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Post by xybadog on Jun 25, 2008 18:59:17 GMT
Just thought I'd give an idea of the charges made by 5 of the most popular short haul airlines for carrying a bike if you want to take it on your hols with you.
Ryanair = £25
Easyjet = £16.50
BMI = £17.50
BA = Carried free (Must be in Cycle bag, NOT box)
Thomas Cook = short haul £35 return, long haul £45 return
The prices quoted were found on the airlines own websites, for each way travel unless stated otherwise and are correct as of today (25/6/08) for pre-booking cycle carriage via the relevant website. Other rules and regulations do apply.
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Post by martinw on Jun 25, 2008 19:25:26 GMT
Nice one xybadog, thats handy to know, not as expensive as I thought it would be to be honest.
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rob
Have-a-go Hero
Posts: 103
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Post by rob on Jun 25, 2008 19:30:19 GMT
I've wondered about this. Earlier this year i hired a bike whilst in spain and that cost 23 euros a day. But an advert on the Monarch magazine stated the extra chage each way of £20. What's the deal with taking your bike on planes? I've done it with kayaks but not bikes. Do they have to be bagged or boxed? and how do you manage with the hire car the other side? Do you take a rack or try and hire an estate or a van?  mmmmm Sorry for all my questions. |
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Post by xybadog on Jun 25, 2008 19:56:21 GMT
I've wondered about this. Earlier this year i hired a bike whilst in spain and that cost 23 euros a day. But an advert on the Monarch magazine stated the extra chage each way of £20. What's the deal with taking your bike on planes? I've done it with kayaks but not bikes. Do they have to be bagged or boxed? and how do you manage with the hire car the other side? Do you take a rack or try and hire an estate or a van? mmmmm Sorry for all my questions. From what I read, most will accept boxes but a bag is a better investment. Pedals to be removed (fit them "inside-out" if you want) handlebars flush with the frame and tyres slightly deflated to account for air pressure. Pretty much the same as if you received the bike mail order. As for the car hire, I'm not sure Rob. |
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Post by martinw on Jun 25, 2008 20:01:26 GMT
One thing I do know is that if your going to take your bike abroad, its well worth splashing out and getting a top quality bag, ive heard horror stories of baggage handlers hurling bags around and bikes getting broken, and if your bike bag is at the bottom of the pile of cases on a plane its going to get squashed and bent.
Not sure about the hire car thing. It might be possible to request a bike carrier from your hire car provider, like you can a child seat. i might do some digging on that.
It certainly seems to be cheaper to take your own bike out rather than hire out there. Ay least you know you wont be riding a death trap!!
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Post by xybadog on Jun 25, 2008 20:06:04 GMT
The only problem I would have with taking my own bike is if I was going to Cyprus (for example), I wouldn't want my bike ending up in Geneva. Better still I'd prefer my bike to arrive in Cyprus in serviceable condition.
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Post by martinw on Jun 25, 2008 20:10:25 GMT
Dont go terminal 5 at heathrow then!! ;D ;D
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Post by xybadog on Jun 25, 2008 20:19:46 GMT
Dont go terminal 5 at heathrow then!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by sikora on Jun 26, 2008 15:46:51 GMT
I'd always be worried about the bike getting damaged by the baggage handlers no matter how good your bag is.
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Post by martinw on Jun 26, 2008 16:17:10 GMT
Yeah know what you mean. Suppose its the risk you take, but then if you get out there with broken bits there no-where to get the replacement bits. We realised that in Cyprus, we took out a lot of spare bits, but it took nearly 6 weeks to get simple things like a front mech.
Xybadog had some good points in an earlier thread, pedals inside out, and deflate tyres to allow for air pressure in flight. I would probably take the discs off the wheels to save them getting bent and put a piece of thick card in between the brake pads and then cabletie the brake levers in to keep the card in there.
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Post by sikora on Jun 26, 2008 16:37:15 GMT
Are the airlines liable if your biking holiday gets ruined by a broken bike?
I know they'll compensate for the damaged parts. But what about your actual holiday thats gone to waste due to having no bike?
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rob
Have-a-go Hero
Posts: 103
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Post by rob on Jun 26, 2008 17:16:37 GMT
I would also be concerned about damage, also would the handling staff at the destination put it on the carousel!! You would probably have to take out additional insurance since i remember when we took our kayaks on ryanair they told us at the check in that they're not liable for damage and it on our own risk!!!! But it much more difficult to damage a great bulk of plastic.
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Post by xybadog on Jun 26, 2008 18:05:08 GMT
Are the airlines liable if your biking holiday gets ruined by a broken bike? I know they'll compensate for the damaged parts. But what about your actual holiday thats gone to waste due to having no bike? I wouldn't think they're liable for ruining your holiday, though some may offer some minimal comp. It's the same if they lose your luggage and your left with what your standing in for the two weeks. They offer some comp for the clothes and an extremely small amount for the inconvenience. |
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Post by Craigy Boy on Jun 17, 2009 16:41:50 GMT
i was thinking about taking my bike to portugal with me some time soon, but then i thought about all the bike gear i would need to take aswell as the bike, do you guys take tools, camelbaks, pumps? or do you just hope for the best?
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Post by martinw on Jun 17, 2009 17:23:05 GMT
How long you going for?
If I was taking my bike abroad for a week or so I would just take a damn good multi tool instead of tools. Something with a chain splitter, torx keys and spoke keys as well as the normal bits you find on them. Most of the kit you will need to take, like pump some spare tubes and camelbak will go in the bike-bag with the bike. You could even throw in a folded tyre. You may have a problem finding tubes and the like out there.
Make sure you pack dry lube so the dust doesn't stick to your chain!
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mmmmm
