It being Saint David’s Day, it might be appropriate to bring up news from a fellow Celtic nation: Ryanair’s whack-job CEO Michael O’Leary has possibly announced (one never knows whether O’Leary is stating policy or having a wind-up) that the budget airline is considering charging passengers to use the toilets in flight.
Keep in mind that Ryanair is as close as you can get to a Greyhound bus and not make the entire journey on asphalt. Fares are in double-digits (even though the digits be pounds) and the airline famously charges for in-flight beverages, checked baggage and actually, you know, booking a flight.
Ryanair’s flights are probably a maximum of three hours, and the company is as well-known for its disdain for its customers as its cheap fares; but still—charging €1 to use the loo seems particularly egregious.
Commenters are already serving notice that Ryanair could expect to find passenger seats soggier than usual, or that the airsick bags (does Ryanair actually put those out? For free?) will be put to new use.
However, if O’Leary goes ahead I’m sure the move will be watched closely by US airlines. USAir has only just this week grudgingly announced that they’ll stop charging $2 for soft drinks, because while $2 isn’t going to kill anyone, if they’re the only airline levying that particular charge…
Well, whatever. Just keep it in mind that you could be looking at this new charge if you choose to fly in the future, because airlines will do anything rather than raise fares and give you an actually, you know, decent flying experience.
And the connection with Saint David? His symbol is the leek.
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