Ryan air to charge to use toilet

PolishBigSpender

old_motters wrote: »

As discussed, no it's not even close to the same. Loo's on the train are free to use. The correct analogy would be BAA charging to use the loo's at the airport. But they don't.

I'm surprised that BAA haven't, actually.

And I couldn't give a monkeys what's acceptable in Poland.

Just as Ryanair couldn't give a monkeys about UK law. They're registered in Ireland, operate under Irish aviation laws and would be very unlikely to be bothered about UK laws when they don't have to be licenced by the UK authorities.

I disagree, as a captive passenger, I believe the airline should have legal minimum service/comfort obligations in addition to making money. This should include potable water, and access to a toilet FOC.

Then you'll pay more - after all, who is 'paying' for you to have these things free of charge? Just like 'free' baggage and 'free' meals, the consumer was paying for all these things before the dawn of low cost airlines. I ask you - why should I have to pay for someone else to use the toilet, or indeed any facility on the plane?

The only reason it isn't an CAA/JAA obligation is that no airline until Ryanair has been stupid enough to consider what Ryanair considers to be reasonable business practice.

Your naiveness is breathtaking. I very much doubt that the CAA/JAA are interested in toilets in planes - why would they? It's not their job to set comfort levels, it's their job to ensure the airworthiness of the airline. Seat pitch may be one exception - but given that Ryanair is actually bigger than the minimum, it says a lot about what they actually think of economy class passengers.

wickedwolfie wrote:

I hope Ryanair do attempt to charge for toliets and look forward to them (yet again!) losing a case under the Discrimination Disability legislation - remember the wheelchair charges saga?

The thing you fail to take into account is that they were discriminating against less able passengers with the wheelchair charges. With this proposed charge, they're discriminating against no-one - so the DDA simply wouldn't present a problem. If there was a case under the DDA, then any provider of toilets would be forced into providing free access to the disabled. This isn't the case.

I do love when armchair lawyers try and make out that they have the faintest understanding of the law.

Michael O'Leary is one of the biggest adverts for regulation against unfettered capitalism - a truely loathsome man. I only hope that something happens such that he loses his wealth and he has to become a consumer of the sort of "price is all, stuff the quality" product he pedals.

What part of 'you do not have to fly Ryanair' do you not understand?

Given that it seems to be back on the radar, why don't we discuss how BA and Virgin colluded in recent times to actively exploit the consumer with fuel charges? Now *that* is loathsome. Of course, some people will grudge any business a profit.

notakid wrote:

I'd be very surprised if this happened.
At first people would be put of buying a drink or a snack from the staff if they knew they had to pay for the toilet too, I realise it would probably settle down but less people would buy the refreshments. That would hit in the pocket much more than a pound for the lav

I'm not an economist, but the revenue gained by not having to fly two toilets in the sky (quite considerable, look at the weight of toilets!), plus not having to carry water, plus reducing the chances of something breaking and causing the plane to stay on the ground, plus less weight carried in refreshments - all these things may actually increase profitability for Ryanair. There'll be money saved on maintainence too.

And less toilets = 6 extra people paying.

tingtong

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

If you don't take bags, check in online and use a Visa Electron card, you can avoid their charges. It's not rocket science.

The free use of Visa Electron card may not last much longer - this is taken directly from their Table of Fees in the FAQ section:

Visa Electron - As a special offer to Visa Electron card holders, Ryanair, for a limited period only, will not apply a Debit Card charge

Have a look here for yourself:

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=CHARGES

PolishBigSpender

tingtong wrote: »

The free use of Visa Electron card may not last much longer - this is taken directly from their Table of Fees in the FAQ section:

Visa Electron - As a special offer to Visa Electron card holders, Ryanair, for a limited period only, will not apply a Debit Card charge

Have a look here for yourself:

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=CHARGES

I'm wondering how long this will last, to be honest. I don't know why they're continuing to do it - especially as many other online retailers will charge for using any card, so the principle of a card fee is well established.

Without knowing Ryanair's rational for free acceptance of Visa Electron, it's difficult to say.

tingtong

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

I'm wondering how long this will last, to be honest. I don't know why they're continuing to do it - especially as many other online retailers will charge for using any card, so the principle of a card fee is well established.

Without knowing Ryanair's rational for free acceptance of Visa Electron, it's difficult to say.

You know full well why they don't charge for using an Electron card. It's so they can advertise flights at prices that the vast majority of people will not actually be paying. They have simply picked the card that is least commonly used.

When you say 'especially as many other online retailers will charge for using any card', you must be using the wrong retailers. I can't think of many that I use that charge for using a credit / debit card.

For those who haven't already seen this, it's pretty amusing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3so6AJe4UQ

Hauptmann

I have been a supporter and regular customer of Ryanair for many years (since they had only about two departures a day from Stansted !). HOWEVER I think O'Leary is progressively losing his marbles. One of our offspring lives in Spain so we are regulars on that route, plus we take breaks all over Europe through the year. Nowadays, where possible, we use other low-cost airlines in preference to Ryanair. They've made their rules, regs and charges so complex that even 'old hands' like us can get 'caught out' and it certainly seems that the company's mission is now to bamboozle the customer into all sorts of additional charges. Talking to other passengers it seems that many are 'reluctant customers'.
I have no idea whether the toilet charge is for real, but if it is I can imagine some (male) passengers making use of an empty drink container for the duration of the flight!

Pollycat

tingtong wrote: »

The free use of Visa Electron card may not last much longer - this is taken directly from their Table of Fees in the FAQ section:

Visa Electron - As a special offer to Visa Electron card holders, Ryanair, for a limited period only, will not apply a Debit Card charge

Have a look here for yourself:

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=CHARGES

That statement has been on the Ryanair website at least since August 2008:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=13469287&highlight=visa+electron#post13469287

lelasuzi

Hi, I`ve never flown Ryan air. Do they sell food, ie sandwiches etc? If so is`nt there some kind of law where they have to provide hand washing facilities? Maybe a stupid question.

Volcano

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

many other online retailers will charge for using any card, so the principle of a card fee is well established.

No it's not, only travel companies seem to be the ones using this unacceptable rip-off.

To the other poster: Yes, Ryanair sell sandwiches and basic food. Though it's not that cheap so you're better taking your own (or buying it from boots or somewhere after going through security).

PolishBigSpender

tingtong wrote: »

You know full well why they don't charge for using an Electron card. It's so they can advertise flights at prices that the vast majority of people will not actually be paying. They have simply picked the card that is least commonly used.

Is it really the least commonly used? It might be in the UK, but Visa Electron is the 'standard' card in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe - all of which are significant Ryanair destinations. Certainly in Scandinavia and Poland, Visa Electron is also issued as a credit card, unlike in the UK.

lelasuzi wrote:

Hi, I`ve never flown Ryan air. Do they sell food, ie sandwiches etc? If so is`nt there some kind of law where they have to provide hand washing facilities? Maybe a stupid question.

First of all, you'll have to check under Irish law.

Secondly, many retailers in the UK offer food without providing hand washing facilities - so I imagine that it's yet another 'I think it is cause the man in the pub said so' law.

Volcano wrote:

No it's not, only travel companies seem to be the ones using this unacceptable rip-off.

Would you rather that the card fees get added to the cost of the fare? I quite like being able to get even cheaper fares - and don't see why I should be charged just because of people that are too stupid to obtain a Visa Electron card.

Yet again, it's a loophole when it goes for you and a RIP OFF SCAM when it goes against you.

notakid

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

I'm not an economist, but the revenue gained by not having to fly two toilets in the sky (quite considerable, look at the weight of toilets!), plus not having to carry water, plus reducing the chances of something breaking and causing the plane to stay on the ground, plus less weight carried in refreshments - all these things may actually increase profitability for Ryanair. There'll be money saved on maintainence too.

And less toilets = 6 extra people paying.

I don't think that they can cram more seats in the place, many flights I've been on have had empty rows of seats which you are unable to use, I was told this is due to the balancing of the plane when flying.

The staff need a toilet too, and I think many people with small children would resent paying to change a nappy so will do it on the seats. I wouldn't like to be the staff to clean up the aftermath.

Its headlines, not real. If they really wanted to save costs with the Lavs they could half the number in use.