A rumour no more: Ryanair institutes pay-to-pee policy
Last year, when Ryanair proposed charging customers to use its airline toilets, there was really only one thing more ridiculous.
Actually doing it.
Yes, the no-frills, high-profile Irish airline is back making headlines again this week, finally instituting its rumoured pay-to-pee policy that has the world’s travelers up in arms.
Ryanair announced Wednesday morning it was already working with Boeing to retrofit 168 of the outfit’s planes with coin-operated toilets.
For Europeans, or any Canadians travelling overseas, a trip to the onboard loo will cost one pound or euro, “whichever you have on you,” according to the Dallas Morning News.
“By charging for the toilets we are hoping to change passenger behaviour so that they use the bathroom before or after the flight,” a Ryanair spokesman told TravelMail.
Now, consumers of the world shouldn’t totally be surprised by this move. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary is like Richard Branson on speed – he’s no stranger to spectacular business moves that get people talking.
And airlines have long been known to institute ridiculous fees wherever they can. For any objections, I’d like to direct the court to Spirit’s $45 carry-on bag fee, American’s $100 unaccompanied minor fee and Delta’s “if you book your ticket over the phone and not online, that’ll be $25” fee.
But paying to pee at 35,000 feet is one move, headline-generating or not, that might bite Ryanair in the long run.
The airline says it’s making the change, in part, so it can add six extra seats in each Ryanair cabin. Yet, isn’t there a chance the airline’s now pissed off enough people that they could lose far more than six airfares per flight because of something as antagonizing as pay toilets?
More importantly, as MSN’s own James Havers pointed out last year, won’t there be a good chunk of travelers that might scoff at buying booze on flights – a major airline revenue generator – if they now have to spend a couple bucks each time they have to pee?
As Canadians, thankfully, we’re still a bit removed from Ryanair’s policies. We don’t have an airline here nearly as discount as Ryanair is, and those are the only types of outfits that could get away with such a ludicrous policy.
But the pay-to-pee movement isn’t totally impossible this side of the Atlantic. If Ryanair can pull it off, who’s to say Southwest, for example, couldn’t do the same south of the border?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Josh | Apr 8, 2021 4:59:42 PM
Well I sure hope that no one with a medical condition boards a flight with that company. Just because someone pees a lot does not mean that they should charge them for it. All in the name of a few extra seats to make more money for a billionare who likely has a complete walk in washroom on his private plane. Why do we little people sit by and take the abuse that big brother deals out to us? Why do we not unite and defend the right to have fair treatment? These people are getting rich of of your dime so why do we let them treat us like cattle?
Can anyone answer those questions?
Posted by: JackieJack | Apr 8, 2021 6:42:45 PM
If you are going to charge to urinate, why not start charging by the pound? Each seat could include a scale and you only pay according to your weight. Remeber, it costs more to fly a heavier plane. You could even install smaller seats on the plane and charge thin people less for these smaller seats. Another suggestion - Add standing room only seats (I mean spots on the plane), similar to a bus. I am sure you can design a stand-belt to satisfy safety standards.
As for charging to pee, once the first person 'goes' in their pants because they don't have a euro, they may rethink their policy. Even better, don't change your baby's diaper to avoid the new charges.
Posted by: Al | Apr 8, 2021 8:30:33 PM
You people sound like 3rd graders or typical north american adults.
It's a no frills airline, if you don't like the policy, don't book with them. Pay double with other airlines for the convneience of having to wait an hour to use the bathroom because someone wants to read the paper while taking a dump.
you'd rather not pay a buck to pee than $100+ on the ticket. i like your math, i think i will fly Ryan air and keep lots of change in my pocket literally and metaphorically.
Posted by: Linda | Apr 8, 2021 9:29:39 PM
REELLLAAAXXXX people... If you want to continue paying 5 euro/ticket this is what you will have to tolerate! People forget that their other option is paying hundreds of dollars for standard airlines... RyanAir is providing you will unbundled pricing for your own benefit and yet you complain! You have other options if you want to pay for them. You get angry over paying a euro to pee and yet don't complain when another airline charges you a 700% markup for the same route! Crazy.
Posted by: Wellie | Apr 8, 2021 9:57:59 PM
If you choose Ryanair,for economy sake,then bring with you blanket and pee bag. while filling up your pee-bag cover it w/ blanket..then empty it up to the airport..and if you made a spill thats not your problem its the airline.. and the next passenger. A solution right?
Posted by: tab | Apr 8, 2021 10:32:03 PM
Id just pee on the seat... or where ever else
Posted by: don | Apr 9, 2021 11:59:02 AM
i have read all the comments.the flight att. from canada is a liar and an assehole.if you have to go then go in the back of the plane where she has her free lunch or dinner. she probaly would like the smell. i think this gives the country ryan air flys out of a bad name.to the 63 year old he is a liar and an asshole and no dought a share holder
Posted by: Rich | Apr 9, 2021 5:47:29 PM
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but is it not illegal to dispatch a passenger plane without a functioning toilet. If I don't have the correct change, then as far as I can see they are not providing me with a lavatory and are in contrevention of the regulations.
Posted by: Patrick Louch | Apr 11, 2021 3:51:33 AM
"As Canadians, thankfully, we’re still a bit removed from Ryanair’s policies. We don’t have an airline here nearly as discount as Ryanair is, and those are the only types of outfits that could get away with such a ludicrous policy."
You're right, paying $200 more for a ticket is much better than paying $1 less for a pee.
Posted by: chay | Apr 11, 2021 3:01:27 PM
To the Canadian Flight attendant.....I'm a nurse. If you are holding your bladder that long, expect to have to wear diapers when you reach your mid 40''s to 50's. Holding your urine for too long does alot of damage. Oh, and try and tell a child that.....young children don't have full control of their bladders. Alot of female seniors and pregnant women also have difficulty holding their bladder as well. (sounds like this airline is primarily targeting the elderly and women!). Absolutely ridiculous for an airline to charge to use the washroom! I hope people relieve themselves right in the aisles!
Posted by: Jefafa | Apr 11, 2021 3:40:35 PM
Remember! "You get what you pay for"!..... lol. in this case chizit! Man what are their Aircraft like? Are they held together by Duct Tape. My life is worth a lot more than saving a couple hundred bucks!
Posted by: Eric | Apr 11, 2021 3:57:14 PM
Nelly, I'm thrilled that you can hold your own for 15 hours. But could you do it on your first day? Do you expect children to do it? Seniors?
Charge the extra buck to my ticket and let me piss in peace.
Posted by: AW | Apr 11, 2021 4:53:31 PM
I spent a summer cleaning up the cabins and bathrooms at a discount airline. Anything to keeppeople from ebing in, on or around the bathrooms or doing anything in general on an aircraft is fine with me. I had to unjam the garbage rammed tight with diapers, feel underseats for who-knows-what, and people felt pretty comfortable using anything but the bags (which were left anywhere, untied, for anyone but the user to clean up). I did this for just over minimum. Then there was the damage - do you have any idea how expensive aircraft parts are?
A lot of people seem to have no issue abusing other people through selfish actions like these, then, they get up in arms.
Posted by: Deb | Apr 11, 2021 5:29:39 PM
People will probably just hold the door for each other, the way they do now. So one person may have to pay the fee, but everyone else can just hand off the door. Unless they instruct flight attendants to police the door - now that would be pathetic!
Posted by: Fred | Apr 11, 2021 6:40:32 PM
Just pee in the corner - it'd serve them right!
Posted by: don | Apr 11, 2021 7:06:49 PM
to the flight attendent she is a liar or has infection in the bladder.to the 63 year old he is no dought a share holder and has a pay toilet in his house. just go in the back of the plane while flight att. eats free lunch or dinner. make sure the pilots pay also.
Posted by: TEMPEST | Apr 11, 2021 7:57:51 PM
I agree with the individual regarding peeing in the seats. Ifthey must cleanseats after every flight they may think twice.
Posted by: BabaBooey | Apr 11, 2021 8:34:23 PM
I used to fly coast to coast a half dozen times in a calendar year as well as 1 international/London trip.
I reduced my flying to a few visits and have visited London only once in the last 5 years because of the hassle of Airport Security, US Customs Officers and lastly all the Airline Tom Foolery.
in 2009 I flew once from Canada to Arizona. This year -- 2010 -- I've no interest in flying anywhere, but will rent a car. It will be a rare event in the future for me to fly.
How many other frequent flyers have the Airlines lost? Keep it up guys!
Posted by: proud to not be Irish | Apr 11, 2021 8:43:41 PM
I would deliberatley get my 2 small children to pee on the seat's and then have the nerve to say to the crew "it was an accident". It will cost them more to get that pee out of the seat for more than 1 pound. So, let's get together parents and seniors and pee on those seats.
Posted by: Bernadette | Apr 11, 2021 8:54:02 PM
One thing nobody's hit on yet: banks will exchange paper money, but do not give out foreign coins. So, if you're flying INTO Ireland from anywhere else, you will not yet have pound/euro coins. Unless the flight attendants start offering change (and if they did, I bet anything they'd charge a usurious conversion charge), many passengers will be unable to access the loos at all. Adult nappies, that's the way to go! Better yet, stick to airlines that treat their passengers like human beings!!