Bikes/Ryanair

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, according to the Tandem Club, BA have a new limit of
62" which I think would preclude any tandem that doesn't split. (And
recumbents as well? not sure)

It's worse than that:

"There is an overall H+L+W of 62 inches, which seems to preclude tandems
(and is a bit tight for a solo) and a stipulation that cycles should be
"in a travel case specifically designed for that piece of equipment".
Apparently, says the CTC, they will accept heavy duty polythene bags, but
there's still the problem of dimensions."

According to my sums, one'll need to take the wheels off the average solo
bike to get it to fit those dimensions. Getting any of my recumbents to
fit would require a major demolition / remolition job.

I wonder what the skiers think?

My recumbent bagged up is about 14"wide x36"long x 36" high.
The main criteria is it must pass thro the outsize x ray machine-or-its not
flying.
My flight bag looks like its been round the world twice-the check in staff
do nt give it a second look I tend to leave old flight "heavy bag" stickers
on it.
Mind you I have not flown BA with it.
Tam

Dave Larrington said:

In
news:[email hidden],
[email hidden] <[email hidden]> tweaked the
Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, according to the Tandem Club, BA have a new limit of
62" which I think would preclude any tandem that doesn't split. (And
recumbents as well? not sure)

It's worse than that:

"There is an overall H+L+W of 62 inches, which seems to preclude
tandems (and is a bit tight for a solo) and a stipulation that cycles
should be "in a travel case specifically designed for that piece of
equipment". Apparently, says the CTC, they will accept heavy duty
polythene bags, but there's still the problem of dimensions."

According to my sums, one'll need to take the wheels off the average
solo bike to get it to fit those dimensions.

I can't see how you get the any normal solo within the total you quote. My
guess is that BA have either decided to stop carrying most luggage or arsed
up their website dimensions. At the moment, I suspect [censored]-up, as it looks
like the value from a normal bag has been transcribed to the sporting goods
limit.

My solo is 42in wheelbase, and from bottom of chainring to top of seat-tube
is 29in. Add those and I'm over 70inch total, ignoring any width. So, even
if I remove seat-pin, steering quill, rack, mudguards, wheels, etc. I cannot
get under 62in in two dimensions, let alone three. I doubt I could get
under the dimensions on just the bare frame alone, without forks.
If I come down a couple of inches in wheelbase, and the same in seat tube
length, to a more typical average bike, its still over-size on the frame
alone.

Quoted message said:

Getting any of my
recumbents to fit would require a major demolition / remolition job.

Quoted message said:

I wonder what the skiers think?

My cross country skis(*) are circa 180cm long (or 72inch in old money).
210cm are not uncommon for track skis. For downhill, I use 160cm skis,
which are around 20cm wide, so again, at least 180cm in two dimensions (or
72in), and assume zero thickness.

However, I suspect [censored]-up on the dimensions as their ski policy states "The
majority of skis comply with maximum dimensions, although all skis will be
accepted." Apart from children's skis and a few ultra-short types, I don't
think any adult ski will fit inside the cumulative dimensions.

(* sort of equivalent to a proper all terrain MTB use ).

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

On 16 Nov, 12:46, "Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Innews:[email hidden],
[email hidden] <[email hidden]> tweaked the Babbage-Engine
to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, according to the Tandem Club, BA have a new limit of
62" which I think would preclude any tandem that doesn't split. (And
recumbents as well? not sure)

It's worse than that:

"There is an overall H+L+W of 62 inches, which seems to preclude tandems
(and is a bit tight for a solo) and a stipulation that cycles should be "in
a travel case specifically designed for that piece of equipment".
Apparently, says the CTC, they will accept heavy duty polythene bags, but
there's still the problem of dimensions."

According to my sums, one'll need to take the wheels off the average solo
bike to get it to fit those dimensions. Getting any of my recumbents to fit
would require a major demolition / remolition job.

I wonder what the skiers think?

I can imagine BA not caring about bikes, but skiers must be an
important part of their revenue on some routes, so I checked their
website, which says:

"Customers will be able to carry one piece of sporting equipment free
of charge in addition to their checked baggage allowance.

The new British Airways policy has a maximum bag weight of 23kg
(51lbs). However, to allow our customers to become familiar with our
new baggage policy and weight limitations, we will continue to accept
bags at check-in weighing up to 32kgs for travel completed by 30
September 2007.
Maximum size and weight

We will not accept oversized items exceeding 2.5m x 1.00m x 0.80m
(98in x 39in x 31in), with the following exceptions: musical
instruments, electric wheelchairs, some sporting items, TV news
cameras, commercial spares. If you are travelling with any of these
items, please notify us at the time of booking, or at a minimum of 24
hours before departure."

So 98 x 39 x 31 sounds ok for pretty much any bike (but I'm sure
someone will find an exception. I guess some heavy bikes might exceed
51 lbs.

Not sure where the 62" came from - I saw it at the Tandem club and
Dave had obviously seen it somewhere.

Rob

Quoted message said:

On 16 Nov, 12:46, "Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Innews:[email hidden],
[email hidden] <[email hidden]> tweaked the
Babbage-Engine to tell us:

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, according to the Tandem Club, BA have a new limit of
62" which I think would preclude any tandem that doesn't split. (And
recumbents as well? not sure)

It's worse than that:

"There is an overall H+L+W of 62 inches, which seems to preclude
tandems (and is a bit tight for a solo) and a stipulation that
cycles should be "in a travel case specifically designed for that
piece of equipment". Apparently, says the CTC, they will accept
heavy duty polythene bags, but there's still the problem of
dimensions."

According to my sums, one'll need to take the wheels off the average
solo bike to get it to fit those dimensions. Getting any of my
recumbents to fit would require a major demolition / remolition job.

I wonder what the skiers think?

I can imagine BA not caring about bikes, but skiers must be an
important part of their revenue on some routes, so I checked their
website, which says:

"Customers will be able to carry one piece of sporting equipment free
of charge in addition to their checked baggage allowance.

The new British Airways policy has a maximum bag weight of 23kg
(51lbs). However, to allow our customers to become familiar with our
new baggage policy and weight limitations, we will continue to accept
bags at check-in weighing up to 32kgs for travel completed by 30
September 2007.
Maximum size and weight

We will not accept oversized items exceeding 2.5m x 1.00m x 0.80m
(98in x 39in x 31in), with the following exceptions: musical
instruments, electric wheelchairs, some sporting items, TV news
cameras, commercial spares. If you are travelling with any of these
items, please notify us at the time of booking, or at a minimum of 24
hours before departure."

So 98 x 39 x 31 sounds ok for pretty much any bike (but I'm sure
someone will find an exception. I guess some heavy bikes might exceed
51 lbs.

Not sure where the 62" came from - I saw it at the Tandem club and
Dave had obviously seen it somewhere.

Same website, look under sports equipment link on left menu.

As I said earlier, I suspect its [censored]-up rather than policy. I think the
dimensions you quote above will be the sporting goods dimension limits.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:09:32 GMT, "tam" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

KLM are pretty sneaky they do nt bother on your outward flight they get you
coming back.

KLM require advance booking and approval, a KLM bicycle box (not any
old one) and a fixed charge for the first 20kg, plus the standard
excess fee above that *even if* you haven't checked in any other bag.
That information is very clearly available on their webshite, as I had
no difficulty finding it.

What you mean is that you got away without paying the correct charge
on the outbound and were miffed when it was imposed on the inbound.

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

"archierob" <[email hidden]> wrote

[snip]

Quoted message said:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any experiences or comments regarding your experiences of taking
bikes
with Ryanair would be much appreciated. Also apologies if this
question has been answered in the recent past but my experience
with
Ryanair (mostly good I might add) means the goalposts are in a
constant, dynamic, ongoing, vertical/horizontal position
realignment
situation - that is they keep moving the goalposts!

Cheers.

Luton -Dublin, four years ago

Home made bag from a taped up sheet of polythene from B&Q

Wheels sticking out a little so bike could be wheeled in bag - a
couple of pieces of duct tape to close bottom

If its in a big bag, it goes on top of all the piles of luggage, or
leaning on the side of the pile, not on the bottom

I didn't lower the saddle, which meant the bike only just fitted
through the big x-ray machine, by the baggage guy and I holding the
bike up diagonally. Don't ask why they x-ray it. Its the rules.

Jeremy Parker

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

KLM are pretty sneaky they do nt bother on your outward flight they get
you
coming back.

KLM require advance booking and approval, a KLM bicycle box (not any
old one) and a fixed charge for the first 20kg, plus the standard
excess fee above that *even if* you haven't checked in any other bag.
That information is very clearly available on their webshite, as I had
no difficulty finding it.

What you mean is that you got away without paying the correct charge
on the outbound and were miffed when it was imposed on the inbound.

Not at all I booked by phone and told them I was taking my trike I had no
intention of dodging their fee.

I used my trike cover and there were no problems.
However I can see that if you do nt use their KLM cycle box they have carte
blanche to refuse the bike.
Tam

On Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:31:35 GMT, "tam" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Not at all I booked by phone and told them I was taking my trike I had no
intention of dodging their fee.

Did they not mention it at all, then? (It is due at check-in, just
like any other excess baggage fee in KLM's case).

Neil

--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the at to reply.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Not at all I booked by phone and told them I was taking my trike I had no
intention of dodging their fee.

Did they not mention it at all, then? (It is due at check-in, just
like any other excess baggage fee in KLM's case).

They were obssessed about deflating the tyres and I must admit I just
mentioned the zero forgetting the 6 before it.
Nope no mention of charge whatsoever.
Tam

O

Quoted message said:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any experiences or comments regarding your experiences of taking bikes
with Ryanair would be much appreciated. Also apologies if this

I flew ryanair east midlands to girona in august.Here is what I posted
on return:
I was amused by the baggage handlers at east midlands airport on
4/8/07 while waiting for my flight out.
Of a dozen or so cycles being off loaded only one took the short way
down, although several looked as though they might.
Anyone get a semi-flat bike off the BMI flight landed about 6pm that
day?

My bike survived intact but I still say do not take a nice bike.

The check in baggage handlers made me deflate my tyres again, which is
a real pain in the a.... and lacks reason.They do not seem to
understand that if we flew to the moon the relative decompression
could not interest my tyres a bit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I took off the wheels and handlebars and encased the rear mech and
chainwheels with cardboard and added cardboard between things, the
saddle was down , crank tied to the downtube with masking tapeand a
bag of tools and tubes also in the soft unpadded bike bag which I
closed with string so that they could get in without slashing it
open.I enquired by phone before going and was told to book the bike in
on the day, when I got a return ticket for 30gbp.There were no
problems.
Next time I will take a really good pump, and highly unlikely I would
hand over a very nice bike without a proper boxround it.

I did not see any wheels-on bikes at the airports , but last autumn
flew with friends EM TO PALMA on bmi baby.they just turned the bars
dropped saddles and removed pedals and applied a cardboard sheath
leaving the bottoms of wheels and saddles out so the bikes could be
wheeled.Mine was the only one damaged: a bent chainwheel which I
hammered flattish with a rock later.
I think I still prefer the bike bag because I have the impression it
is less likely to wind up the airport staff, although it must be true
that it could get dropped or crushed under a pile .
TerryJ

spindrift said:

I flew ryanair to Biarritz from Stansted and from Pau to Stansted.

On both trips I took the pedals, off and turned the bars.

That's it.

Nothing else.

No packing, no cardboard, no bubble-wrap, no tape, no splints, no bag.

The bike was treated brilliantly- I sat over the wing in Pau and
watched the baggage handlers treat the bike very carefull- it was last
on.

The lady at Pau checked it was ok, and the security bods queried the
pedal spanner in my hand luggage and that was it.

I've had both ryanair and BA flights with bikes, one to the alps, the
other to italy. The BA one threw the fully boxed, labelled, bikes from
the baggage compartment and put the hubs through the boxes and chipped
the frames. The Ryanair flight at least tipped them out end-on so they
only bounced on the fork and punctured the box with the disc caliper...