Flying With a Bike

[Grahame]

Depends on the airline.

Some will let you do it, some insist on a cursory bit of bubblewrap, some will insist on a box or a bag. I did persuade one of the latter to let me wrap the bike in some bubblewrap and then put it in one of their plastic rucksak strap containing bags. Strangeley, at the other end both the wheels were protruding from neatly cut slits in the bottom of the bag.

Check the individual airline's website, most of them have bike carriage under their FAQ section.

[higg]

Most now insist on a "bag" of some sorts, although I did take a naked bike on British Airways and Aer Arann last year. Best done on a steel bike and only if you don't get sensitive about the paintwork.

Straightforward enough with a MTB but last time it was my road bike and the carbon forks got a decent scratch, when I mention to BA that it could be internally damaged, effectively they just shrugged their shoulders and said "what do you expect if it's not in a bag". A part of me agrees with them too.

Also by coincidence, check out the latest CTC-shop magazine, there quote a bike bag for £4.50. Not sure what it is but could be what you want. Looks like just a plastic bag. Beware though even though you think you can wrap these up and put them in your panniers they still take up a bit of space. Mind you, with a bit of creativity you could hang it from the cross-bar with a bit of duct tape.

Also beware not all xray machines will fit a bike with wheels still attached. I did have a bit of hassle in Luton when it didn't fit even their XL Xray machine downstairs. Eventually they just swabbed it and let it go. Best to leave enough time for some such nonsense.

You probably know already but, most will now charge extra for bikes so best do this at the time of booking to avoid a second queue at the airport ticket desk.

[Elliot M]

saw a couple of people at gatwick last week who'd taken them on "as is" but as per aoden's comment think was a UK/Eire flight

[Snoop Doug]

I have a bag you're willing to take with you on a loaner

Cheers - Snoop

[Maria David]

Yep, I'll echo what other people have said - depends on the airline -

Most of them will say on their websites that the bike should be in a bag/case.
If you turn up and it's wrapped in some shape or form it's ok.
In recent times - like last year, because I wanted to just ride off from the airport I took a bag of pipe lagging with me to put around the tubes, plus bubble wrap/cardboard for the mechs/deraillers, and then wrapped the thing either while at check-in or during the train journey between Croydon and Gatwick. I could've thrown the stuff away at my destination and picked up fresh wrapping locally for the return journey, but I kept it with me as it was pretty light and didn't take up much space. I did that when flying with BA - on 3 occasions last year and it worked ok. They didn't seem to mind, though at some airports at check-in they give you a cellophane bag to put the bike in.

The last time I turned up with a bike completely naked was less than 2 years ago when flying with British Midland. They asked no questions about the bike and let it on. It was fine.
Neither BA nor BMI charge for bicycles as long as you are within your baggage limit.

If you really want to chance it with no wrapping whatsoever then just make sure you turn up at least 2.5hrs before departure to allow time to buy a cardboard box at the airport if the airline absolutely refuses. At Gatwick they sell them at the luggage shops in both terminals.

Just beware though that with all the upheaval about everything going into the hold last summer more bikes were getting damaged as so much more stuff was being squashed in. It happened to me on one occasion, though the airline paid for the repairs. One criterium to bear in mind when deciding who to fly with.

[Chris K]

The last time I turned up with a bike completely naked was less than 2 years ago when flying with British Midland.


Great idea Maria, that’s one way to keep the queues down at the x-ray machine........I hate all that business of taking your shoes and belts off!!!