Toilet toll on Ryanair

European budget carrier Ryanair has announced plans to charge passengers a pound to 'spend a penny'.

"Passengers using train and bus stations are already accustomed to paying to use the toilet, so why not on airplanes?" asks Stephen McNamara, a company spokesman. "Not everyone uses the toilet on board one of our flights, but those that do could help to reduce airfares for all passengers."

Punters who choose to fly with Ryanair already have to pay to check in, take baggage and use credit cards, so a coin slot on the loo isn't likely to ruffle many feathers. Frankly, Ryanair passengers don't have two feathers left to ruffle together.

What with the global financial doom and gloom taking its toll on every industry, especially travel, I wouldn't be surprised to see even more 'perks' taken from passengers ... it wasn't very long ago that food, drinks, a pillow and a blanket were given freebies, but now they're how 'the other half' fly.

I like that McNamara likened Ryanair to pleb forms of public transport. It is official — the glamorous days of air travel have well and truly ended.

Check out the results of a recent survey that discovers what Aussies are willing to forego in-flight for a deal.

Would you spend a pound to 'spend a penny'? What else would you give up for a cheap flight?