Not sure about the “no sharks in the Channel” line, though: have you clocked Eurostar’s pricing policy?

@David – so true: there’s so much shouting about Ryanair that most people have missed the fact that the toilet thing is for sub-one hour flights. But you’re right about reputation: my feeling is that most people are aware of the add-ons – they know that Ryanair is probably cheapest if you fly without bags and without expectations. If you want to check in bags/have a drink/choose your seat/fly with kids etc, I think people automatically go elsewhere. Which is just how Ryanair like it.

This said, there’s another important point to factor in here. I always pick the route first, airline second rather than the other way round. If Ryanair is the only airline that flies to Place X, I’ll fly with them.

But, I associate Ryanair with so many add-on fees that I automatically assume their flights will be the most expensive (even though I never check baggage in for European flights). This assumption probably isn’t correct most of the time, but if I have it, others probably will too. Ryanair need to be careful – their reputation for being the cheapest is ebbing away, and being replaced with a reputation for being quite the opposite. And unpleasant with it.

Families is a fair point, but my hunch is that people with kids already avoid Ryanair, partly because of the general lack of customer service, and partly because of the extra fees for checked baggage.

I’m starting to sound like Mr O’Leary’s right-hand man here! All I’ve been trying to say is that there’s a lot of huff and puff about how this is the last straw, the final nail in the coffin – and I simply don’t think it is. It’s just a rather clever, closely targeted way to save money AND boost revenue on a specific kind of flight, which is what good business is all about.

What happens if it’s a particularly bad flight or you feel ill? Do you just stick yourself in the loo rather than keep going back and forth? Is one toilet really enough for any flight? What happens if something goes wrong with this toilet?

It’s not great for people with kids either, as often you have little control over how often or when they need to go.

@mytimetotravel – thanks for coming by! Fair enough: each to her/his own. Enforcing carry-on rules would certainly help, I agree, Like I said, the (short-haul) airline that strips out the overhead bins altogether gets my vote…

I actually feel a bit less annoyed with Spirit – I just want the airlines to enforce the carry-on rules they already supposedly have so we can all board faster (full disclosure – my carry on goes under the seat). But I’m a happy Jet Blue customer.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by matthewteller: Blog: wee shall overcome – my take on Spirit/Ryanair onboard charges http://is.gd/bjKSu...

Ho ho and everyone loves that seat next to the one bus toilet on the overnight Buchanan Street to Kings Cross. Dante-esque!

Ok – well on the plus side from Ryanair – extra 6 seats is what – an extra 2% revenue on a 737…. So 6 extra seats at £50-80 a pop – extra £320-360 revenue? 1 hours flight – 1 toilet – 5 minutes per person – £12? So 6 flights a day extra £2-3K per plane – not to be sniffed at.

But that’s also assuming people drink the same on board – have to assume there will be less tea and juice sales. Also in my experience people are funny about their bladders – might just stop anyone over 50 flying them. That’s gotta screw with the holiday home rental market.
That’s always assuming the toilets airside work. Especially when “de-boarding”.

Might have to get portaloos into Stansted and Luton….wonder if BAA will whack on an extra toilet charge. Also wonder what the CAA will say though – visions of puddles of urine flowing down the aisle…Sainsburys currently have 1/3 off all nappies though (Pampers only)…

Yeah not convinced. But you’re right about Ryanair. Can’t stand them but fly them (like IKEA really) and if you take the necessary precautions (sunglasses, hangover, empty bladder now, wear all your clothes, ipod, well fed) it works.

And like the budgie it’s cheap cheap. Though not so much recently…

Cheers Stu

@Ben – true enough, but then again, if you’re in THAT MUCH toilet discomfort, getting off a bus isn’t going to be much help: aside from the process of hanging on as long as you think you are physically able, then realising that you simply can’t hold off any longer, ringing the bell, getting off the bus, wondering where the heck you are, hunting around for a Starbucks or having to run into the nearest store to ask the 16-year-old kid on duty “Could I please PLEASE use your toilet NOW!” and having to face the inevitable response (“Sorry, health & safety regulations: it’s for staff use only and I’d have to ask my boss for the key anyway…”) – I mean, in that situation, if the bus offered a £1-per-use onboard toilet, of course I’d use it! And gladly. It’s only a pound, after all…

Anyone caught peeing in bottles lays themselves open (justifiably) to arrest on arrival for gross indecency – I’d imagine people in neighbouring seats would raise objections long before the pee hits the plastic, anyway…

Fully expecting to see outraged or controversy seeking travellers peeing in bottles and worst (imagine the stale smell of urine on the Ryannair upholstery – the perfect compliment to your in flight Ryannair experience). Ryannair, got to love to hate them.