Pay Toilets On Airplanes?

Not Even Staff Quite Sure If Ireland’s Ryanair Boss Is Serious With Money-Saving Proposal

(AP)  Is a bathroom an optional extra when you're at 30,000 feet? Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary seems to think so - as his no-frills airline contemplates charging customers to use its aircrafts' toilets.

O'Leary whipped up a frenzy of indignation and potty humor Friday as he suggested that future Ryanair passengers might be obliged to insert a British pound coin before they gain access to in-flight relief.

As always, O'Leary suggested a separate toilet fee would lower ticket costs and make flying, somehow, easier for all. Nobody, even his own aides, seemed to be sure if he was serious or pursuing his well-documented penchant for making brazen declarations to win free advertising.

“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 said, using a local euphemism for relieving one's self.

When asked, during an interview on BBC Television, what would happen if a customer really had to go, but didn't have the correct change, O'Leary dismissed the scenario as implausible. This even though Ireland and most of Europe uses euros, not the British currency, and even on-board attendants often find themselves without the correct change.

“I don't think there's anybody in history gone on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound,” he said.

Politicians and analysts agreed that the man who pioneered charging airline customers to check bags, to use a check-in desk, and even to use a credit or debit card to make an on-line booking just might be serious about mile-high toilet extortion, too.

Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners in London, cautioned consumers that O'Leary might be attempting two for the price of one: Free publicity backed by cut-throat reality.

“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 future, beware,” he said.

O'Leary's own chief spokesman, Stephen McNamara, said his boss often spoke tongue in cheek - but then defended the idea of charging for a toilet as 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 said, adding, “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.”

Rochelle Turner, head of research at British consumer rights magazine Which? Holiday, said Ryanair had a well-documented practice of “putting profit before the comfort of its customers” but this one could backfire.

“Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board. That would serve Ryanair right,” she said.

Tommy Broughan, transport spokesman for Ireland's Labour Party, said the toilet-charge idea had to be taken seriously.

He noted that Ryanair last month began threatening customers with euro30 fines if they tried to carry on board a second bag regardless of size - even one filled with a just-purchased item from the airport's duty-free shops.

“When Ryanair introduced this euro30 extra duty-free charge, many passengers joked that next they would be charged for using the toilet - not realizing that this indeed seems to be the newest extra charge on Ryanair's agenda,” Broughan said.

[payasyougo]

This will present a big problem on tax collection.

CA will impose a $10 tax on the toilet fee when you utilize the facility within CA airspace. Nevada will only charge a $5 fee within their airspace.

What will the states do when you are flying East and you sit down in CA but flush in NV?

[ianlou]

That's a great idea, everyone setting off every metal detector in the airport with their change for the high flying pay toilets.

Since you are renting the room, can you bring in a friend and join the mile high club?

Thugs will be allowed on the airplane with rolls of quarters in their fists with the excuse, "I have a weak bladder"

I can't wait to hear the inevitable story about passengers stuck on a jet on the tarmac for four hours and the pilot anouncing "free rest room privlages for all"!!!

WhooptyyyyyDooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[850Rick]

I can see this for coach, but what about first class?
Posted by dragonwagon5 -- In first class they will wipe for you. I've heard they use a hand warmer prior to for comfort.

[850Rick]

God help the guy/woman who forgets to bring change with him and ends up having an accident in his/her pants let alone the persons sitting next to them.

[adasher1]

At least he is not asking us to PAY by the pound, only WITH the pound. Wait, I do not want to give him any new ideas.

[hunterdon6]

I would hate to be the person who cleans up the planes between flights!

[jackp32]

You guys are great. I have not laughed this hard in quite a while. Keep it up, so to speak. Some of you are funnier than the comics on HBO comedy channel.

[GODSnLIBERALS]

that is a brilliant idea on how to loose customers..

[x1947lr]

Well let's just P*** and S*** in the aisle for free and let them clean the cup rap for us. Give me a break! How much further is this going to go before we do exactly that instead of putting up with this bulls***!
Feed us, cater to us, or we will be gone . . . it's your funeral . . .

[gosuckabug2day]

I'd rather crap in Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary's hat than pay a pound for a toilette.

[erb0087]

"Pay Toilets On Airplanes?"

What if you're out of change ?

Are you S.O.L. ?

[rwsmith29456]

Skidding down the aisle on a pile of fresh turds would be a safety hazard.

[incog-nito]

Ryanair officials recently announced that they will start charging passengers for toilet usage, by the pound. A scale will be installed at the bottom of the latrine in order to weigh the "output". "Budget conscious customers should think about skipping meals before a flight," a Ryanair spokesperson remarked.

[toolmangler-2009]

i like cheap as much as anyone else but these guys go too far - who tells me they won't be cheap on maintenance next?
Posted by goupi514 at 7:26 PM : Feb 27, 2009



This guy makes 'cheap' look extravagant, I wonder, will they shut down one or more engines to save fuel while airborn?

[goupi514]

free advertisement? i don't think so
i'm glad i know about this company - and i'm going to add them to my select "never use" list
i like cheap as much as anyone else but these guys go too far - who tells me they won't be cheap on maintenance next?

[credibility2]

Novel idea, but first airlines are going to have to provide more space, comfort and niceties for their flying customers. What's next, a catheter?

[rushlimpdrug]

Now that I think about it their logo does look like they are sizing up
human xcrement from smallest to largest.

Way to fool us Ryanair.

[eroosevelt08]

There should be an alternative offering of adult diapers and a private changing area. .... The person who came up with this idea should be looking for another job.

[colvinatch]

For mearly suggesting such a thing I will NEVER consider flying Ryan air and if I ever find myself on a plane with pay toilets I will simply relieve myself in the asile. I refuse to pay for a the privlege of natually occuring bodily function especially when help captive at 30,000 feet.

[dbstevens]

Okay, if I'm ever on a flight that charges me for the toilet, I will not hesitate to pee on the floor. There's a limit of tolerance on this sort of stuff.