Taking my bike on Ryanair with a CTC bag

MB Lacey

flying from Dublin to Leeds, 45 min flight, €50 each way to take the bike.

I'm going to put pipe lagging around the frame.
I wasn't going to do anything else really, leave pedals and handlebars as they are, I don't think the tyres need to be deflated do they?

I haven't finished putting the pipe lagging on, but any advice from experience much appreciated.







and above was my ingenious way of getting the bike into the CTC bag with ease :rolleyes:

Squidgy Black

Tyres need to be deflated, the tubes can pop with the change of pressure in the cargo hull of the plane. They might make you turn the bars to the side, so just be prepared.

Idleater

Pedals too perhaps. I saw a few bikes going through Dublin and toulouse airports recently, packed like yours but with the pedals and bars adjusted. They had panniers too so I thought it odd about the pedals. Also, they were able to wheel the bikes around so presumably had cut the bottom from the bag.

MB Lacey

hadn't thought of this, but you talking about things going pop, there are 2 x co2 cartridges in my saddle bag - I should probably take them out right?!

Squidgy Black

Yeah a lot of airports have actually banned co2 canisters and class them as dangerous weapons.

dogsears

MB Lacey wrote: »

hadn't thought of this, but you talking about things going pop, there are 2 x co2 cartridges in my saddle bag - I should probably take them out right?!

The guys at the outsize baggage hatch in Cork Airport (last Sat) asked me to show them what was in the saddle bag, they said they specifically had to make sure no CO2 cartridges.

Harrybelafonte

stetyrrell wrote: »

Tyres need to be deflated, the tubes can pop with the change of pressure in the cargo hull of the plane. They might make you turn the bars to the side, so just be prepared.

Yep, just like whatever cats and dogs and shaving foam and deodorant is in there too. Cargo holds are pressurised same as the cabin or else there'd be a lot of dead animals coming through arrivals.

Grandpa Hassan

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Yep, just like whatever cats and dogs and shaving foam and deodorant is in there too. Cargo holds are pressurised same as the cabin or else there'd be a lot of dead animals coming through arrivals.

But it's still lower pressure than normal, and tyres inflated to 100psi + will blow

Squidgy Black

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Yep, just like whatever cats and dogs and shaving foam and deodorant is in there too. Cargo holds are pressurised same as the cabin or else there'd be a lot of dead animals coming through arrivals.

They're not completely. The pressure will rise by around 15 psi, so if you have tires pumped to 120 or 125 psi they'll blow.

Animals tend to be put in a seperate hold than the main hold which is heated by the way. Main hold is filled with large containers where all the bags are put into.

07Lapierre

stetyrrell wrote: »

Yeah a lot of airports have actually banned co2 canisters and class them as dangerous weapons.

I flew to Palma last week. When I checked my bike in, I was told each passenger is allowed 2 co2 canisters. I told them I had one and I was allowed to check it in. I flew with Ryanair.

rab!dmonkey

stetyrrell wrote: »

They're not completely. The pressure will rise by around 15 psi, so if you have tires pumped to 120 or 125 psi they'll blow.

Animals tend to be put in a seperate hold than the main hold which is heated by the way. Main hold is filled with large containers where all the bags are put into.

Cabin pressure altitude is ~2,400 m. Your fears are unfounded.

The tax man

07Lapierre wrote: »

I flew to Palma last week. When I checked my bike in, I was told each passenger is allowed 2 co2 canisters. I told them I had one and I was allowed to check it in. I flew with Ryanair.

Same as myself going to Dubai,tell them you have them at check-in. Was allowed take two in bike box.

MB Lacey

07Lapierre wrote: »

I flew to Palma last week. When I checked my bike in, I was told each passenger is allowed 2 co2 canisters. I told them I had one and I was allowed to check it in. I flew with Ryanair.

I can obviously just buy some over there, but to avoid having to go to a bike shop before my cycle, it might be handy to take my own CO2 cartridges - does it matter if I pack them in my check in luggage or in my hand luggage?

I will deflate the tyres and remove pedals - it's no hassle really.

I also took the plastic milk bottle off the rear deraileur, I'm going to tape my helmet over that part of the bike instead for more protection.

07Lapierre

MB Lacey wrote: »

I can obviously just buy some over there, but to avoid having to go to a bike shop before my cycle, it might be handy to take my own CO2 cartridges - does it matter if I pack them in my check in luggage or in my hand luggage?

I will deflate the tyres and remove pedals - it's no hassle really.

I also took the plastic milk bottle off the rear deraileur, I'm going to tape my helmet over that part of the bike instead for more protection.

I doubt very much if you could bring them onto the plane in your Hand luggage.

mp31

*WARNING* potentially silly question coming up..

Wait a sec ... so you can bring a whole bike on the plane by deflating the tyres, turning the handlebars, putting pipe wrapping on the thing, removing the pedals and sticking it in a CTC bag.. why the need then for bike soft/hard cases?

07Lapierre

mp31 wrote: »

*WARNING* potentially silly question coming up..

Wait a sec ... so you can bring a whole bike on the plane by deflating the tyres, turning the handlebars, putting pipe wrapping on the thing, removing the pedals and sticking it in a CTC bag.. why the need then for bike soft/hard cases?

Baggage handlers tend to throw things onto planes...if you love your bike, you should put it in a hard case and protect it. Ryanair say bikes must be in a box or bag,

* Bicycles - MUST be contained in a protective box or bag in order to be accepted for travel.
Electric bicycles cannot be carried
http://www.ryanair.com/en/terms-and-conditions#regulations-checkedbaggage

Oryx

07Lapierre wrote: »

I doubt very much if you could bring them onto the plane in your Hand luggage.

Ive left co2 cartridges in my bike box (by mistake, but they were fine)

I brought shoes and pedals in hand luggage. They cause a few raised eyebrows in security and you will have to unpack them for a visual inspection.

Never brought co2 in hand luggage, I thought they would be taken from me so didnt risk it.

MB Lacey

07Lapierre wrote: »

Baggage handlers tend to throw things onto planes...if you love your bike, you should put it in a hard case and protect it.

I do love my bike.
Some would suggest that your bike is taken more care of in one of these ctc bikes, because it's not thrown around as much.
I don't know yet from experience, will soon see..
but here's some positive experiences

http://travellingtwo.com/resources/flying-with-a-bicycle-in-a-plastic-ctc-bag

and

http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/cycletouring/planes.shtml

and from the wiggle reviews, seems like plenty of people are getting their bikes through airports unscathed, although one of the reviews said on a trip to the balkans ryanair didn't allow these bags :cool:

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

Oryx

In my experience, Ryanair are pretty good with luggage, though my bike has always been in a box. AL are very rough, by comparison.

Seaswimmer

MB Lacey wrote: »

I do love my bike.
Some would suggest that your bike is taken more care of in one of these ctc bikes, because it's not thrown around as much.
I don't know yet from experience, will soon see..
but here's some positive experiences

http://travellingtwo.com/resources/flying-with-a-bicycle-in-a-plastic-ctc-bag

and

http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/cycletouring/planes.shtml

and from the wiggle reviews, seems like plenty of people are getting their bikes through airports unscathed, although one of the reviews said on a trip to the balkans ryanair didn't allow these bags :cool:

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

how did you get on with this trip on Ryanair??

Wishbone Ash

Oryx wrote: »

In my experience, Ryanair are pretty good with luggage, though my bike has always been in a box. AL are very rough, by comparison.

Isn't the baggage handled by an independent company (Service Air?) who are contracted to different airlines? Open to correction though.

Re: CO2 canisters - I put them into checked-in luggage. Was never an issue.

Wishbone Ash

OP - just to add - you should drop the saddle also making it less intrusive and less likely to catch on things when being loaded/moved around.

Squidgy Black

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Isn't the baggage handled by an independent company (Service Air?) who are contracted to different airlines? Open to correction though.

Re: CO2 canisters - I put them into checked-in luggage. Was never an issue.

All staff working for Ryanair are agency staff signed on temporary contracts, so most of them have worked for different airlines.

Take heed from me, my primary job once was dealing with these things.

My advice:Hard case hard case hard case HARD CASE!!!!!

If that plastic bag goes anywhere near the Out of Gauge, it's going to have to wait until someone from the baggage hall makes his way upstairs to collect it from you. Same with unbagged bicycles.

For it to fly it needs:
Tyres deflated
Pedals removed
Handlebars crossed lengthways
No CO2 cylinders in the bag. Some airlines *do* have a certain allowance, but the airport you might fly from may have a zero tolerance policy. Ask your airline.

The bike flies like that or it doesn't fly at all.

You get a hard case, that bike goes down the Out of Gauge easiest of all. A soft case will do, but risks damage to spokes etc if stuff is put in top of it (expect that, we can't treat all bags as nil on top) and the bane of everyone involve's existence is a cyclist waltzing in off the street unprepared for flight. No bag? It'll travel, but it'll take a while to sort out.

Please guys, hard case, we airport folk beg you.

Edit: I wouldn't recommend taped up cardboard box. If that box needs to be opened (and it can do with security), there's no way to reseal it unless you bring a spare roll of tape with you. Remember, whether you can close it again or not will *not* be taken into account with regards to needing to open it.

el tel

Odd that there is a prohibition on CO2 cyclinders considering the lifejackets under each seat usually contain at least one of them.

on_the_nickel

Deleted User wrote: »

Take heed from me, my primary job once was dealing with these things.

My advice:Hard case hard case hard case HARD CASE!!!!!

If that plastic bag goes anywhere near the Out of Gauge, it's going to have to wait until someone from the baggage hall makes his way upstairs to collect it from you. Same with unbagged bicycles.

For it to fly it needs:
Tyres deflated
Pedals removed
Handlebars crossed lengthways
No CO2 cylinders in the bag. Some airlines *do* have a certain allowance, but the airport you might fly from may have a zero tolerance policy. Ask your airline.

The bike flies like that or it doesn't fly at all.

You get a hard case, that bike goes down the Out of Gauge easiest of all. A soft case will do, but risks damage to spokes etc if stuff is put in top of it (expect that, we can't treat all bags as nil on top) and the bane of everyone involve's existence is a cyclist waltzing in off the street unprepared for flight. No bag? It'll travel, but it'll take a while to sort out.

Please guys, hard case, we airport folk beg you.

Edit: I wouldn't recommend taped up cardboard box. If that box needs to be opened (and it can do with security), there's no way to reseal it unless you bring a spare roll of tape with you. Remember, whether you can close it again or not will *not* be taken into account with regards to needing to open it.

What's "out of gauge" - outsize baggage?

triggermortis

CO2 canisters are classed as dangerous goods, same as lead acid batteries, and those are fitted to a lot of aircraft too.
I'd just pack them in my checked in luggage or bike box/bag - done it before with no problems.
The altitude inside the aircraft will be effectively 8-10,000 feet so there is no need to deflate your tyres. Maybe you should lower the pressure slightly but no need to deflate them. I never have.

triggermortis

triggermortis wrote: »

CO2 canisters are classed as dangerous goods, same as lead acid batteries, and those are fitted to a lot of aircraft too.
I'd just pack them in my checked in luggage or bike box/bag - done it before with no problems.
The altitude inside the aircraft will be effectively 8-10,000 feet so there is no need to deflate your tyres. Maybe you should lower the pressure slightly but no need to deflate them. I never have.

Doesn't matter if they're aboard the aircraft already as signed for, regularly inspected, regularly replaced equipment.

Rules are rules are rules are rules are rules.

No ifs.

No ands.

No buts.

Deflate your tyres.

Leave your CO2 at home or better, inform your airline.

I've never needed my seatbelt, but I put it on every time anyway.

on_the_nickel wrote: »

What's "out of gauge" - outsize baggage?

Beg pardon-yes it is.

07Lapierre

My suggestion:

Bring ONE CO2 canister in your check in luggage or bike Box. Declare it when you check-in. If the airline allow it, great..if not, just bin it. After all, were talking about ONE CO2 canister.

In My experience, you will be allowed to travel with one canister. It won't be a problem. (with Ryanair and Aerlingus anyway)

Wishbone Ash

Deleted User wrote: »

Please guys, hard case, we airport folk beg you

Not very practical for those intending to go touring (especially if returning via a different airport which rules out leaving it at the left luggage dept.)

Brian?

When flying back from the states in April there were 32 CO2 cartridges in my check in luggage. They all made it back to Ireland, via Heathrow, explosion free.

It never even occurred to me it would be a problem.

mp31

To the OP... just wondering if you made that trip with the bike... if so how did it go? Did the bike survive OK, did you have any hassles at the airport(s).

fixie fox

There's no doubt that flying with a bike in a bag is stressing, no matter what way you go about it - you just can't be sure it will come out sound.
A box relieves the stress, but then you have to be able to transport and store the box, etc. This isn't possible if you are touring or something.

The Aer Lingus setup at Dublin airport is brilliant. When I was booking my bike by phone I asked about 'terms and conditions' about getting the bike ready and I was told, more or less. "yerra it'll be grand - just roll it up and it'll be fine". I even rang back to make sure and then the guy looked up something and said about removing the pedals and turning the bars. I asked him if I needed a bag and he definitely said 'no'. The I asked him if I could let the panniers on it and he said 'yes'.

When I arrived the Aer Lingus guy said 'no way' - must have bag and no panniers. I panicked a bit, of course, but he soothed my down, gave me a clear plastic bag, and checked in one of the panniers for nothing. I was able to take the other as hand luggage. Brilliant service there. If it had been Ryan Air, I wonder?? But bad marks to Aer Lingus for poor phone advice

For those returning to Dublin Airport with a bike, there is a sign at the baggage hall which says (something like) 'Oversize Baggage'. I went there as my bike went into 'Oversize Baggage'. And I waited, and waited .... a .... loooong .... time ...! There was a sign pointing to (something like) 'Inquiries about baggage' and eventually I headed in that direction. On the way I saw another sign for (something like) 'Extra Oversize Baggage'. Any my bike was waiting for me there. What confusion!

Oryx

fixie fox wrote: »

For those returning to Dublin Airport with a bike, there is a sign at the baggage hall which says (something like) 'Oversize Baggage'. I went there as my bike went into 'Oversize Baggage'. And I waited, and waited .... a .... loooong .... time ...! There was a sign pointing to (something like) 'Inquiries about baggage' and eventually I headed in that direction. On the way I saw another sign for (something like) 'Extra Oversize Baggage'. Any my bike was waiting for me there. What confusion!

I presume you were in T2. The two areas are opposite ends of the baggage hall and you don't know which to watch Ive done the same as you!

fixie fox

Oryx wrote: »

I presume you were in T2. The two areas are opposite ends of the baggage hall and you don't know which to watch Ive done the same as you!

Ya, it was T2. It's silly signposting and you can't watch the second one if you don't know it's there.

hardCopy

fixie fox wrote: »

There's no doubt that flying with a bike in a bag is stressing, no matter what way you go about it - you just can't be sure it will come out sound.
A box relieves the stress, but then you have to be able to transport and store the box, etc. This isn't possible if you are touring or something.

The Aer Lingus setup at Dublin airport is brilliant. When I was booking my bike by phone I asked about 'terms and conditions' about getting the bike ready and I was told, more or less. "yerra it'll be grand - just roll it up and it'll be fine". I even rang back to make sure and then the guy looked up something and said about removing the pedals and turning the bars. I asked him if I needed a bag and he definitely said 'no'. The I asked him if I could let the panniers on it and he said 'yes'.

When I arrived the Aer Lingus guy said 'no way' - must have bag and no panniers. I panicked a bit, of course, but he soothed my down, gave me a clear plastic bag, and checked in one of the panniers for nothing. I was able to take the other as hand luggage. Brilliant service there. If it had been Ryan Air, I wonder?? But bad marks to Aer Lingus for poor phone advice

For those returning to Dublin Airport with a bike, there is a sign at the baggage hall which says (something like) 'Oversize Baggage'. I went there as my bike went into 'Oversize Baggage'. And I waited, and waited .... a .... loooong .... time ...! There was a sign pointing to (something like) 'Inquiries about baggage' and eventually I headed in that direction. On the way I saw another sign for (something like) 'Extra Oversize Baggage'. Any my bike was waiting for me there. What confusion!

We had much the same experience last year with AL. Follow the buggies to the oversize counter (you even get to skip the regular queue).

We had our panniers booked in as checked baggage in advance. We were given a plastic bag at the counter. No need to mess with handlebars or pedals.

We didn't bother deflating the tyres but someone did it for us in transit anyway.

Coming back from France we didn't even have to put it in a plastic bag. The desk agent put a sticker on the top tube and we just wheeled it to a hatch beside the security queue and let the tyres down.

Bike boxes are no good if you're touring by bike.

johnk123

I have travelled with AL with bikes in the CTC bags and all was very easy. Pedals off, tyres down and spin and drop the bars. That said, this was me going touring with an aluminium bike and a rack etc etc etc. Would I do it with a carbon bike I was going racing/training with etc? No...


AL in T2 are gas when checking in the bike though... They sort of just take them and leave them standing beside a counter and say "Ah yeah, they'll be grand..." while some lad of about 35 stone goes off to get another lad to help him with them... The first time, I remember leaving the check in and saying to myself that there is no way they'll be there when we arrived.. but low and behold they were!

We also had the same issue as Oryx when coming home... we were at either end trying to figure out where they were!

MB Lacey

3rd go at posting a reply without it disappearing! Typing from mobile
Just going to give this link- go to post 'cut tyre but no broken bones'

hannahhauxwell.blogspot.com

Bike got a knock to the wheel which if I had kept my tyres a little inflated (allowed) I don't think would have happened.
Baggage handler in Leeds said best using see through bags for bikes.

Squidgy Black

Probably got snagged on a shard of metal somewhere looking at your blog post.

MB Lacey

stetyrrell wrote: »

Probably got snagged on a shard of metal somewhere looking at your blog post.

I think it was more like a bang off something, from the marks on the wheel rim

Diamondmaker

Im departing from Brizzy via to Dubai tonight. Once in Dublin I have a Ryan air flight to Spain with my bike.

I have it packed up in a Scicon Aero Comfort. Im very happy with how it looks and feels now before travel. Its a clever design, its a soft case but with a steel frame. Protective padded side panels for the wheels also. $500.

Ill report on any experiences of the transcontinental leg and the Euro leg on finishing.

Any one know a friendly bike shop in Portmarnock, where I can re inflate on Thursday for a ride ?

Have a hand pump packed but never used it, not sure will it get to a required pressure...

boege

Have travelled Dublin Geneva on AL with two bike boxes this year and last year.

Both bikes have carbon frames so not taking chances. In both trips both bikes arrived, no issues. In both trips one of the two bike boxes was damaged.

It has to be said that a full bike box is a heavy enough item and can be tricky to manhandle.

I have a hunch that ground crew might take more care with an unboxed bike than they take with a bike box. Its just a hunch....

I suppose a personal experience with bike travel can trump what me or anyone else can post on a web forum, and I have to say I'll be in the soft bag camp myself when I get my Montague Paratrooper (There will be touring, ohh yes though the soft bag will be used more for bussing about) but I would certainly warn against thinking, having hunches, guessing etc that one way is better taken care of than another. I worked down there, manhandled what goes down there for some time. They're all taken care of as best they can be down in the baggage hall, no matter who you're flying with or which method of packing you use. It's easiest & least risky with a hard case, next a padded soft, next an unpadded soft, next the shopping clear plastic bag, finally the unprepared bike.

I'm reading about how impractical hard cases are for some of you, I wonder is there a market for a collapsible hard case?

DubVelo

Does anyone know if you can hand your bike over to Ryanair with the panniers attached (all under the 30kg)? Or if using a box can you stuff your tent, panniers etc in there with it?

fixie fox

DubVelo wrote: »

Does anyone know if you can hand your bike over to Ryanair with the panniers attached (all under the 30kg)? Or if using a box can you stuff your tent, panniers etc in there with it?

From memory, Ryan Air have a pretty restrictive weight limit. I have a good hard box and with a carbon bike it was just under their weight. So, no scope for stuffing it with extra luggage. Try their website for the weight etc.

fixie fox

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm reading about how impractical hard cases are for some of you, I wonder is there a market for a collapsible hard case?

I think if you can't handle the full box - e.g. touring - you probably can't handle the collapsible idea either in most cases. However, someone has probably already got one on the market probably!

hardCopy

fixie fox wrote: »

I think if you can't handle the full box - e.g. touring - you probably can't handle the collapsible idea either in most cases. However, someone has probably already got one on the market probably!

I've seen a box for a Bike Friday that converts to a trailer on arrival. Then you can throw the rest of your luggage in the box and tow it on your tour.

Maybe someone could build a similar contraption for a full size bike.

Cerdito

I flew from Budapest to Dublin last year with Aer Lingus having cycled there from Dublin. I just arrived at the counter with the pedals inverted, handlebars turned and tyres deflated (no bag or box). I tried to hand it to them like that but they weren't having any of it.

They pointed me to one of the baggage wrapping services, who wrapped up my bike in what amounted to really strong clingflim for €10, and I was good to go. Bike came back to Dublin T2 fine (though not an expensive frame/bike).

My plan for flying in the future is to source a roll of the strong clingfilm, cycle to airport, wrap up bike myself and hand over. Then do the same on the way back.

DubVelo

fixie fox wrote: »

From memory, Ryan Air have a pretty restrictive weight limit. I have a good hard box and with a carbon bike it was just under their weight. So, no scope for stuffing it with extra luggage. Try their website for the weight etc.

Well, like I said it's 30kg for the bike. If my bike is only 11 or 12kg I was hoping to just roll up with panniers attached and hand it over. Or failing that, stuff the lot in a cardboard box from a bike shop.

If I'd be paying seperate baggage on top of the €50 for the bike it starts to not look like such a good deal.

at1withmyself

30kg is twice the allowance of AerLingus so you'll be fine. I flew to Spain last year and had my bike and all my luggage in my hard shell case. Came in around 28kg.

DubVelo wrote: »

Well, like I said it's 30kg for the bike. If my bike is only 11 or 12kg I was hoping to just roll up with panniers attached and hand it over. Or failing that, stuff the lot in a cardboard box from a bike shop.

If I'd be paying seperate baggage on top of the €50 for the bike it starts to not look like such a good deal.

Wishbone Ash

My baby awaits her fate! Be kind Aer Lingus.