It Wasn’t a Joke: Ryanair to Charge Passengers for Using Toilets

June 4, 2009 | Posted in: Airline News

Holy cow. Ryanair, the Ireland-based budget airline, will add credit card readers to the doors of its lavatories – and, within 2 years, start charging passengers about $1.50 to use the bathroom. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary (whose name in print is usually prefaced in print with the word “outspoken”) has made a lot of outrageous statements over the years. But this latest hoo-hah is being reported in the New York Times – and, for what it’s worth, the Times reminds us that last February, when O’Leary first brought up the idea of pay-toilets, his PR person didn’t go crazy, he just told reporters that his boss “makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along.” Apparently, not this time! O’Leary added, he wants to reconfigure his airline’s 737-800 jets by removing two of its three lavatories, to make room for more seats. As O’Leary points out – and I see his point – the average Ryanair flight time is about an hour, so that shouldn’t be too much of a hardship. Will other airlines charge a bathroom fee? I doubt it, but – what do you think, readers? And, could Mr. O’Leary still be pulling our leg?

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11 Responses to “It Wasn’t a Joke: Ryanair to Charge Passengers for Using Toilets”

1. Aphorism153 says:

   June 4, 2009 at 11:58 am

   In Europe one always pays for public restrooms. So I don’t think there will be too much uproar.
2. K.A.KHAN says:

   June 4, 2009 at 2:39 pm

   Ha Ha
   Whats Next.Ryan air and her sister low cost airlines may ask payment for Breathin AIR while in their aircraft.These ailines like Ryan air,easy jet ,jet 2 already has disgraced the air traveling by useing every cheap method to money
   their customers.its Disgraceful.I Hope the standred Airlines
   will not follow these cheap methods.
3. TWC says:

   June 4, 2009 at 3:03 pm

   Just hope you don’t get stuck in a “holding pattern” or have a “delayed departure” – either of which could result in a “spent fuel jettison” in a highly populated area.

   Aren’t there laws against that?
4. Mary says:

   June 4, 2009 at 3:30 pm

   Approx. $1.50 to use the restroom? How much would it cost Ryanair to deep-clean seat cushions that have been soiled because someone didn’t have a credit card or wasn’t about to pay to use the toilet?
5. Elliot Campbell says:

   June 4, 2009 at 6:18 pm

   Do we really need to legislate the need for complimentary bathrooms on board flights? Otherwise, my opinion is this is going to be a disaster for Ryanair – and its customers.
6. Meg Blick says:

   June 4, 2009 at 8:40 pm

   This is ridiculous, I have spent a year traveling on RyanAir and nothing is good about this flight company except for their prices. They are inconsiderate, completely unhelpful, have no customer service skills, and do not make their policies clear from the beginning. They claim to be on time always, but I have been delayed and inconvenienced at least eight times since October of 2008. I feel like I shouldn’t be surprised by this potential new charge, just add it to the list of problems RyanAir has.
7. Clifford Allum says:

   June 4, 2009 at 9:01 pm

   Now I’ve heard everything. What a stupid decision! Guess Ryanair doesn’t want senior citizens on its flights…you know, that segment of the population that has overactive bladders. At $1.50 a plop, that could make a serious dent in one’s pension. Sorry Ryanair, you just lost two customers.
8. nulle says:

   June 7, 2009 at 7:09 pm

   couldn’t people just prop the bloody door open upon exiting the loo?

   but ryanair is pushing it…why don’t they convert part of the cargo hold to hold passengers…

   then again, why not charge the priviledge of having a seat…why don’t stick standard fare passengers into their 6 x 2 x 1.5′ coffin boxes to cram more people into each plane….it is only an hour in a coffin like box…
9. Boz says:

   March 2, 2010 at 5:01 pm

   Chargeing to use restrooms on a flight is ridiculous if the airline actually does they should be fined each day they do that ,
10. Boz says:

    March 2, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    This Michael oleary needs to be run out of there what is the matter with him maybe you should be charged each time you bring forward a stupid idea
11. Rick Seaney says:

    March 3, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Boz,

    So far, so good – they’ve said they’re going to do it, but hasn’t happened yet.

    Regards,
    Rick