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It seems to be every other day that there is a Ryanair story in the news and another reason not to fly with them. There are plans to charge people to use the toilets on the plane – £1 to spend a “penny”.

The chief executive Michael O’Leary tried to explain the reason behind it saying nobody “has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound” and “We’re all about finding ways of raising discretionary revenue so we can keep lowering the cost of air travel.”

He also said its the same as paying 20p to use the toilets in Liverpool St. train station. However, on the plane you have no choice. I know its only £1 but it just seems like a way of forcing people to pay more money. They will have to spend money to add the coin-slots and at the end of the flight they are still going to clean the toilets (you hope!).

Someone from Which? Holiday has commented and said  “It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers.” “Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though – that would serve Ryanair right.”

Easyjet have said they have no plans to charge people to use their toilets on the plane.

Update: Turns out he was “only joking” and he wont be charging people to use toilets on the plane. This hasnt stopped people coming up with other suggestions on what he can do to save money such as charge for oxygen masks & to use emergency exits.

A few days ago it was announced that Ryanair was to provide a service so people could talk on mobile phones while in-flight on the plane. Loads of people seemed to think it was a terrible idea. It personally would put me off flying with Ryanair.

Now there is another reason added to this. It seems to people in charge of Ryanair – or certainly the spokeman and a “staff member” – doesnt think much of people who blog.

Web developer Jason Roe thought he’d discovered a flaw in Ryanair’s website while booking a flight, and blogged about how it seemed that users could book a flight for a charge of ’0.00′. Someone commented on his post (under the name “Ryanair staff”). (Travolution looked into it and the IP address of “Ryanair Staff” could be traced back to Ryanair HQ):

“jason! you’re an idiot and a liar!! fact is!

“you’ve opened one session then another and requested a page meant for a different session, you are so stupid you dont even know how you did it! you dont get a free flight, there is no dynamic data to render which is prob why you got 0.00. what self respecting developer uses a crappy CMS such as word press anyway AND puts they’re mobile ph number online, i suppose even a prank call is better than nothing on a lonely sat evening!!”

(I dont know what this Ryanair staff member has a problem with WordPress – its one of the most popular blog software out there, I use it and many many other people do).

Jason Roe replies and it goes back and forth a few times. You can read it all either on Jason Roe’s blog or on the Guardian web site.

No matter whos side you are on, what the Ryanair spokesperson has said isnt really the best PR! Here is what the spokesperson said:

“Ryanair can confirm that a Ryanair staff member did engage in a blog discussion. It is Ryanair policy not to waste time and energy corresponding with idiot bloggers and Ryanair can confirm that it won’t be happening again.

“Lunatic bloggers can have the blog sphere all to themselves as our people are far too busy driving down the cost of air travel.”

Unbelievable!!

Ryanair has become the first airline to offer in-flight mobile phone service on some routes across the UK.I think this is a terrible idea. Who wants to be on a flight, your trying to relax and enjoy the flight and some idiot is talking loudly right next to you. We all know people talk louder than normal when on the phone. You get this on buses (apparently since I dont get buses). On trains similar things can happen but on trains you do get “quiet carriages”.

Its only UK flights at the moment but this is where it all starts. If its a success then I am sure other airlines will start doing it and for longer flights. Currently its on 20 planes and the plan to upgrade its 170 plane fleet. Its not cheap to use the service. Calls will cost between £1.50 and £3 per minute, e-mails from £1 to £2 and texts about 40p.

(On some planes for Virgin America they offer Wi-fi which is different and they have actually banned any sort of Voip i.e. you cant go and start using Skype – and annoy passengers with all your loud talking).

Please dont let this happen!! This is one thing which will put me off flying Ryanair.