All of Ryanair’s wildest money-saving plans revealed together with becoming bogs with coin slots

Ryanair are identified for saving cash by any means vital, however a number of the makes an attempt from the airline’s higher-ups through the years have been baffling to say the least.

All of us keep in mind their makes an attempt so as to add standing seats to their price range flights, which might have elevated passenger capability by 20 p.c.

In terms of Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary and his concepts, there is not a lot stopping him from implementing them.

Rolling the clock again simply 14 years, O’Leary mentioned that he wished his Boeing 737 and 800 fashions to be fitted with 10 rows of ‘standing berths’, in addition to 15 rows of conventional seats.

Fortunately, none of this got here to fruition, but it surely is not the one outrageous cost-cutting concept that he is tried to introduce.

Here is all the things the Irish airline has tried to drag through the years.

Halving the cockpit crew

O’Leary advised to Bloomberg again in 2010 that he may half the variety of pilots wanted – from two to at least one.

“Why does each aircraft have two pilots?” he requested.

The businessman added: “Let’s take out the second pilot. Let the bloody laptop fly it.”

He even mentioned {that a} member of cabin crew may take over if the only real pilot had a medical emergency, however clearly, this would not slide for a lot of causes.

Two pilots are wanted in business aviation for security causes, workload administration, whereas all lowering the chance of human error and cross-checking all actions throughout necessary phases of flying.

Introducing a ‘fats tax’

This is likely to be essentially the most terrible one on the record however again in 2009, Ryanair mentioned that they might be trying to introduce one thing often known as a ‘fats tax’ for obese flyers.

Talking on the time, a Ryanair spokesman mentioned: “A ‘fats tax’ will solely apply to these actually giant passengers who invade the area of the passengers sitting beside them.”

Apparently, O’Leary bought the thought after listening to suggestions from prospects.

“These expenses, if launched, may also act as an incentive to a few of our very giant passengers to lose a bit weight and hopefully really feel a bit lighter and more healthy,” they mentioned on the time.

This was by no means launched although, for a large number of a causes.

Points with bogs

The identical yr, O’Leary instructed the BBC that he was contemplating the prospect of becoming the plane’s bogs with coin-slots, that means passengers must pay £1 to make use of them, like sure bus and practice stations.

Regardless of these claims, Ryanair’s PR chief on the time, Steven McNamara, mentioned: “I do not suppose it should occur within the foreseeable future.

“It is a kind of issues that when Michael begins one thing, you already know, it is at all times up for dialogue.”

Fortunately, the CEO backtracked and mentioned that it would not be possible, as it could go towards EU laws.

As an alternative, he would later contemplate eradicating two of the three bogs on board flights to make room for extra seats, which might save passengers £2 on tickets.

No armrests

It’s possible you’ll get pleasure from a couple of issues with regards to a Ryanair flight, and considered one of these can be your armrests.

Again in 2012, Ryanair mentioned they could scrap armrests altogether to cut back weight onboard – which was (fortunately) by no means finalised.

Additionally they advised lowering the quantity of ice introduced on, in addition to the dimensions of the one type of in-flight leisure on provide – the Ryanair journal.

X-rated in-flight leisure

O’Leary claimed in November 2011 that the airline was engaged on an in-flight app, which might give paid content material to passengers, which would come with playing and pornography.

No, severely.

Talking to The Solar on the time, he advised: “It might be on handheld gadgets. Lodges all over the world have it, so why wouldn’t we?”

What was really carried out?

‘Enterprise’ seats

I do know what you are pondering – you’ve got by no means seen a enterprise class on Ryanair in your life.

Properly, the thought was so as to add a ‘enterprise’ possibility for passengers which might give them a much bigger bag allowance, fast-track boarding and ‘premium’ seating with extra legroom (close to the entrance of again of the aircraft).

It was referred to as ‘Enterprise Plus’ although there was no complimentary meals or drink, lounge entry, or separate cabin.

This package deal is understood often known as the ‘Plus’ possibility when reserving, dropping ‘enterprise’ utterly.

Elevated bonuses for locating non-compliant baggage

Ryanair introduced in Autumn final yr that airport workers can be given limitless bonuses of €2.50 for any non-compliant carry-on baggage noticed.

This has gone up from €1.50, as passengers whose baggage do not match into the scale of 40x30x20cm for a small carry-on without spending a dime, or a small wheelie suitcase of as much as 55x40x20cm, are charged charges of as much as £75.

Their baggage would then be taken into the maintain.

It’s the bane of a number of travellers’ journeys, as some are solely simply realising that workers on the gate are incentivised to weed out outsized baggage.

“We’re going to boost it from €1.50 to €2.50, in all probability from the beginning of the winter schedule in November this yr,” O’Leary introduced in 2025, including: “And I make completely no apology for it in anyway.”

He claimed: “We must always encourage folks. I would like our floor dealing with folks to be catching people who find themselves scamming the system.”