Bringing bikes on planes

longn

Hi, just wondering if anyone has experience of this, whats the best bag/box to buy?

Also, how much dismantling do I need to do to the bike before it goes on the plane?

Advice greatly appreciated

2 Wheels Good

Wheelworx do travel box rental - link here
Think there's a thread elsewhere with what to dismantle, think it's handlebars turned and wheels/pedals taken off

AstraMonti

Depending on the frame size and the box you might have to unscrew the rear deraileur as well.

dewindygap

This is an hardy annual question and the 1 that causes me most stress when I take my bike abroad every year. Generally I just remove the pedals, lower the saddle and twist the handlebars 90 degrees, lower the air pressure in tyres (not completely tho) and present at departure desk in Dublin airport. I normally fly via Aer Lingus to Rennes but not necessarily return via Aer Lingus. I have always found them to be very obliging, they normally call for a ground staff to wheel away the bike to the plane.
Returning home has been a mixed bag tho. 2 years ago in Santander (Ryanair) they insisted on removing the front wheels because the bikes would not fit through the conveyor machine which led to a bit of a panic because of the front disc mechanism and lack of tape/cable-ties which were already sent thru in the baggage (lesson learnt, always keep a roll/ties in pocket.)
Last year my brother flew return Ryanair to Biarritz and presented his bike as above in Dublin, no probs but while returning they refused to accept it unless boxed. Luckily they sold boxes at the airport. They quoted Health and Safety reasons. So instead of 1 person wheeling the bike off, 2 persons carried the box away.
Again last summer on returning with Ryanair from Carcassone we were confronted with similar issues but just insisted we had arrived without boxes so they relented and allowed us thru.
I must point out tho that Aer Lingus, on their site do say the bikes should be boxed and I am always on tenderhooks when I arrive at departures un- boxed.
Regarding the trip home from Santander, there was a couple in the Q with their bikes in boxes but at Dublin airport as I was re-assembling our bikes, this big oaf of an handler appeared beside me and literally dropped each of the 2 bikes that had been boxed with a bang on the ground. I'm not so sure he would have treated them so if they were not boxed.

cantalach

AstraMonti wrote: »

Depending on the frame size and the box you might have to unscrew the rear deraileur as well.

I think it's always recommended to unbolt the rear derailleur and tape it between the chainstays (this doesn't necessitate removing the chain). The reason is that if the box/case gets knocked around a bit and the derailleur takes a blow, you can crack your hanger. I did it when travelling recently and it only takes a few minutes at each end.

thebouldwhacker

What kind of prices are airlines charging for bikes these days? What have people paid?

cantalach

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

What kind of prices are airlines charging for bikes these days? What have people paid?

Aer Lingus are €40 per bike each way within Europe but free to/from the US (though in the case of the latter, the bike's weight still counts towards your total baggage allowance so you could get caught out!).

ashleey

I'm in Tenerife at the moment and am renting a Scott speedster s3 with Ultegra for 140 euro for 6 days if that helps including spare tubes etc. I reckoned it was not much more than 2 way transit with aer lingus and my bike doesn't risk being damaged. There's often good rentals if you google ahead.

2 Wheels Good

Doing the Etape so recommendation is to take the bike. Hopefully solid box and lifetime supply of bubble wrap will keep things safe!

andy69

just wondering - does anyone know if there is a 'thing' ye can buy to protect your forks from being squashed, while it's in a bike bag/box? (like a substitute for an axle, if ye know what I mean?). It would keep the forks spaced out correctly then
thanks,
andy

event

ive seen a lot of people recommend these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ctc-plastic-bike-bag/

theory is that when they see its a bike, they are a lot more gentle

mgmt

event wrote: »

ive seen a lot of people recommend these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ctc-plastic-bike-bag/

theory is that when they see its a bike, they are a lot more gentle

I'd go with the box. My bike got wrecked on an Aer Lingus flight. It was as if the airplane had taxied over it. Had to dump it at the airport as it was a complete write off.

mgmt

andy69 wrote: »

just wondering - does anyone know if there is a 'thing' ye can buy to protect your forks from being squashed, while it's in a bike bag/box? (like a substitute for an axle, if ye know what I mean?). It would keep the forks spaced out correctly then
thanks,
andy

Just get an old wheel and cut the spokes off it.

blorg

andy69 wrote: »

just wondering - does anyone know if there is a 'thing' ye can buy to protect your forks from being squashed, while it's in a bike bag/box? (like a substitute for an axle, if ye know what I mean?). It would keep the forks spaced out correctly then
thanks,
andy

Many bikes come from the manufacturer with a plastic spacer between the forks (and rear wheel too.) Most bike boxes will come with a pair but alternately any bike shop should have them left over from new bikes they have built.

My approach over maybe 50 flights now is to always box (not soft bag) my carbon/titanium racers but just bring my aluminium/titanium tourers unboxed, as is. Thus far no major problems (reflector knocked off the mudguard and a pinch flat would be about the worst.)

In particular I would avoid wrapping a bike in anything that gives basically no protection, but prevents the bike from being wheeled, making it more difficult to handle. Baggage handlers treat bike boxes VERY badly (I have had several broken, but the bike OK.) By contrast they generally treat a bike they can handle quite well- I've seen bikes carefully lifted on/off planes while bike boxes are literally thrown onto the tarrmac.

Whether to bring your own bike is personal preference but there are obvious advantages and to be honest while a bit stressful it is not that bad. There IS a big problem with the size of bike boxes if a rental car is involved at the destination. Without a box, if your bike is tough enough, it is very little hassle.

flywheel

With Aer Lingus, have you had your bike box/bag weighed before getting on the flight... says there is a limit of 15KG?

Carriage of Sports Equipment
The maximum weight allowable for carriage of sports equipment is 15kgs/33lbs. Normal excess baggage rates apply if the passenger carries excess to this maximum allowance.

blorg

flywheel wrote: »

With Aer Lingus, have you had your bike box/bag weighed before getting on the flight... says there is a limit of 15KG?

Yes, you need to be careful with that. Sometimes enforced, sometimes not. It is basically impossible for a boxed bike to come in under 15kg... an unboxed bike could be fine.

Ryanair bike weight limit used to be 20kg but they increased it to 30kg, incidentally.

Civilian_Target

As a frequent flyer with my bike, I'd agree - Don't box it unless you have to, and definitely don't bag it. If it can be wheeled, it makes everyone's life easier.

Ryanair are a PITA with a bike, Aer Lingus are OK, BA and Air France are great - so if you're going to France, consider AF to Paris and then taking the train. I've never done anything more than deflate the tyres with either BA or AF.

My advice is to turn up at the airport 2 hours early with your bike as is, but with the equipment to take off the saddle / wheels / pedals / turn the handlebars as necessary. Don't check in your bags until you've got approval for the bike. Resist boxes and bags where possible, it's better to remove and tape your front wheel to some other part of the bike than to box the bike!

I have never got my bike back in the same condition as it went into a box or a bag, from any airline... but when it has gone without a box, it's only been damaged once.

2 Wheels Good

Civilian_Target wrote: »

As a frequent flyer with my bike, I'd agree - Don't box it unless you have to, and definitely don't bag it. If it can be wheeled, it makes everyone's life easier.

Ryanair are a PITA with a bike, Aer Lingus are OK, BA and Air France are great - so if you're going to France, consider AF to Paris and then taking the train. I've never done anything more than deflate the tyres with either BA or AF.

My advice is to turn up at the airport 2 hours early with your bike as is, but with the equipment to take off the saddle / wheels / pedals / turn the handlebars as necessary. Don't check in your bags until you've got approval for the bike. Resist boxes and bags where possible, it's better to remove and tape your front wheel to some other part of the bike than to box the bike!

I have never got my bike back in the same condition as it went into a box or a bag, from any airline... but when it has gone without a box, it's only been damaged once.

You're not inspiring me with confidence here. Going to France in July for the Etape and plan A is to rent a box and fly aerlingus to Lyon. Surely a box will protect a bike?
Or should I revert to plan B & the ferry?

blorg

I fly with bikes on Ryanair plenty and they are fine, better than Aer Lingus.

Gingersnaps

I've flown Ryanair from Dublin to Reus (Barcelona) with my bike. I just showed up at the airport. Wheeled the bike up to the check in desk. I had already pre booked for oversize baggage/sports equipment. There was absolutely no hassle. I just had to straighten the handlebars and deflate the tyres, and simply put it through the oversize baggage x ray machine. They didn't bat an eyelid. When I got to Reus, I was looking for the oversize baggage reclaim when I couldn't believe my eyes. There was my bike coming out on the normal baggage conveyor belt. I only had hand luggage (backpack), so it was a simple matter of just picking the bike up and wheeling it away. The reverse journey was just as easy. They did mention about it not being in a box but I just said I didn't have one. It was just put through for me with nothing else said.

dewindygap

Hi flywheel, as I have mentioned before, I have always found presenting at the airport with the bike to be the most stressful part of the trip for the very reason you quote. I do realise Aer Lingus do mention the fact that the bike must be boxed but as I and no doubt the majority of those going on cycling trips, would leave from a different 'destination' airport than arrive, it is totally impractical to carry a box around, in my case anyway, for a month.
So far so good with Aer Lingus and I would fully endorse what blorg and Civilian Target say and I must admit ,thus far, I have never been anything but impressed with the ground staff of Aer Lingus. It is SUCH a relief to be told by the check-in staff to just wait until they call an operative to wheel the bike through. Coming home tho is still a worry as it is not necessarily with A/L but once the cycling is over I am not too concerned.
Several years ago I abided by that stipulation (boxing) but when I was leaving Rennes airport I had to dump a load of cardboard and tape but could find no bin big enough so I just lef it behind me which I did not like doing.