Airlines Fees for Toilet Use + More

This week, two budget airlines are in discussions with regard to unprecedented fees for their customers. Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary has admitted to pondering coin-operated toilets on their airplanes. Spirit Airlines, who recently had an issue with their employees over aprons with advertising, has proposed a special passenger usage fee for buying tickets. This fee would be accessed for consumers who purchase their Spirit tickets anywhere except the Spirit ticket counters.
Ryanair © Scott_W_9

It’s difficult to believe that Ryanair will actually go through with charging their clients to use in-flight toilets. While airlines have the right to make a profit, this measure challenges basic decency. What if a customer doesn’t have the correct change?

Spirit Airlines, on the other hand, already has a track record for initiating special fees in order to maintain their low-ticket costs. They claim that an agreement has already been reached with the U.S. Department of Transportation. While it’s an inconvenience to loyal Spirit passengers, it’s still part of the overall cost comparison for ticket buyers.

Read about bus traveling taking off in the United States.

Read about Delta’s decision to charge overweight passengers double the fare.

 
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.

 

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Travel Sites May Raise Hotel Taxes

State and local governments, across the United States, are challenging online travel websites who book hotels at discount prices. Representatives, for the governments, are claiming that booking sites such as Orbitz, Expedia, and Priceline are able to offer lower rates by collecting taxes on the cost incurred by the travel site instead of the rate paid by the consumer. Read more at the NY Times.
Capsule Hotel, Japan © Robert Paul Young

Online booking sites provide a quick and relatively inexpensive method of securing hotels and airfare. The recent dispute will likely result in an increase in overall room cost for consumers. With travelers already taking a hit, because of the economic downturn, the timing of the news is hardly ideal. That being said, taxpayers will benefit from the additional funds allocated to their local governments.

Should travel sites be required to increase taxes that are collected on hotel rooms?

 

Looking to make up the cash lost on the hotel tax? Read about free hotel activities in Las Vegas. Prefer to rant about consumer rights? Check out Darren Cronian’s Travel Rants. Darren is always looking out for travel consumers. He helps to keep the tourist industry on its toes.

 
___________________________________________________________________________________
Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.

 

Receive our free content by e-mail directly to your inbox or through an RSS reader.