Ryanair has recently announced their plans to implement coin-operated in-flight toilets, to supposedly, reduce the number of passengers going to the toilets, disturbing fellow passengers. Many are doubting Ryanair’s decision and render this as just another of their marketing gimmicks.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said he has approached the US aircraft maker after conceding his earlier idea of a coin-operated door wouldn’t work because passengers would be using both the euro and the pound.
"We’re suggesting they go back and look at a mechanism where you’d swipe the credit card for a quid on the toilet door. They’ve gone off to look at that… We are serious."
"Eventually it’s going to happen. It’s just we can’t do it at the moment because we don’t have a mechanism for charging you," he said.
It is yet another ridiculous measure the budget airline is coming up to cut cost. From non-allocated seats to non-existing seat spacing, Ryanair is really stepping up on their money-making tactics. Toilet fees could become the next serious profits-generating scheme for Ryanair, who is already one of Europe’s most profitable and agressively expanding airline.
Mr O’Leary estimates if 20 per cent of passengers pay 1 pound ($2.7) to use the restroom, this would generate $33 million pounds annually – which he believes would generate future "fare savings to the travelling public."
With a reputation of being budget-conscious, Ryanair uses these measures to guarantee low prices. With £10 for an airticket, air flying has never been this affordable. But many think this new scheme might just cost Ryanair to suffer a drop in sales, and would ultimately lose their clients’ loyalty.
Ryanair has been in the media limelight for quite awhile, perhaps too often I would say. A few years back, with a Ryanair flight attendant caught sleeping, they were once again in the headlines and everyone’s hot topic. Last week, Ryanair announced it was to shut all check-in desks at airports and have passengers check in online instead.
With controversial news popping up now and again, this budget airline sure has its way of selling itself. I, for one, would never pay a pound for a pee, but being a budget traveller, Ryanair’s cheap airfares just might be too cheap to resist! My bowels might have to suffer for it!
Any opinions to share? Would YOU continue flying on Ryanair? A penny for your thoughts!(not literally)
Read more:
- CNN- Ryanair considers charging passengers to pee
- Wall Street Journals – Ryanair toilet fee update
- Irish times- O’Leary confirms Ryanair’s intent to charge flyers for use of toilets
- Telegraph – Ryanair may charge £1 for lavatory use
I am not sure if I will fly with Ryanair again. I flew with them from London to Barcelona, then Barcelona to Venice. Oh, I also flew from London to Dublin. This was in 2006, though. I was happy with the affordable airfare, and I didn't have any bad service. But I'm hesitant now with all these crazy things happening with the blogging, the Twitter account, the pound-for-a-pee thing, etc.
I might fly them one more time. As long as I don't use the bathroom (if that fee is ever implemented), and if I don't have any complaints, I may continue to fly them after that.
The Ryanair Twitter Account was suspended for a little while – maybe they were trying to charge their followers!
Ryanair has many short distance flights, and don't usually use the restroom in a short distance flight anyway. So in that case that won't affect me. As for the long distance flights, yes, I do usually use the restroom. In the end, for me it's just a counting task. Is Ryanair's ticket price + 1 pound (+ luggage fee is any) is still cheaper than other flights with all of their extra costs? If yes, then I take it. Just like before, this is not loyalty to an airline's matter, it's about the cheapest price.
They are doing this so the number of the toilet use will be reduce, then they can take out some of the toilets and allocate the space for seats. With more people being on board, who knows the individual ticket price will be lower? Again, for me in the end it's just about calculating the final cost, and who sells the cheapest flight.
I don't mind if they are making a lot of money, as long as it's still cheap for me
But hey, as long as they don't sacrifice the safety matter of the flight!!
Safety definitely comes first. That’s an interesting thought! Can you imagine how much Ryanair is compromising in order to cut cost, you never know when they will start lowering the safety factor! :O
What they really need to do is put a timer on the door so the girl who wants to spend 45 minutes in there doing her hair and makeup when there's a huge queue forming only gets 5!