Bikes on Planes!

Hiya,

I recently brought my Bike from Tasmania to UK to do LEJOG with no great
problems.

Most airlines require the bike to be boxed these days. Just get a cardboard
bike box free from your LBS. Remove fromt wheel, reverse the pedals and
remove handlebars. Some bikes may require both wheels off. Take off
deraillieur to stop it getting bent. Tape up box and there you go.

Most ailines charge luggage by weight, but some make concessions for
"sporting goods". I was charged nothing on the way over, but 100 quid on the
way back. . go figure, or smile at the ticket officer.

I did manage to get to Heathrow by train from Kent with the bike in the box
and backpack etc, but it is a bit of a struggle. So much easier with the
baggage ON the bike.

Don't be too put off and enjoy the trip. . .

Dave H

"savispud" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dear All,
this topic may have been made redundant by recent events. However, I
hoped to take a bike with me to Canada, the first time I have done this
for 6 years, I found I as to be charged and that I should dismember the
bike and put it into a package. No one explianed how I was to get this
package to the airport. I decided against taking it.

What is the general experiance of people taking bikes on planes. I
appreciate that things could change in the near future.

AND Mudguards, AND Chain, sigh! Would a bike bag be a good investment.

DaveH (at dot) said:

Hiya,

I recently brought my Bike from Tasmania to UK to do LEJOG with no great
problems.

Most airlines require the bike to be boxed these days. Just get a cardboard
bike box free from your LBS. Remove fromt wheel, reverse the pedals and
remove handlebars. Some bikes may require both wheels off. Take off
deraillieur to stop it getting bent. Tape up box and there you go.

Most ailines charge luggage by weight, but some make concessions for
"sporting goods". I was charged nothing on the way over, but 100 quid on the
way back. . go figure, or smile at the ticket officer.

I did manage to get to Heathrow by train from Kent with the bike in the box
and backpack etc, but it is a bit of a struggle. So much easier with the
baggage ON the bike.

Don't be too put off and enjoy the trip. . .

Dave H

"savispud" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dear All,
this topic may have been made redundant by recent events. However, I
hoped to take a bike with me to Canada, the first time I have done this
for 6 years, I found I as to be charged and that I should dismember the
bike and put it into a package. No one explianed how I was to get this
package to the airport. I decided against taking it.

What is the general experiance of people taking bikes on planes. I
appreciate that things could change in the near future.

savispud said:

AND Mudguards, AND Chain, sigh! Would a bike bag be a good investment.

DaveH (at dot) said:

Hiya,

I recently brought my Bike from Tasmania to UK to do LEJOG with no great
problems.

Most airlines require the bike to be boxed these days.

it varies between airlines; FE Easyjet require it to be enclosed,
Ryanair seem OK with bin liners and BA even provide a bag. A bike bag
is a very good investment but they are rather cumbersome at the other
end. If riding from the airport and touring at the other end a box is
better (Halfords are more than happy to get ride of them); although you
will have to find/make one on the way back (not usually difficult but
allow plenty of time to pack it all up)

DaveH wrote on 20/08/2006 00:47 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Most airlines require the bike to be boxed these days. Just get a cardboard
bike box free from your LBS. Remove fromt wheel, reverse the pedals and
remove handlebars. Some bikes may require both wheels off. Take off
deraillieur to stop it getting bent. Tape up box and there you go.

I've never had a problem taking bikes on planes and that includes two
tandems unwrapped. Its always worth getting a copy of their policy if
its on their website or phoning customer services well before you travel
and get them to confirm their policy in writing. Hand it to the check
in agent right at the start before any discussion begins because it
saves them having to back down from positions they have taken.

George Farnsworth's site is a mine of useful information and personal
reports on airlines and airports.
http://www.bikeaccess.net/BikeAccess/default.cfm

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

MartinM said:

savispud said:

AND Mudguards, AND Chain, sigh! Would a bike bag be a good investment.

DaveH (at dot) said:

Hiya,

I recently brought my Bike from Tasmania to UK to do LEJOG with no great
problems.

Most airlines require the bike to be boxed these days.

it varies between airlines; FE Easyjet require it to be enclosed,
Ryanair seem OK with bin liners and BA even provide a bag. A bike bag
is a very good investment but they are rather cumbersome at the other
end. If riding from the airport and touring at the other end a box is
better (Halfords are more than happy to get ride of them); although you
will have to find/make one on the way back (not usually difficult but
allow plenty of time to pack it all up)

According to Dave Holladay in September's C+, it's all due to change:

"New BA luggage allowances, which will be applied in final form this
October.

<snip>

one item of sporting equipment free of charge (which will include
bicycles). The bad news is that the move to T5 at Heathrow has lead
BA to set a maximum weight limit of 23kg for any item, and maximum
dimensions of 75cm x 75cm x 240cm.

<snip>

If you can imagine a square frame which you can pass a 700c wheel and
tyre through with about an inch clearance on each edge that is the
size you have to fit with your packed bike."

Tim

Tim Hall said:

one item of sporting equipment free of charge (which will include
bicycles). The bad news is that the move to T5 at Heathrow has lead BA to
set a maximum weight limit of 23kg for any item, and maximum dimensions of
75cm x 75cm x 240cm.

Quoted message said:

If you can imagine a square frame which you can pass a 700c wheel and tyre
through with about an inch clearance on each edge that is the size you
have to fit with your packed bike."

That's plenty. I've just measured the mountain bike and all it would need
to fit into there is to take off bars & stem and the seatpost, and it will
fit no problem. It's going to be one hell of a big box though. Think
that 70cm x 70cm gives a diagonal of 99cm, and put the bike across the
diagonal. I could get the 'bent into that too, just by taking off the
bars & stem and the seat (4 small clamps).

Mike

Tony Raven said:

George Farnsworth's site is a mine of useful information and personal
reports on airlines and airports.
http://www.bikeaccess.net/BikeAccess/default.cfm

another site is
www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm
Iain

Tim Hall said:

MartinM said:

savispud said:

AND Mudguards, AND Chain, sigh! Would a bike bag be a good investment.
DaveH (at dot) wrote:

> Hiya,
>
> I recently brought my Bike from Tasmania to UK to do LEJOG with no great
> problems.
>
> Most airlines require the bike to be boxed these days.

it varies between airlines; FE Easyjet require it to be enclosed,
Ryanair seem OK with bin liners and BA even provide a bag. A bike bag
is a very good investment but they are rather cumbersome at the other
end. If riding from the airport and touring at the other end a box is
better (Halfords are more than happy to get ride of them); although you
will have to find/make one on the way back (not usually difficult but
allow plenty of time to pack it all up)

And get a taxi big enough to transport you and your bike unless you
find some way of transporting your packing materials on your bike.

Quoted message said:

According to Dave Holladay in September's C+, it's all due to change:

"New BA luggage allowances, which will be applied in final form this
October.

<snip>

one item of sporting equipment free of charge (which will include
bicycles). The bad news is that the move to T5 at Heathrow has lead
BA to set a maximum weight limit of 23kg for any item, and maximum
dimensions of 75cm x 75cm x 240cm.

<snip>

If you can imagine a square frame which you can pass a 700c wheel and
tyre through with about an inch clearance on each edge that is the
size you have to fit with your packed bike."

The length isn't going to be a problem for an upright, I don't know
how bents will fare. A 700C with /any/ tyre should pass through
easily. The limiting factor is going to be the height of an upright
bike without wheels, taller riders are going to have to take the seat
pin and stem out. But thinking about it laterally what happens if you
lean the frame over at an angle to pass through the square? The
maximum 2-D size that will go through is 1.05m x 2.40m :-)
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Last year my girlfriend and I took our bikes to the Netherlands. We
flew KLM which is a very bike friendly airline. We got a couple of
boxes from the LBS and packed them in a way already mentioned above.
Tip: Deflate the tyres!
We worked out the weight and I only had to pay excess on my bike as we
were travelling light. On our return we bought special KLM bike boxes
at Schiphol which were a bit pricey at 35 euros each but were much
bigger than what we had brought the bikes over with. We were also
informed that there was a fixed price for transporting bikes in boxes
regardless of weight which is handy for adding a few extras.
As mentioned above visit the airline's website and call both the local
office and the country of origin office for your particular airline. I
say this a Birmingham didn't charge us a fixed price on the bike going
out but Schiphol did.
The other alternative is a folding bike and a hard case as offered by
Dahon/Carry Freedom.
Hope this helps.

MikiStrange said:

Last year my girlfriend and I took our bikes to the Netherlands. We
flew KLM which is a very bike friendly airline. We got a couple of
boxes from the LBS and packed them in a way already mentioned above.
Tip: Deflate the tyres!

Why?

Tim

Tim Hall said:

"New BA luggage allowances, which will be applied in final form this
October.

my clubmate flew to Nice BA for La Marmotte; they didn't charge for his
bike box (which also contained my bike bag) but they did mutter
something about a £60 fee being charged soon; so maybe if it exceeds
the dimensions shown you have to pay. EasyJet and Ryanair must be
coining it with their £17 each way as most cyclists still carry less
weight than the average tourist (and about a 1/10th of what Mrs M
insists on taking)

MikiStrange wrote on 21/08/2006 11:16 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Tip: Deflate the tyres!

Totally unnecessary.

Quoted message said:

We worked out the weight and I only had to pay excess on my bike as we
were travelling light. On our return we bought special KLM bike boxes
at Schiphol which were a bit pricey at 35 euros each but were much
bigger than what we had brought the bikes over with. We were also
informed that there was a fixed price for transporting bikes in boxes
regardless of weight which is handy for adding a few extras.

Next time try BA. They don't charge and they don't make you deflate
your tyres.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

savispud said:

Dear All,
this topic may have been made redundant by recent events. However, I
hoped to take a bike with me to Canada, the first time I have done this
for 6 years, I found I as to be charged and that I should dismember the
bike and put it into a package. No one explianed how I was to get this
package to the airport. I decided against taking it.

What is the general experiance of people taking bikes on planes. I
appreciate that things could change in the near future.

My brother and I took our bikes on the Virgin Atlantic flight to San
Francisco (he was doing the Alcatraz Triathlon) a few years ago.

Used a bike bag from Evans (the Neil Pryde one).
Took wheels off, defalte tyres and put them in the wheel bags.
Dropped the saddle, that's about all that I needed to do.
Even stuck a track pump in the bag.

Booked a people carrier taxi to get to the airport.

Check-in was easy but this is partly due to the regular flying I used
to do for my work and my frequent flyer status allowed us to check in
at Premium Economy even though we were flying Economy. Someone came to
the check-in desk while we were checking in and took the bike bags away
from us so we didn't have to deal with them at all.

No problems at the other end however my chainring is now slightly
warped. (This is the risk of using a bike bag, even though it is
padded, and not a box). Reminds me to look for a replacement 9-speed
(53/39) Veloce crankset on Ebay.

Not charged any extra (probably thanks to frequent flyer status).

-Alex

Alex said:

Reminds me to look for a replacement 9-speed
(53/39) Veloce crankset on Ebay.

Quoted message said:

-Alex

I've got one I was just about to list on Ebay. Used so a little
scuffed etc but bags of life left in it. Both rings in good condition.

Could take a photo or two and send your way if you're interested.

"Bob"
--

Email address is spam trapped, to reply directly remove the beverage.

Call me Bob said:

Alex said:

Reminds me to look for a replacement 9-speed
(53/39) Veloce crankset on Ebay.

Quoted message said:

-Alex

I've got one I was just about to list on Ebay. Used so a little
scuffed etc but bags of life left in it. Both rings in good condition.

Could take a photo or two and send your way if you're interested.

Yes please, my email address is valid.

-Alex

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Tony

Raven) said:

Next time try BA. They don't charge and they don't make you deflate
your tyres.

They do charge in Germany. Well, all airlines do. Cycles are subject to
a 25 euro departure fee in German airports. I didn't have to do much
tho'. I was asked to remove the pedals and turn the handlebars in line
with the top tube. And they didn't even weigh it. I was a bit worried
but they told me they bag it and sure enough it arrived at Heathrow with
not so much as a scratch.

I put the pedals in my hand-baggage and this caused a slight fracas at
the x-ray. Next time I'll put them in my hold luggage.

In article <[email hidden]>

Tim Hall said:

MikiStrange said:

Last year my girlfriend and I took our bikes to the Netherlands. We
flew KLM which is a very bike friendly airline. We got a couple of
boxes from the LBS and packed them in a way already mentioned above.
Tip: Deflate the tyres!

Why?

Because the hold isn't pressurised, so the tyre will effectively be at a
higher pressure than it normally is and may blow off the rim or be
damaged.

Rob Morley wrote on 22/08/2006 00:44 +0100:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>

Tim Hall said:

MikiStrange said:

Tip: Deflate the tyres!

Why?

Because the hold isn't pressurised, so the tyre will effectively be at a
higher pressure than it normally is and may blow off the rim or be
damaged.

If it went into outer space at most it would raise the tyre pressure
15psi but as holds and cabins are pressurised to 8000ft (or the
operating ceiling is restricted otherwise) it makes less than 5psi
difference. If it wasn't pressurised your family pooch in the hold
would asphyxiate at 20,000ft.

On a 100psi tyre the change is equivalent to going out riding on a warm
day and is less than the accuracy of most pumps. Do you deflate your
tyres on warm days?

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Tony Raven said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Tip: Deflate the tyres!

Why?

Because they always, always request that you do. And it's not worth the
aggro explaining why one shouldn't have to!