Gr.Dane

A great one on yesterdays flights. USair will start charging $1 for using the lavetory on all their flights, should generate $ 1-2 million in extra revenue.

AggieNzona

Stupid post, ban OP!

tommyleo

Funny, I was thinking the same thing recently because I remember as a kid going to Nathan's in Coney Island and having to pay for the toilets there! In fact, pay toilets were rather common in many places in the 70's.

However, I highly doubt that any airline will charge for bathroom usage since there is no alternative for the pax! But considering that many airlines are finding ways to charge for most everything else, pay toilets are at least worth the giggle.

flywaywaytoomuch

I'd almost be willing to pay if I could be guaranteed that I was using a lav that didn't smell like the port-a-john at the local fair or the toilet at the gas station.

stiphy

I'm about to head back to Amsterdam where they charge for bathrooms everywhere. Was in a club buying 6 euro drinks and got hit up for a euro to use their bathroom. Absurd but normal to the Dutch I guess. Who's to say airplanes aren't next.

Sean

InkedParrot

From what I have been told. Pay toilets are common in Europe, but I find it hard to believe that airlines will charge for its usage. But, who knows!

me4yankees

Pay public toilets are common, but if you are a paying customer in a restaurant or a hotel, then toilet usage would be complimentary. Therefore, you have a choice. On a plane, you would not have alternative choices. I believe that charging to use a toilet on an aircraft would be rather inhumane.

CThomp79

So far "...a resounding no," at least as quoted in WSJ.

http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2008...ooms-fee-free/

fti

I love those responses.

"We charge for services which add value to the consumer" - if someone had to go, charging for the toilet certainly would add value.

"Northwest Airlines is not considering charging a fee to use the lavatories onboard our aircraft. It is considered a core part of our service.” - as if a single piece of checked luggage is not a core part of their service.

Honestly it would absolutely not surprise me - maybe each person gets one token for free and must use quarters for any additional use?

warbo

Yes it's normal in many european countries. It usually means you get an attendant who makes sure the bathrooms are clean. and sometimes offers you clean towels and maybe even some cologne. Much better than the filthy hovels in America, with a 2-foot gap between cubicles where you can see the legs of the guy next to you crapping (apologies. Even the Bellagio in Las Vegas had this arrangement, despite the marble bathrooms. Vile. I couldn't beleive it. Even the cubicle doors leave a half-inch space through which anyone can see you. Horrible.

tommyleo

Keep in mind that we in America are so accustomed to these arrangements that we don't take the time to peep through half-inch gaps in bathroom stalls. Anyone who does is considered to be a pervert.

graraps

Of course luggage is not a core part of their service. Their service is crap and that's why toilets are a core part of it!

stiphy

I do love the floor to ceiling stalls but think its absurd to have to pay to use one if I'm a patron of an establishment. Clearly not the case for European's though and they may not object to a charge on a plane either. Don't think this would fly in the US.

Had a funny story about EU stalls. I was at a client site and was in one of the floor to ceiling stalls once when the head guy in the meeting we were in had a conversation about how good he thought our product was and that they were just coming off hardline to see what they could negotiate etc. They had no idea I was there. In the US they would've done the requisite check under the stall to look for legs but that of course wasn't possible!

In all though I would definitely not generalize that bathrooms across Europe are cleaner than those in the US, at least not what I've seen on the continent.

Sean

chicagorich

Quarters..? You'll never make it US's revenue management department.!

Think Susan B. Anthony...

.

coswellnc

Pay toilet are better than no toilets at all. I think we can all agree on that!