Ryan Who?

Some days I carefully browse the online news sites for some little tidbit that peaks my interest and provides me with a topic to be used as a creative outlet for my blog. Other days stuff just falls out of the sky, into my lap and onto me, like the bird droppings that just happen to find their way on my head or shoulders or onto my freshly washed and waxed car. These droppings always seem to have my name on them and find me or my car even though there are hundreds of people around me and plenty of freshly washed and waxed cars driving right next to me. This blog entry is about one of those large load of bird droppings that found its way onto my lap. It is about an airline, I use the terminology very loosely, called Ryanair. Ryanair is a airline company that is based out of Dublin and has numerous flights throughout the European market. They like to fancy themselves as a budget/discount airline. From what I have read online, they indeed fall into their desired catagory. Although they do charge little for their flights, it appears that they make up for the lowly flight costs with other "attributes" and charge extra for every little thing possible plus some. I could go on and on about all of the negatives that have been associated with this airline but I don't want to give them anymore publicity than they already get. I think the old addage that bad publicity is better than no publicity at all, applies here. This airline appears to be a huge believer in nickel and diming customers for every penney that they have. Today I am only going to focus on one of their more brilliant ideas that the CEO came up with to add to their profitability. It is the "pay to pee" concept that Ryanairs' chief executive Michael O'Leary came up with. During a press conference last week, O'Leary made a statement to the affect that the days of the unlocked potty are indeed numbered and that his next target would be coin-operated toilets. According to an article written by Shawn Pogatchnik, an Associated Press Writer..... It could also become the next serious money-maker at Ryanair, already Europe's most profitable and aggressively expanding airline. O'Leary estimates if 20% of passengers pay 1 pound (euro1.12, $1.40) to use the restroom, this would generate 15 million pounds (euro17 million, $21 million) annually — which he characterizes as future "fare savings to the traveling public." Pogatchnik continued by writing that....O'Leary said he has asked engineers at U.S. aircraft maker Boeing — which supplies Ryanair's entire fleet of 737-800s — to design toilets with doors that open only if you swipe a valid credit card through the locking mechanism. He conceded that his earlier idea, to make them coin-operated, wouldn't work in part because Ryanair operates heavily in areas using both the euro and British pound.
"We have looked into this before, and the problem is Boeing can't come up with a mechanism on the toilet door to take coins," he said. "We're suggesting they go back and look at a mechanism where you'd swipe the credit card for a quid (British pound) on the toilet door. They've gone off to look at that. ... We are serious."
He didn't seek to soften the impression that Ryanair was happy to make its passengers suffer.
"Most people would go to the loo (toilet) before they get on the plane, or they hold it until they land. You would only have to deal with the people who absolutely have to go," he said.
One positive effect, he said, would be to "reduce an awful lot of the unnecessary visits to the toilet that (expletive) so many passengers off."
What uncecessary visits to the toilet??? I have been on a few flights in my time and have used the planes bathroom once. Believe me..I was very hesitant on going to the back of the plane and doing my business in a little bitty room that wasn't the cleanest room that I have seen. I don't ever remember seeing any lines or people climbing over each other for the privilege of using any airplanes bathroom. As far as I am concerned, it is mainly used as a last resort....when one just can't hold it in any longer. And as far as the part about....(Expletive) so many passengers off?????
If the choice was having a passenger get up and go use the bathroom at the back of the plane versus having that same passenger dribble on the seat and floor next to me, I'll take the prior event every time.
And how did Ryanair come up with the total of 15 million pounds or 21 million dollars that this new rule would generate? Did they have attendents sit near the bathrooms and take a head count on each flight to come up with an average number of bathroom users per flight? Give me a break.
Based on all of the complaints that I have read online and how this airlines does business..... Mr. O'leary there are a couple of things that I can promise you...I will never step foot on one of your planes nor will I ever do any #1s or any #2s........in any of your flying loos!!!!!!
For more info on Ryanair and customer opinions:
Airline Quality Forum

Ryanair Campaign

Ryanair Customers Discussions Board

7 comments:

Toni said...

Paying to pee, though, is a VERY 'continental' concept -- want to use the toilet in a restaurant? Buy a cup of coffee or a bottle of water, or forgettabout it. Public restrooms are a minority rather than easily located, anywhere! And in many of the places we visited, the paid place to pee was a mere hole in the floor, which one shared with those of both genders -- I began to appreciate it if the floor was tiled and not just dirt. I tell you what, maybe it's a woman thing, but when it's time to pee, I WILL pay, despite all grumbling & lack of ambiance. If they start charging for the tissue, too, now I dunno how I feel about that! I don't always remember to smuggle it in my purse or pockets.

♥ Kathy said...

I wrote about this last week some time on my Crazy Life site. I thought it was crazy too.

NYStateBeauty said...

It's easier to just ask where the bathroom is and run! Sprint straight for it before they have the chance to ask you for payment.. bc honestly.. it's ridiculous!

Unknown said...

I can understand having to buy something at a store or resteurant to use the bathroom. Becuase after all it is creating more traffic through the store. But charging me to use the toilet on a plane that i am not able get off of is ludacris!!! Just figure the fees into the ticket if you gotta! What if you dont have a credit card. You have to crap your pants? Sounds like its gonna be a long flight.

Motor-head Lady said...

LOL...I'm dumbfounded.

About the bird droppings, Me Too! I think birds have sent a message out on a bird-wire or some thing when it comes to me. I don't know how many times I've been hit!

I still can't believe an airline really thinks paying to pee is a great idea!

MHL

Prabath said...

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Barry said...

Paying to pee. Is that where the term pp came along?

Will they be charging for seat belts next?

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