Ryanair CEO Unapologetic About Cutbacks, Bathroom Charges

nytimes.com:

Michael O'LEARY, chief executive of the European budget airline Ryanair, was discussing his new scheme to charge passengers to go to the bathroom.

Most passengers - the "discretionary toilet visitors" as he calls them - would eventually forgo in-flight bathroom use altogether, he predicted. Which is good, because he would also like to reduce the number of bathrooms per plane, to one.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[joeyfoto]

Before I left for London, but after i had booked a flight on RyanAir, I posted a comment questioning my decision.

I am - right this minute as I type - sitting on a duffle bag in London's Stansted Airport, after RyanAir wanted to charge me 392£ (about $560) for normal luggage. I came expecting to fly with two bags that weighed a total of 41 kilos about 85 pounds). I had already paid 30£ EACH, with my reservation, to fly with two bags, but when I got to the airport I was informed that it said those bags had to be under 30 pounds TOTAL.

When I said that would work my way back to London and take the train to France, they said fine. when I asked for a refund the ticket-clerk sent me to a counter where a customer service creep threw a strip of printout at me and said "You can write to that address but you won't get anything" Then laughed at me.

I have been around the world about 5 times; I have never been treated with this contempt by an airline before in my life. I am about to spend my 65th birthday on a train instead of being with friends in the South of France, because RyanAir believes in deceptive fine print and not in customer service.

I should have canceled my reservation after I heard Michael O'Leary, RA's CEO speak. He's a jerk and his company reflects his character.

[joeyfoto]

I'm about to take my first RyanAir flight this week - from London to Marseilles - after reading this unapologetic CEO speak, I wish that I'd taken the train.

[EndTheEcho]

It would be great to see the CEO pelted with some used urinal cakes.

[freethinking moderate]

First, we had snakes on palne. Now, we're going to see trucker bombs on a plane!

[Faraja]

I really like this CEO :)

[alienobserver]

Having just flown with Ryanair this summer in Europe, I can say it was organised, speedy and clean. People carry less luggage because of stiff penalties, thereby cutting back on the time and space required. And at about a third of the cost of major airlines Ryanair will definitely win on the economic front.

[NewYawker]

I am curious as to which airport you used.

I have a really difficult time checking in at STANSTED airport. I was there over an hour before my flight, but still did not make it in time due to long - unorganized - lines. In addition, we were blocked from entering the airport due to a fire alarm issue - this incident killed about 15 minutes. Of course, RYANAIR has no sympathy for this sort of thing. "I don't care about your Granny," etc.

[joemac1114]

Ryan Air joins Wal-Mart as companies I will avoid with my dollars.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

He's well on his way to being the Walmart of the airline industry.I can only imagine what he pays his employees and how screwed over they are.

[uprt]

I'm sure the urine and feces loaded carpets will pack the seats.

[RobertHenryEller]

Actually, as O'Leary is largely in the business of transporting booze-soaked UK soccer-hooligan types to and from otherwise pleasant vacation spots they frequent ("Vacation spot" is definitely the right word for these travelers; they vacate everything on site - bowels, bladders, stomachs, etc.), he clearly knows the market, and is making a canny business decision.

On the other hand, he risks his passengers forgetting they haven't arrived at their destinations yet. In that case, cleaning up the cabin might take longer than wiping down the loo.

[MuchMadness]

Discretionary visits to the toilet are a big hassle when traveling. Just ask former senator Larry Craig.

[bola47]

roflmao

[CosmicChaos]

As a person with problems with Diarrhea, one bathroom might be enough for me for the entire flight but what is everyone else going to do? Pee into the drink cups?

[sej100]

With all of the increases in prices and fees does anyone understand that salaries are NOT rising so people will not buy, pay or use these services.

And thus the economy cannot rebound truly.

So GOP keep wages low and prices high and no one buys from the corporations you so promote.

GOP in bed with the insurers so much so they lie and lie to the people they are supposed to represent.

I am so ashamed of the US government

[rissole]

As long as Michael O'Leary understands that I will never fly in one of his planes I'm happy.

[robotfog]

why doesn't the fathead just raise the ticket prices?

The government better not bail this guy out. Unless it's with a urinal.