Yikes! Better not drink a lot of water if you fly RyanAir!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/feb/27/ryanair-toilet-charge

This is disgusting.  How many new ways can airlines find to treat passengers like cr*p?  Probably best not to ask . . .

This is disgusting.  How many new ways can airlines find to treat passengers like cr*p?  Probably best not to ask . . .

I dunno...considering how cheap some RyanAir fares are, I don't consider this to be a big deal. I mean, if you're paying 10 pounds for a flight - I don't begrudge them an extra pound if I have to go potty. And if you're on a relatively short flight (my DH flew between England and Ireland for 1 pound a few years ago) you may not even need the toilet.

*shrug*

Well, that counts us out for any future RyanAir travel...DH has a bladder the size of a pea!  The 45-minute flight from Teesside to London usually sees him make not one but TWO bathroom trips! 

I hate Ryanair so much! Yes, their fares are cheap, but the extra costs are ridiculous. I flew Aer Arann the last time I flew to Dublin from England and it was like flying first class compared to Ryanair. The ticket was a little more expensive (but not much) and I was able to check a bag for free. The customer service was also fantastic.

I wonder if the government will let them get away with this. I might be speaking out of my butt, but I seem to recall during the big stranding of 2006(?) in the US reading somewhere that airlines are required to provide some kind of basic services like water and restrooms. One presumes for free. So if I am recalling this correctly, doesn't EU have higher standard of passenger protection?

I dunno...considering how cheap some RyanAir fares are, I don't consider this to be a big deal. I mean, if you're paying 10 pounds for a flight - I don't begrudge them an extra pound if I have to go potty. And if you're on a relatively short flight (my DH flew between England and Ireland for 1 pound a few years ago) you may not even need the toilet.

*shrug*

Yeah, but you're not paying £10 for the flight unless you have no baggage and you don't eat anything and you go at the exact time on the exact day that they specify.  Also, they wouldn't let my husband and me book our flights together because I don't have an EU passport.

I seem to recall during the big stranding of 2006(?) in the US reading somewhere that airlines are required to provide some kind of basic services like water and restrooms. One presumes for free.

Exactly . . . what if someone has an emergency and they've only got 50p?  Imagine having to beg for potty money from your airplane neighbors.  Flying is undignified enough already. 

Yeah, but you're not paying £10 for the flight unless you have no baggage and you don't eat anything and you go at the exact time on the exact day that they specify.  Also, they wouldn't let my husband and me book our flights together because I don't have an EU passport.

I guess just in my own experience, my DH and I have only ever flown RyanAir in those exact circumstances. No baggage (or very little), and if it fits in to our schedule and is cheap. If I don't want to deal with the extra charges because I'm going to have a lot of baggage or the flight is more expensive than I reckon RyanAir is worth I fly with another company.

Exactly . . . what if someone has an emergency and they've only got 50p?  Imagine having to beg for potty money from your airplane neighbors.  Flying is undignified enough already. 

That would be terrible - I agree. Speaking as someone who also has a *very* small bladder as well as IBS.

I guess I just lump RyanAir into the category of "you get what you pay for" ie cheap flights that are only good in certain circumstances.

I think if you read the article to the end, it says that this is an idea that they've been discussing internally but have not yet decided to act on. 

My boyfriend sent me this:


Hehehe

I guess on one hand, they do have those £10 fares. But on the other, I think I'd rather pay £11 or £12 to have the potty privileges thrown in.

This is really winding me up.  I saw the interview this morning and what is being reported is at best taking a bit out of context.

I actually really like the Ryan Air guy and he talked a lot of sense.

I guess I just lump RyanAir into the category of "you get what you pay for" ie cheap flights that are only good in certain circumstances.

Even if they did implement, which is unlikely, I agree with you.  It is a dirt cheap flight, so I would just make sure I had some change on me.  I don't get all the hoopla.

This is really winding me up.  I saw the interview this morning and what is being reported is at best taking a bit out of context.

I actually really like the Ryan Air guy and he talked a lot of sense.

Even if they did implement, which is unlikely, I agree with you.  It is a dirt cheap flight, so I would just make sure I had some change on me.  I don't get all the hoopla.

Totally off-topic, but your screen name makes me think of the song by Hall&Oates that i looove (even though my name is not Sarah!)

Its you and me, foreverrrrrrrr

Sarah smiiiiiile

Won't you smile awhile for me...Sarah....

:-D

Airlines listen when passengers vote with their money.  If RyanAir do implement this and their profits do not suffer, you can bet other airlines will follow.

  Also, they wouldn't let my husband and me book our flights together because I don't have an EU passport.

Hmm...my hubby and I fly RyanAir twice a year and always book our flights together, online and I have a US passport and he has a UK passport.