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.
Last week, Ryanair announced it was to shut all check-in desks at airports and have passengers check in online instead.
"We're all about finding ways of raising discretionary revenue so we can keep lowering the cost of air travel," he said.
As soon as I saw the press release on another news site, it reminded me of a "parody" of the AirCanada website developed a few years back... http://www.kvstool.com/ACBeta/
Last edited by YOWCDNFF; Feb 27, 09 at 4:59 pm.
Reason: spelling
I hope it is one of their managers who is flying and gets caught without the coins to pay the "stool tax." In any case, I suspect this might impact drinks sales.
""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 (CEO Michael O'Leary) 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."
__________________ Lend a hand up with Kiva; far more than a hand out.
Well, I,m not a bit surprised! After seeing US Air shut down the beverage service, I think management will try anything. ( Yes, I know US Air has rescinded the no beverage/water service )
A pound is pretty steep! That's about $1.40 US Right?
Second question: What does he mean by " actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny in future " ??
Hopefully someone in the UK can translate.
Origin
This refers to the (former) use of coin operated locks on public toilets. It was used mostly in the UK and mostly by women (men's urinals were free of charge).
Such locks were first introduced, at a public toilet outside the Royal Exchange, London, in the 1850s. The term itself is later though. The first recorded citation of it is in H. Lewis's Strange Story, 1945:
"'Us girls,' she said, 'are going to spend a penny!'"
'Spend a penny' has now gone out of use, partly because charges have changed and partly because it was always a coy euphemism, which now seems rather dated. The writing was on the wall for this phrase, so to speak, from 1977, when the Daily Telegraph printed an article headed "2p to spend a penny".
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.
Last week, Ryanair announced it was to shut all check-in desks at airports and have passengers check in online instead.
"We're all about finding ways of raising discretionary revenue so we can keep lowering the cost of air travel," he said.
__________________
There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror. ~Orson Welles
I hope it is one of their managers who is flying and gets caught without the coins to pay the "stool tax." In any case, I suspect this might impact drinks sales.
""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 (CEO Michael O'Leary) 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."
Yeah and the next charge is going to be for changing your money with the flight attendant to spend your penny
Ryanair to charge for using the toilet!
