Airline pay toilets may have arrived

If it were left up to Michael O'Leary, the creative CEO of Dublin based budget carrier Ryanair,  who already has a flair for picking passenger's pockets with add on fees, charging passengers to use its proposed aircraft's single toilet will become a reality. The one British Pound fee, equivalent to about $1.50, or six quarters for American travelers, is the latest hurdle that could be facing budget travelers, and follows closely on the heals of Spirit Airlines announcement to charge for carry on luggage. National Public Radio and other media sources have confirmed this week, on Wednesday April 7, that Mr. O'Leary is actively pursing this option.

CAPTIONS: (ABOVE LEFT) Ryanair B737-800 cabin with advertising on overhead lockers and safety cards on seatbacks (Photo from Wikipedia/Common Usage - Public Domain); (BELOW RIGHT) Searching for correct change at a European pay toilet (Google Images); (BELOW LEFT) A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 departs Birmingham International Airport, England (Photo from Wikipedia Commons by  Arpingstone/ Public Domain); (BELOW RIGHT BOTTOM) A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 at Manchester Airport (Photo from Wikipedia Commons / Public Domain)

Three videos on flight safety and airline fees follows this article.

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Boeing has actually looked into the problem, and advised that a mechanism accepting coins from multiple currencies is not feasable. Instead, they suggested placing a credit card swiper on the door. Perhaps even on the inside as well.

Mr. O'Leary told the BBC last Friday, "One thing we have looked at in the past, and are looking at again, is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door, so that people might have to actually spend a pound to 'spend a penny' in future." That is a polite British euphemism for relieving oneself. He assured the interviewer that he wasn't joking.

For several months we have been telling colleagues, including the Minneapolis Airlines/Airport Examiner, that free toilets will one day become just a memory, along with recollections of complementary pillows, blankets, free playing cards, and food service in coach. Of course they all laughed, but this is no laughing matter, especially when nature calls at 39,000 feet.

To make matters even worse, Ryanair is also considering removing the remaining two lavatories from its fleet of 227 all Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which currently serve 153 destinations, and replacing them with four more seats to generate additional revenues. This is the same carrier that tried to charge added fees for those in wheelchairs until the European Union pointed out it violated equal provision laws for persons with disabilities.

Pay toilets on U.S. carriers may be a harder nut to crack as the FAA requires that all airlines provide "adequate levels of service". But don't hold your breath, or for that matter, any other part of your anatomy. "Pay to go" and "holding pattern" may take on whole new meanings, even among domestic carriers.

For Ryanair, it's just another notch in their profitability belt, along with selling smokeless cigarettes aloft, charging extra fees for tickets purchased with credit cards, or purchased at the airport - a practise they have since discontinued, now requiring all passengers to buy their tickets online, charging an extra 30 Euro surtax for travelers with a second carry on bag, including items purchased in the duty free shop, placing advertising signs on the sides of the overhead storage lockers, and putting safety cards on seat backs to stop people from taking them as souvenirs.

How they will discourage those exiting the head from holding the door open for the next in line may seem a daunting challenge, but perhaps they have already come up with a solution. Will they also charge to exit the loo? Electrify the door itself? Collect extra for toilet paper? Set a timer to automatically eject occupants? Don't give their bean counters any ideas, or tempt fate. Just bring plenty of coins along on your next trip, and spend some time in the airport bathroom before you fly!

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