Flying with a bike to/from Latin America

[andym]

I'm starting to ponder a long trip to South America. I'm wondering about the costs and practcalities of getting me (and the bike) there and back. I know some people on here have done this sort of trip. I'm just looking for some tips and advice.

Ideally I'd like an open-jaw ticket that would allow me to fly to somewhere northern and return from somewhere southern (or the other way round). With some flexibility about return dates. Will it cost an arm and a leg?

Ditto for the cost of transporting the bike.

British Iberia would probably offer the greatest range of destinations but I'd like to consider alternatives (eg LAN). Flying out of Madrid (say) wouldn't be an issue if the deal was right.

There are a lot of airlines out there so any clues on where to start would be a huge help.

 

[mark]

I haven't been to south America yet, but I've gotten my bicycle and myself across the Atlantic and back half a dozen times in the last 11 years, so hopefully I can offer a little advice.

Just about every airline has a section on it's website that will let you put together an itinerary and check prices. British Airways in particular has a really good website, with a trip planner, downloadable time table and a link to a world wide route map. Every time I've flown somewhere for a bike tour, I've spent a good bit of time comparing airfares to different airports, on different days of the week, etc. An open jaw ticket won't necessarily cost you an arm and a leg, although it would probably be cheaper to stick with one airline for the whole itinerary. Changing dates after you've booked and paid WILL cost an arm and a leg, unless you've bought a full fare, no restrictions ticket (which will cost both arms, both legs, and your current and future offspring).

I've taken my bicycle on the plane with me as checked baggage on all my journeys, and the naked bike approach (no bag or box, or just a clear plastic bag) has worked best. Not all airlines allow this, though, so research the rules on bicycles on the individual airline's website. BA says "a protective bag", but I've gone with no bag at all on their flights with no trouble. One time they gave me a clear plastic bag, otherwise they just took the bike.

No airline takes bicycles for free anymore. Fees are pretty variable, and can add up to a significant amount, so again, do the research on the airline's website. The best you'll get is that your bag will be counted as one piece of checked luggage, so you'll be charged the "second bag" fee for your bike.

If you're bringing camping gear, expect the airlines to take a very close interest in your cookstove. At best, it will have to be squeaky clean with no odor of fuel (which is reasonable, IMO). At worst, you will not be allowed to bring it, either as checked baggage or carry-on. Again, scour the airline's website, know the rules and plan accordingly before you buy your ticket.

It might be worth using buses for part of your journey, instead of flying the whole distance. If nothing else, it would be worth researching fares and travel times.

http://www.roughguides.com/ are excellent travel guides, IME. They're not cycling specific, but they cater to younger, more active, more frugal travelers. I have no connection with the company, I've just gravitated toward their guides over the years.

 

[andym]

Every time I've flown somewhere for a bike tour, I've spent a good bit of time comparing airfares to different airports, on different days of the week, etc.
...

No airline takes bicycles for free anymore. Fees are pretty variable, and can add up to a significant amount, so again, do the research on the airline's website. The best you'll get is that your bag will be counted as one piece of checked luggage, so you'll be charged the "second bag" fee for your bike.

Thanks Mark, but you've highlighted th main reason for my question: I'd like to limit the number of hours spent fruitlessly searching through airline websites looking for information on luggage charges which usually tends to be very well hidden or at the end of the ticket purchase process. I was expecting to have to compare prices for different days and destinations, but I'd like to narrow down the range of places to look and, given that others have done this before, I was hoping for some advice along the lines of 'don't bother with airline x; airline y is worth a try'.

I think my collection of guide books includes the Rough Guides to Chile, Argentina, and Patagonia. No doubt with more to come.

 

[Hacienda71]

Try Journey Latin America. They are pretty knowledgeable on traveling over there. I have regularly been out to Brazil over the last 12 years, most main European carriers fly out there but you will need to change with a lot of them unless you can get a direct with BA from Heathrow. When you are in South America you could get an air pass with an agreed number of flights within a set zone area. The bus network in Brazil is great, but I am not sure how they would view a bike as luggage.

 

[andym]

Try Journey Latin America. They are pretty knowledgeable on traveling over there. I have regularly been out to Brazil over the last 12 years, most main European carriers fly out there but you will need to change with a lot of them unless you can get a direct with BA from Heathrow. When you are in South America you could get an air pass with an agreed number of flights within a set zone area. The bus network in Brazil is great, but I am not sure how they would view a bike as luggage.

Thanks for reminding me about JLA - and airpasses.

 

[andym]

OK replying to your own question is a bit like talking to yourself, but if it's of benefit to anyone else, according to Iberia.com ('content provided by Britsh Airways') you can carry your bike as part of your normal 23 kg allowance. If you need to carry additional bags these cost £32 (online) for the first bag and £72 for each subsequent bag.

And, if I've understood the LAN website correctly, their luggage allowance is 2 23 kg bags.

http://www.lan.com/en_ca/sitio_personas/planifica_tu_vuelo/todo_sobre_equipaje/equipaje_bodega.html

And a useful post on the LAN airpass (although from 2008) by someone who used to work for JLA.

http://www.bigtravelweb.com/travel/2008/10/13/lan-south-america-airpass/

 

[hubbike]

its actually generally cheaper to fly out of london than madrid. Your flight will connect through madrid or paris but indirect flights cost less.

I flew with air france on the way out (to buenos aires) and some colombian airline I forget the name of on the way back...

they both alowed 2x23kg which was plenty for me as bike went in one box and panniers in the other. packing a bike in a box is not a problem just get an old box from a bike shop.

 

[hubbike]

I book tickets with STA because I like their attitude. generally if I find the cheapest flight off the internet they'll do better.

return should be about 650-800 quid depending on your chosen airports.

sounds exciting, there's heaps of good south america info I could, and will, pass on. standby for a PM!

 

[andym]

Thanks a lot Pete.

Air France to Buenos Aires (for example) is an option that would never have occurred to me.

 

[rualexander]

Back in 1998 I flew with Aerolineas Argentinas via Madrid and found them to be reasonably good. Not sure what they are like nowadays though.
As with most airlines, when flying trans-atlantic, you get the two piece baggage system rather than the weight system, so you can take two items up to 23kg each or so, so no problems with extra charges for the bike, just get a big holdall/laundry bag for your panniers to get them all into one bag, and your bike goes as the second item.

 

[robjh]

Just be careful if using BA that you're absolutely sure what packaging rules are currently being enforced. They happily accepted my bike 'naked' in 2007 and 2008 then in 2009 I turned up with it in a clear plastic bag at Gatwick and they refused point blank to take it, saying the bag wasn't protective enough and that their rules had subtly changed. Of course if you're planning on using a box then there is no problem, but otherwise i would ring the airline beforehand, try and get a firm answer and note the name of the person you spoke to. To complicate matters, it may be the baggage handling company rather than the airline that actually makes the rules in each airport.

 

[mark]

Just be careful if using BA that you're absolutely sure what packaging rules are currently being enforced. They happily accepted my bike 'naked' in 2007 and 2008 then in 2009 I turned up with it in a clear plastic bag at Gatwick and they refused point blank to take it, saying the bag wasn't protective enough and that their rules had subtly changed. Of course if you're planning on using a box then there is no problem, but otherwise i would ring the airline beforehand, try and get a firm answer and note the name of the person you spoke to. To complicate matters, it may be the baggage handling company rather than the airline that actually makes the rules in each airport.

Interestingly enough, BA took my bike "naked" at Denver and Heathrow in 2009, and at Denver, Heathrow, Gatwick and Catania in 2008. So it seems to depend on which baggage handler you deal with. Like you said, contact the airline beforehand, try to get a firm answer, and note the name of the person you speak with, as well as time and date of the call.

 

[Manonabike]

Back in 1998 I flew with Aerolineas Argentinas via Madrid and found them to be reasonably good. Not sure what they are like nowadays though.
As with most airlines, when flying trans-atlantic, you get the two piece baggage system rather than the weight system, so you can take two items up to 23kg each or so, so no problems with extra charges for the bike, just get a big holdall/laundry bag for your panniers to get them all into one bag, and your bike goes as the second item.

This used to be the case but many years ago.

 

[rualexander]

This used to be the case but many years ago.

Still is with Aerolineas at least.

 

[HelenD123]

I don't know whether it will apply to South America, but for North America I found it cheapest to book both outward and return flights with the same airline (Air Canada in this case) and then pay a fee to change the date of the return flight. It was actually fractionally cheaper to buy a return ticket than two separate singles so it was a no brainer and I thought it might be reassuring for immigration officers to see that I had a return ticket booked.

EDIT: I used ebookers to look for flights as the site allows you to fly out to one place and return from a different place.