Thaindian News

April 10, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): A small European airliner, Ryanair, has announced that they will be charging their customers a fee for using the in-flight toilet facilities. This seems to be one of the most bizarre taxes ever to be enforced upon the masses. The airliner has clarified its stance stating that this system will encourage the passengers to use the airport facilities instead of the onboard ones.

A charge of $1.50 is going to forced upon the passengers who would like to use the toilets. In addition to this, they are also going to be charged for check in baggage.

This decision has raised quite a debate on the other side of the Atlantic and the US Senate is now toying with the idea to push a bill, which would require the airliners to disclose all the charges. Artificial low charges often succeed in conning a layman.

Even though Ryanair doesn’t fly to the US, the Senate still felt annoyed by this surprising move.

Committee spokesperson, Jim Berard, expressed his discontentment by stating, “It is understandable if the airline charges for amenities and services like extra luggage, or even a blanket or a pillow, but to charge for basic amenities as such is unthinkable.’’

Another important issue raised was that, when the base fare is reduced, the airliners manage to wriggle out of paying the appropriate taxes, which go towards maintenance of the airport facilities and the air traffic.

“The fare in one sense is being kept artificially low,” he says, adding that Congress is concerned about the transparency issue, as well.

The airline also plans to introduce standees-only tickets which would expect the passengers to hang on to rails and handles throughout the flight!