Friday, 27th February 2009 - 14:13CET
Ryanair to charge toilet fee - or maybe not
Ryanair's chief executive said Europe's largest budget carrier might start charging passengers for using the toilet while flying, but his spokesman cautioned Michael O'Leary often just made things up at will.
"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 one pound (1.12 euro) to spend a penny in future," O'Leary 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."
A spokesman said the airline had considered the fee as a possible source of extra revenue since passengers had the option of not using the toilet on board, but added that "maybe O'Leary was just taking the p*ss this morning".
"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," Stephen McNamara said in a statement.
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.
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Comments
Rest assured that in the not too distant future, we will get another out of O' Liri! (Excuse the Maltese joke...does not translate properly).
Who knows, the next publicity stunt could be about passengers' body weight and that the airfare is calculated on your weight.
Give me a REAL airline anytime!
I travel RyanAir at leat 25 times a year to the UK and I don't even know what their loo looks like. So why not!
Finally that nearly incontinent old lady that always sits beside me (10 times per flight) will begin to subsidise my flights out of her Brittish pension!
So yes I'm all for it Michael!
Should I informd you if it is NO1 or NO2 so I will be charged accordingly?
What will be the cost to breathe cause that will be next?
Sorry Ryan but I stick to my travel with AirMalta, I get free toilet visits, no cancellation flights, and respect.
Yours
J.Zammit
That's all very well but those cans have sharp edges so I don't think they were meant "for skins".
I like the idea of calling their toilets "uRYANals"
Boom! Boom! Who said the rock is humorless?
Still there is a difference between good business and being outright hilarious!!
This is a no issue. Typical of the whimsical Ryanair CEO. He is just "p*ssing" about and not paying the one pund for it!
If you like Ryan air fly with them....if u don't...........you don't have to............
This is the same with mobile phone companies...........for example I can never go back to a company in Malta that once had a monopoly in mobile phones...........but that is a personal opinion..........
Whatta loada crap!
Whilst Michael O'Leary was speaking, the share price of Europe's leading adult nappy brand went through the roof........gotta go.......calling my equities broker now.
This will now be known as the O'Leary effect.
An example: Cutting their London Stansted route gives an opportunity to both RyanAir or Easyjet to take it up.
And on the flypass brochure AirMalta is still advertising this route!
will the charge be standard? or depending on the output?
Don't give Mr O'Leary any further ideas of raising more money from passengers. To be charged by output would mean measuring the output. This could be done by a meter which the passenger would rent at the departing airport and attached to his/her body. On arrival at destination the meter would be read and the passenger charged for the output they have made. lol
As I get older I would rather have a coin operated loo and pay a euro and be guaranteed availability than have it kept shut with a lame excuse.
In future to the UK I will only use Air Malta. Prosit AM and a big thank-you to all the staff on both outward and inbound flights.
Cheap prices gets you cheap service and higher cost.
Mark my words...this is a free advertisement.
Obviously, i prefer Airmalta, but if i find a bargain on Ryanair, then i go for it. Id like to add that the legroom on Airmalta has been cut down alot... Ryanair is more comfy by far.
The GBP1.00 for a toilet visit doesnt go down really well, but hey, i hardly use the toilet on an airplane anyway...so it makes no difference to me.
@ E Pulis...
As to Mr O'Leary resigning... i say to you, GET A LIFE ! Mr O Leary can do whatever he wishes...its up to you to travel with Ryanair or not !
Also, what if you need to change your baby's diaper? 2 pounds please!
O'Leary should resign
selling pooh pooh bags at the airport prior departure for only 25c.........anyone interested please send your CV to Mr O'Leary!
By any chance Ryanair is loosing money so you are trying to see how you are going to cheat people. You seam to be an expert in that and come up with the most stupid ways to do so. Are you sure you are a low cost airline. I don't even know how they let you do these stupid things. Why don't you add a charge for everytime the cabin crew help someone or even better why don't you start charging people to use the seat belt or the arm rest.
If you want Ryanair to leave Malta, and the tourists attached with it disappear, keep arguing against it. Otherwise, just travel with Air Malta, and don't complain that the price is expensive.
Whoever wishes to travel with Ryanair has every right to do so.
I am a huge fan of Michael O'Leary's sense of humour especially when he features in his own ads, but I am not sure if he is cracking us up with laughter or moving with the hard times, like Wall Street.
Do the safety regulations permit us to board the flight holding our own potty ?
SIMPLY PATHETIC!!!
How about charging passengers for using the stairs going up/down the plane. With your reasoning passengers have the option not to use the stairs.....they can simply jump off the plane.
I hope that they are not cutting costs at the expense of safety and security as well.
lir-rhis gholi?
A person would measure your lung capacity and charge you accordingly.
Low Cost.....my....