Ryan air to charge to use toilet

PolishBigSpender

lelasuzi wrote: »

PBS, Please dont say I`m ridiculous. There is no need to be rude. All the examples that you have shown are not "sit in and eat". I`m sure that years ago if you ate in a cafe or such you had to be provided with free handwashing facilities. I said maybe. I dont know about now.

Then why do you insist on mentioning it if you aren't sure about the legal situation?

Roadside 'burger vans' often provide tables and chairs. Certainly some of the more 'upmarket' UK sandwich chains offer limited seating facilities without any handwashing facilities. What about late night kebab shops? Certainly many of them don't offer toilets.

The list goes on...

pebblespop

a lot of subway stores do not have toilets.

anyway the paying for toilets thing was just a pr stunt. they aren't actually going to do it.

mira666

as far as I am aware from when i worked in retail and catering, under UK law any establishment which provides food and or drink for consumption ON THE PREMISES has to provide facilities e.g. toilets etc

places such as burger vans etc do not count as the items are not physically consumed on their premises

hope this helps

PolishBigSpender

mira666 wrote: »

as far as I am aware from when i worked in retail and catering, under UK law any establishment which provides food and or drink for consumption ON THE PREMISES has to provide facilities e.g. toilets etc

If this is true, how do many high end sandwich shops get away with it? Bakers Oven is the example that I'm most familiar with - but Subway certainly doesn't provide access to toilets late at night, among many many others. All of these provide limited seating - and as far as I recall, even McDonalds will often close toilets at night while still providing limited seating provision.

I used to frequent quite a few sandwich shops in London (me, obsessed?) - and very few of the small independent ones would provide any sort of hand washing or toilet facility. Indeed, my favourite 'greasy spoon' in Elephant and Castle shopping centre doesn't provide any toilet facilities either.

I can believe that these requirements apply to staff facilities, but not for the use of the general public.

benjus

Based on a quick look on Google would appear that in the UK the rules are set by the local authority. Taking a random example (Tynedale Council), it requires toilet/washing facilities of some description to be provided in newly opened/refurbished premises, the only exception being in very small establishments with seating for less than 10 customers where the business is predominantly retail or takeaway.

http://www.tynedale.gov.uk/residents/showdesc.asp?id=119

I'm no expert, but I don't think this has any relevance to Ryanair.

OTOH, this document is quite interesting: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/hci/ahwg/ahwgminutesapril07

5.0 RJ gave a presentation about the provision of toilets on aircraft. Currently there were no regulations to require a toilet on an aircraft and RJ wanted the group’s thoughts on whether this was acceptable in today’s world and if there should be regulations or guidelines for airlines to follow. Perhaps along the lines of for a flight of “x” length there should be “y” toilets per “z” passengers.

old_motters

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

If this is true, how do many high end sandwich shops get away with it? Bakers Oven is the example that I'm most familiar with - but Subway certainly doesn't provide access to toilets late at night, among many many others. All of these provide limited seating - and as far as I recall, even McDonalds will often close toilets at night while still providing limited seating provision.

I used to frequent quite a few sandwich shops in London (me, obsessed?) - and very few of the small independent ones would provide any sort of hand washing or toilet facility. Indeed, my favourite 'greasy spoon' in Elephant and Castle shopping centre doesn't provide any toilet facilities either.

I can believe that these requirements apply to staff facilities, but not for the use of the general public.

I don't know why we're getting into the whole arguement of which establishment offers bathroom facilities and which don't but the point is completely irrelevant.

On an aeroplane you are completely captive usually for a minimum of 30 minutes but up to 17 hours depending on the route. Ryanair's longest route is 5.5 hours apparently. Are you trying to tell me, that it's acceptable to charge for toilet useage, which let's be honest here, is not a luxury, when there are NO other options, not even a ditch, alleyway or front garden?

I don't care if it's part of the 'business model' or that it's this or it's that, as an airline Ryanair as should all other airlines, be forced to provide minimum service levels. This should include access to lavatory facilities.

It simply beggars belief that someone could possibly suggest differently.

Nordictat2

old_motters wrote: »

I don't know why we're getting into the whole arguement of which establishment offers bathroom facilities and which don't but the point is completely irrelevant.

Because some people on this forum like to think they know everything and get off on trying to make people feel low and or dumb. I have surely noticed that. Some "regulars are quite nice and VERY helpfull but others like i said...like to prove ya wrong .

As far as bathrooms go...most and I do mean most places to eat etc. are to have atleast one bathroom and that is the law in most countries. Heck...99 % of gas stations have bathrooms but that's besides the point. These days I always carry some antibacterial gel in my purse because ya never know when you'll need it!

Pollycat

old_motters wrote: »

I don't know why we're getting into the whole arguement of which establishment offers bathroom facilities and which don't but the point is completely irrelevant.

I don't know why we're getting into the whole argument about something that may or MAY NOT happen anyway.

Love or loathe Mr O'Leary, he certainly knows how to keep his business in the public eye. :rolleyes:

old_motters

Nordictat2 wrote: »

These days I always carry some antibacterial gel in my purse because ya never know when you'll need it!

You and me both although I carry mine in a rucksack since purses aren't my thing... being a guy and all. Very handy when in places where hygiene is an issue, airplanes are a great place to swap germs etc.

PolishBigSpender

old_motters wrote: »

On an aeroplane you are completely captive usually for a minimum of 30 minutes but up to 17 hours depending on the route. Ryanair's longest route is 5.5 hours apparently. Are you trying to tell me, that it's acceptable to charge for toilet useage, which let's be honest here, is not a luxury, when there are NO other options, not even a ditch, alleyway or front garden?

Of course it's acceptable. There's a toilet available, of which I could avail provided I pay the charge. It's no different to many UK cities - where there are no free public toilet facilities available and the only ones available are CUSTOMERS ONLY.

If you can't control your bladder, then you pay. It's simple and fair.

Isn't urinating in public a criminal offence in the UK? It certainly is in Poland.

I don't care if it's part of the 'business model' or that it's this or it's that, as an airline Ryanair as should all other airlines, be forced to provide minimum service levels. This should include access to lavatory facilities.

Why should they be forced into something that reduces choice for the consumer? I am perfectly capable of making a decision over whether or not I want to fly with an airline that charges for use of the toilet.

I expect Ryanair to do what they've told me they'll do - take me from A to B, leaving on time and arriving on time. Anything else is a bonus - and quite frankly, I'd rather have cheaper fares than have unwanted 'bonuses'. Other people may be different - but the consumers should dictate, not the government.

It simply beggars belief that someone could possibly suggest differently.

It beggars belief that people would rather pay higher fares in exchange for a facility being available that they won't use.