Flying Bikes

StainlessSteelRat said:

Another question, while I think of it.

What's the experience of taking your bike on an aeroplane? More the
cost of it, and packaging the bike so that it isn't damaged (although
maybe it's still ended up damaged?).

I did investigate with both BA and KLM, and from what I remember they
wanted to charge around £100 and I had to pack the bike in a
cardboard container.
Just curious about experiences.

(btw I spotted the topic about folding bikes, this is in reference to
non-folding bikes e.g. mountain, hybrids etc.)

StainlessSteelRat said:

Hi folks,

Another question, while I think of it.

What's the experience of taking your bike on an aeroplane? More the cost of
it, and packaging the bike so that it isn't damaged (although maybe it's
still ended up damaged?).

I did investigate with both BA and KLM, and from what I remember they wanted
to charge around £100 and I had to pack the bike in a cardboard container.

I have always gone for the minimum of packaging. None, or a plastic
bag. The most I have had to pay was a 20 quid (equiv) supplement on
Lufthansa. All the other flights took it with no extra charge.

...d

StainlessSteelRat said:

Hi folks,

Another question, while I think of it.

What's the experience of taking your bike on an aeroplane? More the cost of
it, and packaging the bike so that it isn't damaged (although maybe it's
still ended up damaged?).

I did investigate with both BA and KLM, and from what I remember they wanted
to charge around £100 and I had to pack the bike in a cardboard container.

Just curious about experiences.

TIA

BA's charges vary according to what part of the world you're flying to
or from. For a transatlantic flight two years ago my bike was counted as
one of my two pieces of checked baggage and was carried free of charge.
No box, no wrapper, just took off the pedals and turned the handlebars
sideways. The website currently says the bike has to be in a box or a
plastic wrapper, to protect other baggage from greasy bits on your bike.
BA took very good care of the bike, by the way.

Last month Lufthansa took my bike as one of my two pieces of checked
baggage, again unboxed and unwrapped, and again the bike was quite well
cared for. Had I checked two pieces of baggage and brought the bike,
they would have charged an excess baggage fee of 100 euros. Lufthansa
also requires travelers to make a (free) reservation for bicycles.
HTH,
mark

mark said:

BA's charges vary according to what part of the world you're flying to
or from.

Thanks for the reply. The previous figures were based on flying to Brazil
from the UK.

Quoted message said:

For a transatlantic flight two years ago my bike was counted
as one of my two pieces of checked baggage and was carried free of
charge. No box, no wrapper, just took off the pedals and turned the
handlebars sideways. The website currently says the bike has to be in
a box or a plastic wrapper, to protect other baggage from greasy bits
on your bike. BA took very good care of the bike, by the way.

It's good to know they took care of it. That bothers me more than anything,
although I guess it depends on the luggage handlers more than anyone, and
they may well vary with airports as much as anything else.

StainlessSteelRat said:

mark said:

BA's charges vary according to what part of the world you're flying to
or from.

Thanks for the reply. The previous figures were based on flying to Brazil
from the UK.

Quoted message said:

For a transatlantic flight two years ago my bike was counted
as one of my two pieces of checked baggage and was carried free of
charge. No box, no wrapper, just took off the pedals and turned the
handlebars sideways. The website currently says the bike has to be in
a box or a plastic wrapper, to protect other baggage from greasy bits
on your bike. BA took very good care of the bike, by the way.

It's good to know they took care of it. That bothers me more than anything,
although I guess it depends on the luggage handlers more than anyone, and
they may well vary with airports as much as anything else.

I'm convinced that, if you can't use a hardshell travel case for some
reason, sending an unboxed bike or a bike in a clear plastic bag is the
best way to go. Hopefully the luggage handlers will recognize that the
luggage is fragile and needs careful handling. Getting to the airport
early and booking an itinerary with as few changes as possible and a
good bit of time between legs of the journey is also helpful, IMHO.
mark