Traveling with Panniers on a plane

Caroline_ie · 06-09-2010 9:55pm #1

Quick question. If I book my bike on a plane, can I leave the panniers on the bike?

blorg · 06-09-2010 10:04pm

No is the simple answer. They won't let you and even if they would the bags would be unlikely to be attached at the other end. Depending on the airline I carry as hand baggage/check a bag or just check the lot (Turkish Airlines, 30kg as many bags as you like.)

This is presuming a naked bike, a bike in a box obviously you can pack up to whatever the limit is which I believe is now 30 with Ryanair.

BostonB · 07-09-2010 10:24pm

For some reason I was imagining a plane with panniers on it...

Civilian_Target · 07-09-2010 10:28pm

That depends... BA don't appear to care. I left the frame pump, and lock on, slung a helmet over the handlebars and handed it to the counter girl, and on it went

skidpatches · 08-09-2010 9:29am

I travelled to France with Ryanair. I brought a duffle bag to carry 2 panniers, bar bag, etc, and took one racktop bag as hand luggage. The rolled up duffle bag was then carried around on tour (as we were flying back from a different airport) but it's hardly noticeable. It weighs a hell of a lot less than a bottle of wine, lump of cheese and a loaf of bread

If you can get one without a stiff base (or with a removeable one) it will be lighter and easier to roll up out of the way.

I considered putting panniers in with the bike, but there's no guarantee that the bike box or bag won't be opened so I didn't take the risk.

Traveling with Panniers on a plane

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