Posted on 02/28/2009 4:17:40 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
Irish budget airline Ryanairs' pay-to-pee proposal has potential passengers crossing their legs and shaking their heads in disbelief.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary told the BBC the Dublin-based carrier was looking at maybe installing a "coin slot on the toilet door" on board its aircraft. ''People might actually have to spend a pound (about 52 baht) to spend a penny in future," he replied while being asked about the carrier's recent plan to do away with passenger check-in counters.
A BBC anchor wondered what the airline would do if a passenger boarded a flight without cash and then needed to use the bathroom? Mr O'Leary didn’t seem concerned, saying: "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound." Ryanair is already notorious for stripping away all but the most basic of passenger services, but his latest proposal is really stirring up controversy. The Times of London writes Ryanair pilots are "aghast" at the idea and one pilot even wondered how many toilet tokens the pilots would get from their employer on flights they work.
According to an official at Britain's Civil Aviation Authority:"There is no legal requirement for an aircraft to have a toilet onboard, so if an airline does have a toilet they can charge to use it."
One travel industry observer wondered if the move might backfire. "Once again, Ryanair is putting profit before the comfort of its customers," said Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday.
''Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though -- that would serve Ryanair right," she added. Ryanair's PR chief Steven McNamara later played down the idea, saying: "I don't think it's going to happen in the foreseeable future".
"Maybe O'Leary was just taking the p*ss this morning," he said.
"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.'' He added: "Will it happen long-term, I'm not really sure,it's one of those things that when Michael starts looking at something, you know, it's always up for discussion."
Why don’t they raise fares a pound and advertise, “Includes one free trip to the crapper!”
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They were chatting this up on Fox and Friends this morning, and the one weekend guy was “pissed” about this....swore he’d load up on a gutful of asparagus and pee in the aisle, if he were to face that.
And what are they going to do if you won’t/can’t pay? Let you do it in your seat or on the tray table?
Voice your protest: pee in the seat!
Or maybe the Air Sickness Bags?
I suspect this won’t get very far with the FAA and other regulatory agencies. My guess would be that it’s against regs to operate the aircraft without a working toilet, in which case I doubt they can charge for its use. Who knows though. It’s ObamaWorld now. Nothing would surprise me!
They don't fly to the US, But I'm sure the JAA would intervene in Europe.
With some of the passengers today and the way they act, Ryanair may spend alot more money flushing out their aisles and seats! That is the stupidiest idea ever fessed up too, maybe they want to charge for toilet paper too!! :-( peewwhh!
In lieu of money or should that be in loo of?
So if the idiot who just used the can ahead of me farted so much that a foul brown cloud formed, sh*t all over the seat, blew his nose in the sink, and never bothered to flush, I should have to pay for the privilege???
Go surplus with your surplus !
...just be glad they can’t roll down the windows like truckers with their pee bombs !
http://www.airforcetimes.com/xml/news/2008/05/airforce_piddle_pack_052108w/052108af_piddle_pack.JPG
That would be funny, really funny, if I didn’t think it might just happen! It’s really scary when the things you used to think were fodder for jokes become things you know might come to pass.
Oops! That’s what I get for not reading the article. Thanks!
Note to self: Read articles before posting.
There has to be some kind of law against this.
The customers will decide if the lower price of the ticket is worth it.
My guess is that they will decide that it is not.
It is one thing for them not to feed you on a less then four hour hop or charge for anything besides water to drink but this takes things a little too far. Next they will try to charge you a separate fee for the air you inhale.
hen I go to the bathroom on a plane ,I get in and get out, because i realise the accomadations are needed by others. If I have to pay I sure wouldnt rush myself.
I read this a couple of days ago and people were po’d then they read the last paragraph,
“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.’’
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