Taking helmet on a plane?
Taking helmet on a plane?
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Discussion

milkround

Original Poster:

1,371 posts

110 months

Saturday 12th May 2018
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Posted on here about wanting to do my DAS. Well I did, and passed. I used a school recommended on here. Went PAYG lessons and it cost me less than £500 in total. Also passed both tests the first time - which helped. Obviously, I'm over the moon. Really pleased.

But I have a holiday booked in Thailand for June. I've been before so know how crap the helmets they give out are. So me and my partner have purchased proper helmets in the UK. I know I'll be ridiculed for this - but I said I wouldn't take her on a bike without one. Maybe I'm soft - but riding with no proper helmet isn't worth it to me.

But... has anyone got any experience of taking helmets abroad? Carry on or hold luggage? Any problems with security etc... I did think worst case we say they are hats - but my partner wouldn't be down for humiliating herself in the same way as me.

Oh... and if anyone has any sort of bike they want to sell for a low price let me know. I'm looking for one - but the budget has taken a huge hit as I had car problems. So I am having to wait. But I have the itch and it won't go away.

HughiusMaximus

737 posts

157 months

Saturday 12th May 2018
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I have taken a helmet as carry on with various carriers on trans atlantic flights and have never had any issues.

I bought carry case like this which may make it look less 'hazardous' but I doubt I would have had any problems regardless.


https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Closure-Carrier-Back...


bogie

17,105 posts

303 months

Saturday 12th May 2018
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Ive got a big plastic trolley hard "race case" you can fit boots, full leathers & helmet etc in there, or 2 helmets and few other bits. No probs with using it when going to US and EU. Demon Tweeks used to stock them.

similar to this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TEGIWA-RACE-KIT-TRAVEL-...

posh Kustani version here https://www.kustani-uk.co.uk/product-page/k-3580...

warch

2,941 posts

185 months

Saturday 12th May 2018
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Wear it onto the plane.

overunder12g

432 posts

117 months

Saturday 12th May 2018
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WHY NOT JUST ASK THE AIRLINE?
This place never fails to deliver!

underwhelmist

2,052 posts

165 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
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bogie said:
I just love it that kustani gets censored.

Jazzy Jag

3,714 posts

122 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
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HughiusMaximus said:
I have taken a helmet as carry on with various carriers on trans atlantic flights and have never had any issues.

I bought carry case like this which may make it look less 'hazardous' but I doubt I would have had any problems regardless.


https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-Closure-Carrier-Back...
I looked at one of those a few years back but they are quite small.
I have an AGV stealth, which just wouldn't fit in.

Gutted.

SBDJ

1,335 posts

235 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
quotequote all
milkround said:
Oh... and if anyone has any sort of bike they want to sell for a low price let me know.
Ive got an old Thundercat I should probably get rid of at some point, only time I ride it is to its MOT!

bogie

17,105 posts

303 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
quotequote all
underwhelmist said:
bogie said:
I just love it that kustani gets censored.
yeah, just realised the site does not like "st" LOL

Jimi.K.

248 posts

108 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
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overunder12g said:
WHY NOT JUST ASK THE AIRLINE?
This place never fails to deliver!
The OP is looking for advice and experience. Speaking to some minimum wage drone in an airline call centre isn't going to be much help. I can easily imagine the call centre person saying no problem, but an overzealous security guard or check in attendant not letting you board with an unusual item like that.

What this place never fails to deliver is people being dicks like you overunder12g

shovelheadrob

1,564 posts

202 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
quotequote all
bogie said:
yeah, just realised the site does not like "st" LOL
Could be worse, they could be based in Shorpe!

Pica-Pica

16,705 posts

115 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
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Jimi.K. said:
overunder12g said:
WHY NOT JUST ASK THE AIRLINE?
This place never fails to deliver!
The OP is looking for advice and experience. Speaking to some minimum wage drone in an airline call centre isn't going to be much help. I can easily imagine the call centre person saying no problem, but an overzealous security guard or check in attendant not letting you board with an unusual item like that.

What this place never fails to deliver is people being dicks like you overunder12g
Sounded a sensible suggestion to me. So OP gets consensus on here, then falls foul of airline?

Ed.

2,176 posts

269 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
quotequote all
Pica-Pica said:
Jimi.K. said:
overunder12g said:
WHY NOT JUST ASK THE AIRLINE?
This place never fails to deliver!
The OP is looking for advice and experience. Speaking to some minimum wage drone in an airline call centre isn't going to be much help. I can easily imagine the call centre person saying no problem, but an overzealous security guard or check in attendant not letting you board with an unusual item like that.

What this place never fails to deliver is people being dicks like you overunder12g
Sounded a sensible suggestion to me. So OP gets consensus on here, then falls foul of airline?
Maybe someone has experienced the above situation and could share the useful information. It's what a lot of people use the Internet for when they're not watching porn.

They may say you can carry it as hand luggage but most of the flights I have been on in the last couple of years have had a lot of bags put in the hold.
Something to consider if deciding between a soft or hard case.

oilydan

2,030 posts

302 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
quotequote all
Ed. said:
Pica-Pica said:
Jimi.K. said:
overunder12g said:
WHY NOT JUST ASK THE AIRLINE?
This place never fails to deliver!
The OP is looking for advice and experience. Speaking to some minimum wage drone in an airline call centre isn't going to be much help. I can easily imagine the call centre person saying no problem, but an overzealous security guard or check in attendant not letting you board with an unusual item like that.

What this place never fails to deliver is people being dicks like you overunder12g
Sounded a sensible suggestion to me. So OP gets consensus on here, then falls foul of airline?
Maybe someone has experienced the above situation and could share the useful information. It's what a lot of people use the Internet for when they're not watching porn.

They may say you can carry it as hand luggage but most of the flights I have been on in the last couple of years have had a lot of bags put in the hold.
Something to consider if deciding between a soft or hard case.
It is not normally the airline that is the problem.

I take my Paramotoring helmet on-board all the time, the biggest hurdle is usually airport security. If you can get it to the gate, getting onboard past the meet/greet is no problem at all.

Tiggsy

10,261 posts

283 months

Sunday 13th May 2018
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I fly to Africa to ride off road and have gone in busines classs in MX boots and carrying my lid to keep the weight of luggage down! - never an issue. (although those next to me probably wonder what the hell I think I look like!)

anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 14th May 2018
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Be a bit careful, Thailand and Malaysia have rules for Helmets, in Malaysia you need a SIRIM approval, can't remember the Thailand one, but lots of European helmets are technically illegal, If you are stopped then it has been know for the police to confiscate expensive helmets. Also the weather plays hell with the inning I have had loads of trouble over the years with European helmets becoming unstuck and linings rotting, but a few weeks should be OK, just dry them out.

Also it is illegal to take a hired bike out of the state you hire it in,so If you are in Pucket you can not go over the bridge to the mainland. There is a control south of the bridge and they may stop you.

Do not hand over your passport when you hire. If you are in Patong I recommend Patong big bike or Niki's handle bar to hire from both are honest (not cheapest).

I ride a lot in Thailand and its great but you need to be aware, never cross a blind brow except on extreme left of road, never drive into a puddle you have no idea how deep it is, a few weeks ago a lady was killed when she drve into a 2ft deep pothole she thought was a puddle.

You can buy perfectly good helmets in Thailand for a good price Index make some very nice full face helmets, as you say some of the beach rentals are well past their use by date. Another well priced make is SOL, they make helmets to international standards, I have a FIA approved SOL for y car.

There are minimum insurance requirements in Thailand and they are minimum, you can buy extra insurance to get full coverage for around 50 pounds a year.

Where are you planning to go, this is a link to bike shows etc https://www.riderchris.com/events/thailand-bike-we...

To misquote a guy called Pete Crew, 'Thailand is a place to practice skills not aquire them"

You can buy very good light weight jackets etc with CE armour for about 50 pounds each.




milkround

Original Poster:

1,371 posts

110 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
Thanks for the brilliant advice.

I've been to Thailand before a few times and love the place. I learnt to ride scooters there illegally - was once stopped at a check point. Think it was 200 baht, but might have been 300. I'm now totally legal and will have be bringing my international drivers permit.

This time I'm going to be in Koh Samui, Koh Phangnan and Koh Tao. I won't bother with a bike is Tao but in Samui and Phangnan it allows me to get out and find the little beaches ett. I won't be flying around that's for sure.


anonymous-user

85 months

Monday 14th May 2018
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Ko Samoi is OK with a bike, 900 KM from my house, I've been a few times once did it one Saturday up on my ZXR9, had a beer and came home Sunday. No fancy roads on the island so you don't need anything big, one issue on beach roads is sand, I once rode out of Patong early with the sun on a 954 blade, scarred the life out of me bike was well over and suddenly there was a huge sand patch that had blown off the beach overnight, no problem latter as the vehicles move it to the giutters.

As you say fine is not relevant, but you need to watch if they insist you pay at the station, some times they do that in Patong to ex pats, they know the fine is meaningless, but they hold the bike while you make a hour taxi drive to Phucket town to pay the fine. That's the issue with the fancy helmet, they can confiscate it just because you p""s them off,

I did 2000Km in Thailand last week, fantastic riding.

magpie21

489 posts

219 months

Monday 14th May 2018
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I've never taken a helmet to Thailand but have flown all over Europe with one as hand luggage on everything from Ryan air to BA and never had a problem either going through security or taking it on the plane. It actually fits under the seat you are sitting on so doesn't take too much legroom and I'm 6'2"
Hope this helps

MotorsportTom

3,343 posts

192 months

Monday 14th May 2018
quotequote all
oilydan said:
It is not normally the airline that is the problem.

I take my Paramotoring helmet on-board all the time, the biggest hurdle is usually airport security. If you can get it to the gate, getting onboard past the meet/greet is no problem at all.
Hah small world. I just checked your profile and realised you have a paramotor produced by the sister company for who I work for wavey