Prices to fly with my bike?
Discussion
So, I've flown with my bike once. It was a business trip so I didn't pay for the luggage costs. I'm looking at doing a few different rides in Europe and flying would be much more convenient than driving.
Looking at all of the airlines sites I can't see any simple way to see what the additional charges are. Is there an easier way to read this. I don't mind paying but I want to be clear up front what the cost is and what is and isn't included.
Any tips from regular cycling flyers?
Thanks, Rob
Looking at all of the airlines sites I can't see any simple way to see what the additional charges are. Is there an easier way to read this. I don't mind paying but I want to be clear up front what the cost is and what is and isn't included.
Any tips from regular cycling flyers?
Thanks, Rob
Thanks all, maybe just me but it seems like when booking the tickets I'm looking for a tick box to say I want to add a bike or excess luggage. Might just be the airlines I'm looking at though as looking to fly Stansted or Luton as they are closest so am limited on the airlines that fly out of there.
Flown with my bike a few times, think it normally comes under sports equipment rather than say bike and it’s regularly around £35 each way, weight is limited 32kg which back when bikes were 26” it was easy to pack the bike and most spare kit in to the bike bag, now days with 29” enduro rigs it’s a lot harder to get anything else in other than the bike. Scaffolding padding is great for protecting the frame
jamm13dodger said:
Thanks all, maybe just me but it seems like when booking the tickets I'm looking for a tick box to say I want to add a bike or excess luggage. Might just be the airlines I'm looking at though as looking to fly Stansted or Luton as they are closest so am limited on the airlines that fly out of there.
Just tried the EasyJet app, Luton to Milan for the tail end of next month as an example. Once you select the flights, click past the seat selection and cabin luggage screens and you ll get to hold luggage and sports equipment at the bottom there s add sports equipment and a picture of a bike, select the number of bicycles you want and it charges £50 per flight. That seems to be it basically.On the Ryanair app, go to the last screen before payment (the one where it s trying to sell you car hire, fast track etc), tap on the picture of the pram marked equipment then choose sports equipment, bike, then add the number of bikes. Again using a sample of Stansted to Milan in July it wants £60 each way for the bike.
Just for completeness, Wizz Air, Luton to Larnaca, go to the baggage screen, choose “travel with sports equipment” and it’s just a tick/untick rather than declaring what you’ve got and how many. £58.50 each way.
Edited by alangla on Sunday 1st June 21:08
I regularly fly with a bike on Emirates and BA - same as everyone else's full fare experience where the bike is deducted from your baggage allowance. From your departure desitinations above you'll probably be on EasyJet or Wizz, taken bikes on EasyJet before and it was a case of booking 'Sports Equipment' and paying the fee when I bought the tickets.
I'd suggest getting some cheapish luggage scale from Amazon and weighing the bag/box/case at home before you leave. I use an Evoc bike bag and often pack extra stuff in; It's easy to go over the limit with an MTB, tools and other bits (less of an issue with a road bike).
A cardboard bike box will do you well if you pack everything up nicely, but I thought I'd mention that there are lots of people on eBay and Marketplace who will rent you a Bike Box Alan for fairly decent rates. They're about the best thing to use when flying!
I'd suggest getting some cheapish luggage scale from Amazon and weighing the bag/box/case at home before you leave. I use an Evoc bike bag and often pack extra stuff in; It's easy to go over the limit with an MTB, tools and other bits (less of an issue with a road bike).
A cardboard bike box will do you well if you pack everything up nicely, but I thought I'd mention that there are lots of people on eBay and Marketplace who will rent you a Bike Box Alan for fairly decent rates. They're about the best thing to use when flying!
I flew to Italy last week for the Tuscany trail, it was £50 each way with Easyjet, so I am not sure about the other airlines. There was no info about weight of bicycle bags on their site from memory, just a note that we shouldn't put anything other than the bike in the bag. On Easyjet it was under sports equipment, then it has a specific option about bikes. Generally the airports were ok, no damage on the bikes and no hassle.
As for other tips, I had an EVOC soft case, which only had rear wheels. You can get the newer ones with 4 wheels, they are much easier to carry around the airport. Also, I'd suggest a hard case, or even a bike box from your local shop if you are not worried about damage on the bike (if it is a carbon one for example). Much cheaper than the bike cases, but you will need another box on your way back, if you don't have a storage place arranged.
Depending where you go, a lot of trains do have bike carriages in Europe, but I think it is easier to get on the train with the bike still in the bag, then get to your destination and assemble the bike there. I didn't and getting the MTB with wide handlebars upright on the Italian trains was a bit difficult to manoeuvre. Easier to get around it with the bike case, so lesson learnt for next time.
Good luck!
As for other tips, I had an EVOC soft case, which only had rear wheels. You can get the newer ones with 4 wheels, they are much easier to carry around the airport. Also, I'd suggest a hard case, or even a bike box from your local shop if you are not worried about damage on the bike (if it is a carbon one for example). Much cheaper than the bike cases, but you will need another box on your way back, if you don't have a storage place arranged.
Depending where you go, a lot of trains do have bike carriages in Europe, but I think it is easier to get on the train with the bike still in the bag, then get to your destination and assemble the bike there. I didn't and getting the MTB with wide handlebars upright on the Italian trains was a bit difficult to manoeuvre. Easier to get around it with the bike case, so lesson learnt for next time.
Good luck!
+1 for BA. Sporting goods is part of your luggage allowance. You are also allowed a carry-on bag and a laptop case (which I normally substitute for a small backpack)
I've never known them weigh the bike box as they just ask you to leave it with the oversized luggage so I usually lob some other bits and bobs in there.
You'll need to carry batteries, eg from your Di2 with you in hand luggage. I don't think you can pack CO2 canisters at all.
I've never known them weigh the bike box as they just ask you to leave it with the oversized luggage so I usually lob some other bits and bobs in there.
You'll need to carry batteries, eg from your Di2 with you in hand luggage. I don't think you can pack CO2 canisters at all.
Robertb said:
+1 for BA. Sporting goods is part of your luggage allowance. You are also allowed a carry-on bag and a laptop case (which I normally substitute for a small backpack)
I've never known them weigh the bike box as they just ask you to leave it with the oversized luggage so I usually lob some other bits and bobs in there.
You'll need to carry batteries, eg from your Di2 with you in hand luggage. I don't think you can pack CO2 canisters at all.
Last year Heathrow and Geneva weighed both ways and anyone over 23kg being charged. I've never known them weigh the bike box as they just ask you to leave it with the oversized luggage so I usually lob some other bits and bobs in there.
You'll need to carry batteries, eg from your Di2 with you in hand luggage. I don't think you can pack CO2 canisters at all.
Siao said:
I flew to Italy last week for the Tuscany trail, it was £50 each way with Easyjet, so I am not sure about the other airlines. There was no info about weight of bicycle bags on their site from memory, just a note that we shouldn't put anything other than the bike in the bag. On Easyjet it was under sports equipment, then it has a specific option about bikes. Generally the airports were ok, no damage on the bikes and no hassle.
As for other tips, I had an EVOC soft case, which only had rear wheels. You can get the newer ones with 4 wheels, they are much easier to carry around the airport. Also, I'd suggest a hard case, or even a bike box from your local shop if you are not worried about damage on the bike (if it is a carbon one for example). Much cheaper than the bike cases, but you will need another box on your way back, if you don't have a storage place arranged.
Depending where you go, a lot of trains do have bike carriages in Europe, but I think it is easier to get on the train with the bike still in the bag, then get to your destination and assemble the bike there. I didn't and getting the MTB with wide handlebars upright on the Italian trains was a bit difficult to manoeuvre. Easier to get around it with the bike case, so lesson learnt for next time.
Good luck!
+ hire a hard bike case. Luckily I've got somewhere near me (think they're a franchise though) who does them - £40 for 5 or 6 days I think I'm paying this year. Heavier than a soft bag like the Evoc but more protection from baggage handlers...As for other tips, I had an EVOC soft case, which only had rear wheels. You can get the newer ones with 4 wheels, they are much easier to carry around the airport. Also, I'd suggest a hard case, or even a bike box from your local shop if you are not worried about damage on the bike (if it is a carbon one for example). Much cheaper than the bike cases, but you will need another box on your way back, if you don't have a storage place arranged.
Depending where you go, a lot of trains do have bike carriages in Europe, but I think it is easier to get on the train with the bike still in the bag, then get to your destination and assemble the bike there. I didn't and getting the MTB with wide handlebars upright on the Italian trains was a bit difficult to manoeuvre. Easier to get around it with the bike case, so lesson learnt for next time.
Good luck!
t out. once at City and once at Gatwick. DaveyBoyWonder said:
Siao said:
I flew to Italy last week for the Tuscany trail, it was £50 each way with Easyjet, so I am not sure about the other airlines. There was no info about weight of bicycle bags on their site from memory, just a note that we shouldn't put anything other than the bike in the bag. On Easyjet it was under sports equipment, then it has a specific option about bikes. Generally the airports were ok, no damage on the bikes and no hassle.
As for other tips, I had an EVOC soft case, which only had rear wheels. You can get the newer ones with 4 wheels, they are much easier to carry around the airport. Also, I'd suggest a hard case, or even a bike box from your local shop if you are not worried about damage on the bike (if it is a carbon one for example). Much cheaper than the bike cases, but you will need another box on your way back, if you don't have a storage place arranged.
Depending where you go, a lot of trains do have bike carriages in Europe, but I think it is easier to get on the train with the bike still in the bag, then get to your destination and assemble the bike there. I didn't and getting the MTB with wide handlebars upright on the Italian trains was a bit difficult to manoeuvre. Easier to get around it with the bike case, so lesson learnt for next time.
Good luck!
+ hire a hard bike case. Luckily I've got somewhere near me (think they're a franchise though) who does them - £40 for 5 or 6 days I think I'm paying this year. Heavier than a soft bag like the Evoc but more protection from baggage handlers...As for other tips, I had an EVOC soft case, which only had rear wheels. You can get the newer ones with 4 wheels, they are much easier to carry around the airport. Also, I'd suggest a hard case, or even a bike box from your local shop if you are not worried about damage on the bike (if it is a carbon one for example). Much cheaper than the bike cases, but you will need another box on your way back, if you don't have a storage place arranged.
Depending where you go, a lot of trains do have bike carriages in Europe, but I think it is easier to get on the train with the bike still in the bag, then get to your destination and assemble the bike there. I didn't and getting the MTB with wide handlebars upright on the Italian trains was a bit difficult to manoeuvre. Easier to get around it with the bike case, so lesson learnt for next time.
Good luck!
Hard case for road bikes, soft bags for mountain bikes is the norm. I always take the disk rotors off on my mountain bike and store away from the sides. Other tip I do is by extra steering tube spacers to be able to take my bar and stem off in one (and then pack out the steering tube) as it saves having to reset up bar positions. Spacer block between the brake pads (to stop the pads moving if the levers are pulled). If the bikes are long I let out some air of the fork and shock to shorten the overall length. I always take my helmet with me as hand luggage to ensure it doesn’t get damaged in transport. Spares really always depends on what you ride and where you are riding, but normally minimum brake pads, mech hanger, half a dozen spokes and maybe a rear tyre (too many different types of my preferred set up). Tool bag of just the bare minimum of Allen keys, shock pump, tyre pressure gauge (as most uplifts with have an old dodgy track pump).
Varies terrifically IME.
Low cost carriers within Europe range from £30-60 each way. Trans-Atlantic range from free to £140 each way. Usually have to just book 'sports equipment'.
As for case, I've got Scicon hard and soft cases. I used to use the hard case religiously, but after getting it damaged twice, I swapped to the Scicon soft case, and it's been 100% problem free PLUS, it's a lot lot easier to pack/unpack the bike, and lighter, and easier to store when no in use.
I spoke to a team logistics manager and they advised using soft cases as the monkeys that work in baggage handling treat soft cases with a lot more respect, partly as they are more cumbersome and harder to throw, partly through a sense of decency.
Twice I've seen hardtases fall off belts as they were carried up to the plane.
Low cost carriers within Europe range from £30-60 each way. Trans-Atlantic range from free to £140 each way. Usually have to just book 'sports equipment'.
As for case, I've got Scicon hard and soft cases. I used to use the hard case religiously, but after getting it damaged twice, I swapped to the Scicon soft case, and it's been 100% problem free PLUS, it's a lot lot easier to pack/unpack the bike, and lighter, and easier to store when no in use.
I spoke to a team logistics manager and they advised using soft cases as the monkeys that work in baggage handling treat soft cases with a lot more respect, partly as they are more cumbersome and harder to throw, partly through a sense of decency.
Twice I've seen hardtases fall off belts as they were carried up to the plane.
Siao said:
Yes. The main issue is bent disc brakes (I have titanium frame, not carbon, so I didn't care as much about the frame getting damaged). You can avoid the risk by taking the discs off, but a lot more faffing about. Getting a hard case makes sense.
Alternative is leave discs on but pack spares. If the aren't bent you are good to go. If they are bent you have spares.I have flown long haul Glasgow - Heathrow - USA and return with my bike in a cardboard box 5 times. Only damage a bent deraileur hanger. Steel - so bent back by bike shop and shifting was better than before. Since then (4th trip) I remove the rear derailleur as well.
I cable tie everything together so if it is taken out the box for inspection it comes out as one unit and goes back in. The saddle/seatpost and pedals are packed in my case to ensure the bike box is under the 23kg BA limit.
With BA a bike box counts as a case. So if you fly economy you need to pay for an extra case at £65 each way for Glasgow - Heathrow - USA.
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