Bike Boxes/ Bags for airlines?

[rich p]

It's a risk putting a bag in a hold but apart from driving huge distances there is no alternative if you wish to ride in far-flung foreign parts. My heart is always in my mouth as it comes off the carousel but serious damage is rare I think - it certainly has never happened to me but a few dinks have happened to others I know.
I'd be seriously worried shipping a £3k carbon bike in the hold and using a hardcase as the OP has decided is probably the best bet.

Do those using clear bags take the wheels off and turn the bars etc as I thought most airlines have a size restriction these days?

 

[jay clock]

The text I have pasted below is my take on this....it applies for my touring bike - for a lighter road bike I would use a box from an LBS and some of their plastic bits off a newly assembled bike....

------------------------ [FONT=&quot]First tip TURN UP EARLY if only to stop any arguments. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]To pack the bike I use the http://www.bikeadventures.co.uk/shop.html bag - have just binned one after about 5 uses. They weigh 550g and will fit in a pannier or on the rack. Remove pedals, swivel handlebars and drop saddle right down. I take tons of cables ties (fix wheel to bike if needed [Flybe], fix pedals to rack etc, and I also unscrew the rear mech (leave all cables on) and cable tie it to the frame to prevent the hanger being bent. On Flybe I use a spacer for the front forks. To tape up the bag I use heavy duty clear tape from B&Q - has a checkered pattern, and tears easily, does not unstick in use, but can be peeled off afterwards.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]As a precaution for anyone saying “that is not a bike bag” I print a screen shot of the Bike Adventures website showing the bag on sale and in use. I also print the airline’s own terms and conditions just in case.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Easyjet and Ryanair take payment in advance which has the benefit of knowing you have a booking. I have used both several times with a bike.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]I have used Flybe on several return trips and they have been great. I live 4 miles from Southampton so there is a big attraction to use them. The ONLY issue I have is that officially it is a standby only arrangement, which could really screw up your hols. However it has always worked fine[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Because they use smallish planes you have to remove the front wheel as well as the usual pedal/handlebar stuff. If you do not have front pannier frames, you can just turn the handlebars and forks sideways, rather than undo the bolts to twist it. I strap the wheel to the RIGHT hand side of the bike as on the first occasion I ended up with a slightly bent outer chain ring (Stronglight softish alloy) which I bent back with pliers. TOP TIP, as Flybe are at smaller airports they may well not have an excess baggage Xray large enough for bikes, so do not seal the bag till they tell you they are happy, as they may do a manual explosives swab.

I have only been asked to pay once with FlyBe. On other occasions they either didn't ask me, or because I was carrying the panniers as carry on bags, they didn't think it was fair. However with new rules on carry on bags (max 1 and rigidly enforced), I will be checking in the panniers, but plan to put these inside a £shop duffel bag I got to avoid being charged on a per-piece basis!

They will only not carry your bike on the same flight as you if it is very full and very laden. Now that people have to pay for bags this is less likely, as more will reduce luggage and carry it on. But there is the risk in which case they will send it on the next flight

However I have had telephone contact with Flybe (trying calling Ryanair!) and they are friendly and helpful - I am confident that if the bike misses the plane they would do their best to help.

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[CopperBrompton]

Though the one-bag thing is just the policy of some (most?) no-frills airlines. The CAA rules went back to two bags ages ago, and I certainly take two bags on most flights.

 

[Amanda P]

Do those using clear bags take the wheels off and turn the bars etc as I thought most airlines have a size restriction these days?

Wheels off, no. Bars twiddled and pedals off, yes. Often the rules say tyres deflated, too, but I don't do this unless the check-in people insist on it. No exploded tyres so far, and no damaged rims from bikes being dropped onto deflated tyres either.

So far we haven't had a problem with size restrictions - if the airline has a policy for bikes (which usually means they charge for them), and the policy doesn't say they have to be boxed, then there shouldn't be a size restriction.

If there is a size restriction, it's probably because they expect the bike to be moved on a conveyer or go through an x-ray machine. I suspect neither is good news.

I've flown with a bike a couple of times with airlines that say there's an extra charge, and you have to pay it when you check in. They don't always remember, and I don't feel it necessary to remind them.

One last point: whatever the airline may say about rules for packing bikes, it's really up to the guys that check them in and handle them. In many parts of the world, especially smaller airports, these guys are perfectly human and decent and will take good care of a bike however its packed, and whatever the airlines rules may be. Particularly in the third world, they recognise and respect the value of a bike! Be nice to them and they will probably be nice to you. (They may also ask if they can buy your bike!)

It's the backroom boys you never get to speak to you have to worry about!

 

[soltour]

I only use plastic bags for flight transportation...and have made a ripstop plastic duffle bag to take panniers,tent,groundsheet etc....works well for me...as the bag packs down really really small and is no burden to carry around