If you found yourself caught short on a train or at a bus station you would expect to drop a coin into a slot for access to a public convenience. So why expect it to be any different on a plane?

At least that's the thinking behind what could either be a great PR stunt or the most penny pinching idea put forward by a budget airline. European carrier Ryan Air recently announced plans to charge a UK Pound for passengers to spend a penny.

Ryan Air company spokesman Stephen McNamara also argued that passengers paying a pound could help reduce the fares for other passengers, although we are not so sure a budget aware executive in dire need of relief a few thousand feet up would appreciate this arguement.      

What do you think? Can an airline justify charging passangers a pound to spend a penny and would you be prepared to book with such an airline? Let us know 

What do our readers think?

“The first thing I thought it – let me guess the drinks will be free again? I think the airlines will ‘shoot themselves in the foot’ by doing something like that because who is going to drink on a plane if they know there is an extra cost for the consequences of that extra beer? I understand their costs are increasing and they have to stay competitive but isn’t that buried into the tax and fuel charges? I flew Jetstar to the US and honestly I didn’t mind it at all – making me pay for everything from pillows to my son’s entertainment pack was fine with me because I was able to use less frequent flier points for the flight. However, if they added the toilet into that pay as you go… not sure fewer points would warrant carrying a bag of loose change on board.”
Sarah, QLD

“I find it difficult to comprehend that a budget airline would resort to such a ridiculous idea! Using a toilet on a plane is a last resort idea for me, compared to the comfort of using a toilet on ‘the ground’. They are small, uncomfortable, and if there is turbulence, even worse! People only use them as a ‘must’. It is a convenience that they are obliged to supply under Health Regulations. It would be better to increase the airfare a little to cover the convenience, rather than have people having to produce money, and the correct amount, to have to ‘spend a penny’.”
Iris

“Definitely not! The length of journey by train or bus would not generally equate to the plane journey time. Anyway if train or bus journeys are lengthy, toilet facilities are provided free. Also, restaurants must provide facilities and they do not charge either. We pay enough for a flight to cover this necessary amenity.”
Anon

“Good grief! If I had to pay a pound to use the toilet in flight then I would expect it to be spotlessly clean with good quality toilet paper, hand towels, soap etc.”
Pat, NSW

“There is no way whatsoever that I would ever book with an airline that you would have to pay to use the toilet. I think this is just ludicrous. How do they propose catering for foreign passengers that would not have a GB pound coin? Would they carry enough pound coins and would the cabin crew be able and/or qualified to calculate the relevant exchange rates? What would happen if they ran out of pound coins would the passenger have to sit in discomfort and/or be in the totally embarrassing situation of messing themselves? If I was put into this situation, I would certainly place a law suit on the airline for compensation if this was to happen to me and I am not one that would normally go down this route but if ‘push come to shove’ in this case I would not hesitate.” 
Alison, NSW

“Outrageous! Ryan Air company spokesman Stephen McNamara is obviously a young man and has yet to reach the age of prostate issues… or will OAPs, and I mean pensioners, be given dispensation!”
Patrick, NSW