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My guess is that if they actually implement this, it will get re-considered when someone doesn’t want to pay pulls an Axel Rose in the aisle (yes, I said when on purpose, and not if). The revenue from the bathroom scheme probably won’t cover the cost of the carpet cleaning, or hopefully, its replacement.
Will this charge also apply to trans-atlantic flights if they do start flying those as they say? This is starting to make UA’s failed plan to charge for meals on transatlantic flights look like nothing!
I wonder what they will charge if you simply pee on the floor.
Taking into account that a lot of international sites/companies accept only plastic issued in the USA/Western Europe/Japan/Australia the plan to charge using “valid credit cards” leaves non-valid-cards-owners without access to vital service, hence hugely disappointed with Ryanair despite the low fares.
In addition to andyash’s point, let’s not forget that not everyone likes to carry or use credit cards, and therefore doesn’t have one. For most of us, we like to have the option. What about those with credit problems in the past, and don’t carry a card because they are afraid to go into debt again. Or what happens to the guy who really has to go, yet his/her card gets declined for legitimate or non-legitimate reasons. If the technology breaks down in flight and no one can get to the bathroom, what happens then? Not being able to buy, say duty-free on a long-haul, or say food on a domestic AA or UA flight because the system isn’t working is one thing, but not having access to a necessity like a bathroom is in a class of its own.
If Mr. O’Leary follows through with his shenannigans, his company will forever be associated with sh*t. He may already be reaping such consequences.
Sometimes I need to go to the Hausel on an airplane to throw up. Why don’t I do it in the aisle? Reasons are obvious.
And, wet floors hah! What about all those very damp seats? Will the airline be able to sell those?
Keep tryin’, Ryan.
Low cost only works when it is significantly low cost vs comfort.
For example, I flew with Tiger air a few years ago (when low cost was good) for $6 USD from Singapore to Phuket, no surcharge for luggage, clean and new air plane, and good service. It was a good deal.
Now I was so sorry that I flew with Air Asia last month from Bangkok to Guangzhou. Check-in took 1 hour and half, yes1.5 hrs. Air Asia had thousand passengers all checking in at the same time. There was no frequent flier mileage credit, no lounge, no food, and had to pay a fee for checked luggage and seat selection.
By that time I realized that I could have paid just a little more to fly with Royal Jordanian (one-world member) to pay zero USD , yes nothing, for luggage, lounge access, & frequent mileage credits.
I picked Air Asia because I only needed a one-way ticket.
Ryanair will be on my No-fly list.