not find any passanger in short time. Tme is up for Ryanair I think.

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

What's next? To weight each pax?

 

 

 

pay for air cond, pay for reading light, pay for captain announcement .....

[Tony 1]

What's next? To weight each pax?

 

i hope life jacket is off the list...

[Imran K. 0]

If they do implement this, I'd simply pee in a cup, and leave it in the cabin.

 

 

What a simply idiotic idea...

[Kenneth T 0]

It's getting very rediculous...i hope they wont charge passengers for seat, speaking on board and air condition or even switching the light.....stupid idea

[Izanee 0]

i'm surprised they don't charge for the stairs to get on and off the plane; or seatbelts yet! what lunacy

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

I believe this is a 'publicity' thing rather than profit thing from Ryanair

[BC Tam 2]

Well, don't nobody claim they have not been forewarned !

 

I suppose when all 'blood from stone' avenues have been exhausted (who knows what the future may throw at us ?), some bean counter may propose to charge for oxygen at cruising altitude, chargeable by the inhalation - you breathe, you pay

If it ever does come to that, labelling what AK is offering currently as 5* would be such an understatement

 

i'm surprised they don't charge for the stairs to get on and off the plane; or seatbelts yet! what lunacy

Actually, they already do

Just that it's all currently mish-mashed with other stuff and you're just made to pay a lump sum figure

It's when the itemized billing system kicks in that things get hilarious !

[H C Chai 4]

There you go, one more reason not to fly Ryanair!

[Radzi 2]

If Ryanair can do that, expect AirAsia to follow suit soon. And later on, even MH.

[Pieter C. 5]

Pee before you board RYR !!!