Cycles on planes - newish rules

I fold my Brompton and place it in a large clear polythene bag supplied
by BA for rucksacks. Add fragile tape and off it goes. I'd like to see
it fit in the standard box!

Useful info for any new owners, but I haven't heard from any on this
group for a while.

regards,

Daren (who thinks you can get a Brompton into any thread...)
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Vincent Wilcox <[email hidden]> wrote:

: This is from Ryanair and they have change the box stuff to "should" but
: should is not must. And they've backed down on deflating the tyres.

Personally I'd never subject a bike to Ryanair's baggage handlers without at
last a bag and a lot of padding. A box is better.

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a
lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes

That's good, though all the arrivals I saw were on Ryanair and all had
boxes.

The baggage handling staff said the new rules were "stupid".

Easyjet have this on their site:
* The bicycle must be packaged in a bicycle box or bag
* Only one bicycle per bicycle box or bag will be permitted
* No other items can be carried in the bicycle box (i.e. clothing)
* The tyres must be deflated
* The handlebars must be flush with the frame
* The pedals must be flush against the frame or removed

I am certain that had I not used a box, my bike would not have been
damaged.

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

Quoted message said:

iakobski wrote:

Quoted message said:

Airport checkin staff are without doubt the biggest bunch of [censored] in
the animal kingdom, they are a branch of [censored] Sapien known as [censored]
[censored].

"Never put down to malice what can be explained by incompetance."

I work in aviation. Airport staff are just like BestBuy or CircuitCity
staff: $8/hour drones.
Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed. 😉

Sorry to hear about the bike damage. :\

iakobski said:

I've just flown back from Spain (I'll post some details of the ride
there at some point) and would like to make everyone aware of what were
described by the airline staff as "new rules".

Airport checkin staff are without doubt the biggest bunch of [censored] in
the animal kingdom, they are a branch of [censored] Sapien known as [censored]
[censored].

I rang Malaysian Airlines head office in London regarding the
transportation of bikes on their planes, wheel it up handle bars turned,
pedals off and the old chestnut tyres deflated. Fine, caused a bit of a
hoohaa at Heathrow with the checkin staff who wouldnt believe me but
fortunately an official of Malaysian Airlines said it was fine. The
return leg of the journey however I got a total [censored] who didnt work for
Malaysian Airlines telling me that it was their new policy. Bollocks,
unfortunately it is airport policy that you are not allowed to feed the
staff knuckle sandwiches.

Which airline was it? Check their policy and print it off when you fly
but remember you are at the mercy of the little hitlers at the checkin
counters and youre bike could end up in Afghanistan.

Vincent Wilcox said:

iakobski said:

I've just flown back from Spain (I'll post some details of the ride
there at some point) and would like to make everyone aware of what were
described by the airline staff as "new rules".

This is from Ryanair and they have change the box stuff to "should" but
should is not must. And they've backed down on deflating the tyres.

Having said that a friend flying with three bikes 1 adult and two
childrens was informed by the massive [censored] at the desk that it was
Ryanairs policy to remove the front wheel. She had no tools and the
staff would not help her so they had to go in left luggage and it
involved tears which probably gave the sadistic [censored] the horn.

http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=bag&quest=sportsequipment

Special advice for the carriage of bicycles
The pedals must be removed (or fixed inwards). The handlebars must be
fixed sideways. The bike should be contained in a protective box or bag.
It is not necessary from a safety perspective to deflate typical tyres
found on bikes and wheelchairs for carriage in the hold. However, to
eliminate the small risk of them being damaged by bursting, you may wish
to deflate the tyres. Understandably this decision may be influenced by
how easily the tyres could be inflated upon arrival.

daren said:

I fold my Brompton and place it in a large clear polythene bag supplied
by BA for rucksacks. Add fragile tape and off it goes. I'd like to see
it fit in the standard box!

Useful info for any new owners, but I haven't heard from any on this
group for a while.

regards,

Daren (who thinks you can get a Brompton into any thread...)
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You forgot to add fold...unfold...fold...unfold.

Smug git.

Vincent Wilcox said:

I think this is all done to discourage the transportation of bicycles
especially with the fast turn around airlines.

They seem to want to discourage anything that isn't regular
suitcase-shaped. I remember when rucksacks used to go one at check-in
like other bags. For a few years now you've had to go down the concourse
to the outsize luggage area to have someone else throw your sack onto
the very same conveyor belt that's at the back of the check-in desk you
were just at.

Colin

Arthur Clune said:

Vincent Wilcox <[email hidden]> wrote:

: This is from Ryanair and they have change the box stuff to "should" but
: should is not must. And they've backed down on deflating the tyres.

Personally I'd never subject a bike to Ryanair's baggage handlers without at
last a bag and a lot of padding. A box is better.

AFAIK they don't have their own baggage handlers, I thought that service
was provided by the airport? I have never had a problem with a naked
bike on any flights and ive taken a few.

Although the baggage handler I saw trying to put a skateboard on the
luggage ramp with its wheels pointing down was impressive. After a
couple of attempts a colleague showed him the right way to place it.

iakobski said:

That's good, though all the arrivals I saw were on Ryanair and all had
boxes.

The baggage handling staff said the new rules were "stupid".

Easyjet have this on their site:
* The bicycle must be packaged in a bicycle box or bag
* Only one bicycle per bicycle box or bag will be permitted
* No other items can be carried in the bicycle box (i.e. clothing)
* The tyres must be deflated
* The handlebars must be flush with the frame
* The pedals must be flush against the frame or removed

I am certain that had I not used a box, my bike would not have been
damaged.

Well the packaging or non packaging of bikes is a polarised view but I
have to say I agree with you.

I think this is all done to discourage the transportation of bicycles
especially with the fast turn around airlines.

Vincent Wilcox said:

Which airline was it? Check their policy and print it off when you fly
but remember you are at the mercy of the little hitlers at the checkin
counters and youre bike could end up in Afghanistan.

If I am flying with a bike (other than my Bike Friday in its suitcase)
and especially as I have taken two tandems on a plane, I write to
customer relations, tell them I am thinking of travelling to X on their
airline but want to take a bike/two tandems with me, what is their
policy? I get a letter back setting out their policy. At the airport I
show the check in staff the letter and everything goes smoothly. I
think they are often relieved to have the policy set out for them and
not have to try and guess what it might be (rather than look like they
don't know)
--
Tony

"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought" Lord
Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers)

On Wed, 25 May 2005 17:41:29 +0100, Tony Raven <[email hidden]>

wrote in message : said:

If I am flying with a bike (other than my Bike Friday in its suitcase)
and especially as I have taken two tandems on a plane, I write to
customer relations, tell them I am thinking of travelling to X on their
airline but want to take a bike/two tandems with me, what is their
policy? I get a letter back setting out their policy. At the airport I
show the check in staff the letter and everything goes smoothly. I
think they are often relieved to have the policy set out for them and
not have to try and guess what it might be (rather than look like they
don't know)

Now that's what I call thinking!

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken

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

Quoted message said:

If I am flying with a bike (other than my Bike Friday in its suitcase) and
especially as I have taken two tandems on a plane, I write to customer
relations, tell them I am thinking of travelling to X on their airline but
want to take a bike/two tandems with me, what is their policy? I get a
letter back setting out their policy. At the airport I show the check in
staff the letter and everything goes smoothly.

....Unless maybe you're attempting to fly back from Zurich, where you might
be told "they don't care how it arrived in the country, or what the rules
were at the airport of departure in the UK, it's not going back unless it's
in a rigid box, and no, it's not up to the airline it's up to the baggage
handlers, so go and buy a box off them". Happened to me twice in the last
few months.

Rich

Arthur Clune said:

Vincent Wilcox <[email hidden]> wrote:

: This is from Ryanair and they have change the box stuff to "should" but
: should is not must. And they've backed down on deflating the tyres.

Personally I'd never subject a bike to Ryanair's baggage handlers without at
last a bag and a lot of padding. A box is better.

I have used both a box and a bag on Ryanair, the bag resulted in a
broken rear hanger, not the sort of thing you want to arrive in a
foreign country with. The box option is best if you are riding from the
airport, both Ryanair airports I used did not have left luggage, or
even mains electricity ;-) I made a box at Schiphol out of bits I
collected en route

Sadly last time at Aberdeen it was unfold, strugle with chain, strugle
some more, unfold again, put chain on, put pump back, wash hands, add
bag then ride off.

The other passengers had all escaped before I had the chance to sail
past them waiting for Taxis.

No such problems ar Heathrow, and a nice ride around the perimeter road
to teh parking to boot!

regards,
Daren
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"iakobski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

That's good, though all the arrivals I saw were on Ryanair and all had
boxes.

The baggage handling staff said the new rules were "stupid".

Easyjet have this on their site:
* The bicycle must be packaged in a bicycle box or bag

Avoids greasy bits damaging other stuff on plane

Quoted message said:

* Only one bicycle per bicycle box or bag will be permitted

Twoo might be too heavy?????

Quoted message said:

* No other items can be carried in the bicycle box (i.e. clothing)

Security - nothig suspect that'll show up on xray?

Quoted message said:

* The tyres must be deflated

The reason for this is - lower pressure in cargo hold = effective higher
pressure in tyres > burst tyre????

Quoted message said:

* The handlebars must be flush with the frame
* The pedals must be flush against the frame or removed

Both "space savers/ avoids damage to others "

Quoted message said:

I am certain that had I not used a box, my bike would not have been
damaged.

But other people's kit might have been.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* The tyres must be deflated

The reason for this is - lower pressure in cargo hold = effective higher
pressure in tyres > burst tyre????

It's got to be less than 14 psi extra though ;-)

ian henden said:

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

Quoted message said:

That's good, though all the arrivals I saw were on Ryanair and all had
boxes.

The baggage handling staff said the new rules were "stupid".

Easyjet have this on their site:
* The bicycle must be packaged in a bicycle box or bag

Avoids greasy bits damaging other stuff on plane

It does? Examples please.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* Only one bicycle per bicycle box or bag will be permitted

Twoo might be too heavy?????

Wheels are easier.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* No other items can be carried in the bicycle box (i.e. clothing)

Security - nothig suspect that'll show up on xray?

X-Rays work well on metal tubing.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* The tyres must be deflated

The reason for this is - lower pressure in cargo hold = effective higher
pressure in tyres > burst tyre????

Utter bollocks. Go to the back of the class.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* The handlebars must be flush with the frame
* The pedals must be flush against the frame or removed

Both "space savers/ avoids damage to others "

How does that work with drops?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I am certain that had I not used a box, my bike would not have been
damaged.

But other people's kit might have been.

Whatevah.

David Lowther said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

* The tyres must be deflated

The reason for this is - lower pressure in cargo hold = effective higher
pressure in tyres > burst tyre????

It's got to be less than 14 psi extra though ;-)

Less than 5psi in practice. How accurately do you set your tyre
pressure? Do they burst spontaneously all the time due to being 5psi
over pressure? Do they take out the garage when they do?

BA and a number of other airlines have abandoned this requirement.

--
Tony

"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought" Lord
Peter Wimsey (Dorothy L. Sayers)