Bike Boxes

Robberg said:

Could anyone advise on the availability of bike boxes at
European airports, particularly Frankfurt.

I had no trouble getting a bike box at the USAir desk at
Frankfurt last August. I took a night train from Hamburg
(Harburg actually), got to Frankfurt airport at about 6 AM,
and flew out at about 11 AM. I think Frankurt is very
bicycle friendly for a huge airport.

When the USAir check-in opened about 9 AM, I rolled my
loaded bike into the line and, a few minute later, a USAir
rep came up to me and asked if I was planning to check my
bike fully loaded <grin>. I said no, but, I had no idea what
they would require me to do. He laughed and told me to go
get a box from a desk at the far end of their section of the
terminal, get my bike unloaded and into the box, and then to
find him to get checked in.

I had the foresight to have a roll of duct tape with me -
carried it all summer! - so half an hour later I had my
bike boxed and my other stuff packaged for check-in. I had
no problems other than, as usual, getting a bit dirty
getting the bike packed. I finished check-in and had time
to go get a well deserved large beer before going to my
departure gate.

Mark <cs.unca.edubicycling.htmlOpen ↗

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 10:50:40 +0200, "Robberg" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Could anyone advise on the availability of bike boxes at
European airports, particularly Frankfurt.

When we picked up boxes from Frankfurt Airport in 2002, we
were charged 30 Euros/box. In our subsequent trip in 2003,
we reused the Bike Bags that were given to us on our
outbound flight.

.../Mark

Mark Boyd said:

Robberg said:

Could anyone advise on the availability of bike boxes at
European airports, particularly Frankfurt.

I had no trouble getting a bike box at the USAir desk at
Frankfurt last August. I took a night train from Hamburg
(Harburg actually), got to Frankfurt airport at about 6 AM,
and flew out at about 11 AM. I think Frankurt is very
bicycle friendly for a huge airport.

When the USAir check-in opened about 9 AM, I rolled my
loaded bike into the line and, a few minute later, a USAir
rep came up to me and asked if I was planning to check my
bike fully loaded <grin>. I said no, but, I had no idea
what they would require me to do. He laughed and told me to
go get a box from a desk at the far end of their section of
the terminal, get my bike unloaded and into the box, and
then to find him to get checked in.

I had the foresight to have a roll of duct tape with me -
carried it all summer! - so half an hour later I had my
bike boxed and my other stuff packaged for check-in. I had
no problems other than, as usual, getting a bit dirty
getting the bike packed. I finished check-in and had time
to go get a well deserved large beer before going to my
departure gate.

Mark <http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/bicycling.html>

Thanks, Mark.

Was the box big enough for a minimal breakdown (pedals off -
handlebar stem pulled out and turned sideways)? I aways
stuff my tent and sleeping bag into the box, too. Was it big
enough to handle that? I'll most likely be on Lufthansa
(they fly direct from Denver - DIA), but I assume they will
be much the same (I'll ask.)

I hope to be flying in and out of Frankfurt in July.

..... Having ein große Bier after checking in sounds like a
good idea, too.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO cycletourist.comcycletourist.comOpen ↗
Integrity is obvious. The lack of it is common.
*****************************

Chuck Anderson said:

Mark Boyd said:

Robberg said:

Could anyone advise on the availability of bike boxes
at European airports, particularly Frankfurt.

I had no trouble getting a bike box at the USAir desk at
Frankfurt last

Quoted message said:

Was the box big enough for a minimal breakdown (pedals off
- handlebar stem pulled out and turned sideways)? I always
stuff my tent and sleeping bag into the box, too. Was it
big enough to handle that? I'll most likely be on
Lufthansa (they fly direct from Denver - DIA), but I
assume they will be much the same (I'll ask.)

It was exactly the same box you'd get in the US. There is
some variation in box sizes provided by US airlines, but all
of them I've used were big enough for minimal breakdown.
After loosing my sleeping bag on an earlier
- British Airways - flight to Europe, I don't think it is a
good idea to stuff loose items in a bike box: I suggest
you strap them securely to the rear rack. A direct flight
on Lufthansa should offer minimal risk that the box will
be trasher or that your bike will be damaged.

The use of bike boxes is much less common in Europe where
most bikes fly bare or in a plastic bag. I don't know if
Lufthansa will want your bike boxed for the flight back. If
they don't you may have a problem finding a place for your
tent and sleeping bag.

Mark <cs.unca.edubicycling.htmlOpen ↗

17 Apr 2004 said:

Robberg said:

Could anyone advise on the availability of bike boxes at
European airports, particularly Frankfurt.

When we picked up boxes from Frankfurt Airport in 2002, we
were charged 30 Euros/box. In our subsequent trip in 2003,
we reused the Bike Bags that were given to us on our
outbound flight.

I paid $20 for a USAir box in the US, and wasn't charged for
a second, identical, box at Frankfurt last summer. Policies,
both in the US and in Europe, on things like bike boxes seem
quite unpredictable, which is why I just rolled my loaded
bike into line at Frankfurt. It is one of those go with the
flow sort of things...

Mark <cs.unca.edubicycling.htmlOpen ↗