Budget Travel - OT: Ryanair may charge for toilet use on planes

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. Skip related content

"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." :-:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914193.stm

I even did a double take to check it wasn't April 1st!!!!

Giving the man some credit he's almost as good as Beardy at getting free publicity for his airline!!

Instead of the old 1d slot payment, Ryanair is talking about £1 per visit!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914542.stm

Long predicted by many - but with tongue firmly in cheek I suspect.

Can't believe he would really do this though. Just an opportunity for some cheap publicity me thinks - he was quite amusing on Breakfast TV this morning.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914542.stm

I checked to see if 1st April had come around early this year, but it hasn't.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914542.stm

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".

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."

According to the BBC News website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914542.stm), MOL was quoted as saying he is considering putting a coin slot on the toilet door, costing £1.

I have never had the "pleasure" of flying FR and I have no intention of subjecting myself to such elaborate future at any time in the future, but even just reading about it makes me wince in vicarious pain.

Do people not realise that, by the time you've paid for everything you get included on "proper" airlines, FR costs just as much?

And is there no depth low enough for MOL and his coin-operated-loo-airline to hit rock bottom? At the rate he's going, it would appear not.

looks like the board is refreshing properly now....

11 threads about Ryanair!!! It is our new obsession! Sod Champagne, scorpions and fish....

Coin slot (http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914542.stm)
Can they stoop any lower?

A little Friday fun for the forum:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/27/ryanair_toilet_plan/

From BBC News:

"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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914542.stm

Surely not April Fool's day already? Even they couldn't sink this low...

...now Michael O’Leary has totally lost it ... (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article5815088.ece)

"...The airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, announced this morning that the carrier is looking into fitting coin slots to the toilet doors of its aircraft. Passengers would have to pay £1 to use the loo.... "

BBC Video: (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7914193.stm)

Urgh, I can't believe we have talk of 'them' in the BA room. Vile.

It would serve them right if people didn't make creative use of their sick bags.. but then I'm not sure they even give those do they??

may cost a pound:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914542.stm

Might be one of those idas chucked out to gauge disapproval levels. Or not.

And when the coin slot jams? :rolleyes:

Edit: I'll get my apologies in now. I posted this when the forum appeared to be not updating. Looks like about a dozen others spotted it too...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/other-european-frequent-flyer-programs/926394-ryanair-charge-using-toilet.html

wow! That was quick use of the feather duster to tidy up our mess!! Nice one Mods!

wow! That was quick use of the feather duster to tidy up our mess!! Nice one Mods!

Agreed on that one. I suspect it was a case of presentation vs actual data (i.e they've been working on the data for hours while FT worked on presentation - impressive nevertheless).

This is hilarious! :D

I honestly didn't think even RF could think of something as ridicules as this to charge for.

Judging by the BBC interview vid posted above, I think it's safe to say that the 'spend a penny' announcement was merely a red herring to get some free publicity. How many times did MO"L manage to say FR were constantly trying to drive down the cost of air travel? I imagine the cost of installing and maintaining onboard pay loos would outstrip any revenue raised.

Judging by the BBC interview vid posted above, I think it's safe to say that the 'spend a penny' announcement was merely a red herring to get some free publicity. How many times did MO"L manage to say FR were constantly trying to drive down the cost of air travel? I imagine the cost of installing and maintaining onboard pay loos would outstrip any revenue raised.
+1

Agreed on that one. I suspect it was a case of presentation vs actual data (i.e they've been working on the data for hours while FT worked on presentation - impressive nevertheless).

I wish! More down to a swift click or two of the mouse....

We'll move this over to Budget Travel at some point.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7914193.stmGiving the man some credit he's almost as good as Beardy at getting free publicity for his airline!!

Exactly! They don't care whether it is good or bad publicity, they just want lots of free coverage!

Anyway, there's no way he would install a coin slot, they'd have to pay someone to empty it (or the pax would break into it an nick the cash). It will be a credit card swipe mechanism. The actual price will be set at the marketing man's dream figure of £0.01 (but in small print they will mention that there is also a credit card fee of £4.95) ;).

What next, extra charge for a seat belt, or bring your own. :confused:

bjorns

Surely I'm not the only one who doesn't need a loo on short haul? :confused:It would serve them right if people didn't make creative use of their sick bags.. but then I'm not sure they even give those do they??They do, but they're in the overhead compartment, which of course you can't use when the seatbelt sign is on such as in turbulence. So in practice,they don't. :p

A different take on this story:

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/ryanair-planes-to-smell-strongly-of-urine-and-faeces-200902271609/

Ryanair are just taking the pi** out of air travel.

Seems a bit counterproductive - aren't they more likely to sell fewer drinks on board the plane if the passengers know they have to pay for them on entry and exit?

quite an entertaining article in Times Online about this.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article5815088.ece

It draws heavily from comments made on PPRune http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf-self-loading-freight/363977-ryanair-charge-toilet-use.html

As far as I know, this informatioon has been know by quite a few people for a while, but only just been 'leaked' to the media.

O'Leary is reported as saying, that any other airline not following their lead, is likely to go down the 'pan'.

He is also reported to feel 'flushed' with success after this new initiative.

;):D;):D

After all it is Friday.

bjorns

somebody far wittier than me can play around with........
'uryanairal':):)

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." :-:

Well I often get on aircraft with no cash whatsoever, although I don't count as it's never been Ryanair :)

With nearly everything payable be card these days there's many times I don't even have a penny on me.

Let's hope NXEC don't read about this idea :)

Judging by the BBC interview vid posted above, I think it's safe to say that the 'spend a penny' announcement was merely a red herring to get some free publicity. How many times did MO"L manage to say FR were constantly trying to drive down the cost of air travel? I imagine the cost of installing and maintaining onboard pay loos would outstrip any revenue raised.

Just like The Bearded One tells the press that Virgin is:

- looking to open hotels ("because they're always stealing ideas from our Clubhouses");

- considering sponsoring the London Eye (after BA withdraws sponsorship);

- looking into launching all business class flights (after the launch of Eos and Silverjet)-

- planning to launch ex-EU transatlantic flights (after BA announces similar plans).

- planning to bid for LGW (which went absolutely nowhere)

The list goes on and on.

I'll bet their marketing creatives are already working out the pricing implications between lowering the price of lager and raisng the price of the loo.

e.g: sell a passenger a can of lager at £3. Profit margin 200% = £2. Passenger has to go to the loo during the flight (assume once) - charge price of £1, profit margin 100% = £1

So with the right pricing and marketing mix... the loo scam increase the profitablity of in-flight drinks by 50%! :p

I'll bet their marketing creatives are already working out the pricing implications between lowering the price of lager and raisng the price of the loo.

e.g: sell a passenger a can of lager at £3. Profit margin 200% = £2. Passenger has to go to the loo during the flight (assume once) - charge price of £1, profit margin 100% = £1

So with the right pricing and marketing mix... the loo scam increase the profitablity of in-flight drinks by 50%! :p

P.S. You could increase it further by selling 'loo coupons' online before the flight with as gms has pointed out an additional credit card fee.

P.P.S. They could also sell you 'caught short' insurance to cover your laundry bills... the possibilities are endless. :D

Taking the piss, surely?

A different take on this story:

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/ryanair-planes-to-smell-strongly-of-urine-and-faeces-200902271609/

"Inevitably, given the nature of air travel, there will be some spillage, but the whole point of this policy is to make sure the aircraft is awash with as much human waste as possible"

My (all too recent) experience of FR is that it's already full of human waste :eek:

And I've just received my copy of the book ""Ruinair" (http://www.paulkilduff.com/ruinair.htm) by Paul Kilduff, which is subtitled "How to be treated like s...e in 15 different countries ... and still quite like it". Should be entertaining reading :D

Another great reason why I shall not be flying with this airline.

You get what you pay for and that is why I shall continue to travel with BA and a few others when necessary - BFS, EVN, ALA, etc - and on my SYD-MEL flights.

But how much are they going to charge to let you get back out of the toilet?

I am going to take the opposite point of view here. Consumerism is all about choices. You want the cheapest ticket possible, hold your pee, drink nothing and suffer for 1,5 hours: fly Ryanair.

You want service, free everything, newspapers etc, fly BA CE.

I really see no problem with this development whatsoever. Marketing is all about finding a Unique Selling Proposition and he has certainly done that. All this only strenghtens the public perception that Ryanair is cheap. Dirt cheap.

Good thinking!

A quick tip for those unfortunate folks who'll be docked a quid to spend a penny: remember to take that clear, re-sealable, plastic bag, in which to place all your liquids, pastes and gels! :D

I am waiting for equal rights campaigners for those with weak bladders to complain about 'unfair charging' next.