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.