SanDiegoCyclist

I am flying from the U.S. to Heathrow to bike tour this summer on British Airways. And I was wondering what charges you may have incurred if you have flown BA recently. Specifically, the BA website says that a bike can go as checked luggage (not extra luggage) if it meets the dimensions/specifications posted on their website. Since every other airline charges extra for bicycles, regardless of how many pieces of checked luggage you have, I am finding this hard to believe. I have also spoken directly to BA, and they said the same thing, but I think they just looked at their own website.

RobSN

I flew PHX-LHR-GLA and returned LHR-PHX last summer (June/July 2017) on BA with my Tout Terrain Silkroad in an EVOC case (so not little, and darned near the maximum weight) for the sum total of $0. My daughter who flew on AA the same route was charged $200 each way. I did the JOGLE, BTW - great fun!

djb

my nephew flew with them a few years ago and told me of the no charge for bikes, so it would very much appear that this is unchanged.

as the previous person states, it certainly is important to check specific airline prices for bikes, as it can vary widely.

gregf83 

A group of 6 of us flew BA to Spain a couple of years back with no bike charges. We're flying to Spain again in 2 wks and expect no charges.

John N

One important caveat is that the bike fees, if any, are based on the originating flight, regardless of who it was booked through.

For instance, if you book the ticket from Tulsa to LHR, you start out on American Airlines and connect with BA. You would be charged the fee AA charges even though you booked via the BA website. Coming back and originating out of LHR (or any place BA is the originating plane), the fee should be waived.

However, if you take a nonstop BA flight from PHX (or any other airport where the actual plane is a BA plane) you are not charged the the fee from BA. Again, if you return via BA (originating flight), you are not charged a fee but would be if say you returned via American.

Have a great tour!

indyfabz

It's been that way for a long time. Flew BA from Philly to London in 2000. Bike counted as one two free pieces of checked baggage.

jefnvk

I have not flown, but a plain reading of their website tells me you understand it correctly. There are still a few airlines that this is policy, it doesn't really surprise me. Brussels Airlines is another with the same policy.

THAT is the important caveat. Make sure your first flight is actually OPERATED by BA, not just a codeshare on a regional carrier. To/from any flight in the US/Canada, baggage policies apply to the originating flight. Also ensure that if you are flying from a smaller regional airport, the aircraft you start on is capable of accepting bicycles as baggage. Probably not an issue in Arizona, but some of the turboprops they fly to places like Northern Michigan can pose issues.

Dark Arrow

We are booked to Oslo Norway from Sydney Aus. in July on BA and went through a travel agent who confirmed multiple times on the phone that bikes as long as they are under 23kg are included. The trouble we are having is that my Mrs bike has a Rohloff speedhub and her bike comes in at 17kgs without the box. We have 1 extra (paid for) piece of luggage as we don't get the 2 piece allowance that I think you get in the US for our camping gear. We may have to put her saddle and or rack(s) in there as well if we can't squeeze under 23 kgs.

Bear

paulthepyke

I am flying to Italy with Air France (Delta airlines) this fall, this thread made me check the airline policy for bikes. It is very confusing, first they say that if your packaged bike is under 32 kg(70 pounds) and under 157 cm (62 inches) of linear mesurments they it counts as checked bagage, but farther down the paragraph they say that there is a fee of 175$ canadian for flights to/from Europe for bikes, does anyone know wich policy is the right one. I remember looking at a video on youtube a couple months ago, and the girl that made the video often takes the plane with her bike and she was saying that often she dosen't even tell no one from the airline company that she has a bike as bagage and she gets away with it without any extra fee.

Paul

jefnvk

IF you can get it under 62 linear inches (i.e., a S&S or Ritchey or otherwise frame disassembled bike) and keep it under weight, it is simply a regular piece of luggage. There is no reason for them to know what is in there, it is simply a checked bag. Some will argue on some airlines that gate agents will insist it is a bike and charge you anyways, this policy clearly protects you and clarifies the policy for all.

If you cant (any regular bike not disassembled at the frame level), you pay $175 each way per bike.

Tourist in MSN

Several years ago I got my ticket through British Air for a flight from USA to Lisbon Portugal, and back. I did not carry a bike on that trip. Total of six segments, two on American Airlines, two on Iberia and two on the Portugal regional airline. None of my flights were on British Air even though my ticket said British Air.

I flew Delta from USA to Iceland and back in summer 2016, most of my bike was in a case that met the 62 inch criteria (an S&S Backpack) and there was only the charge for regular checked luggage. It had to be under 50 pounds, not the 70 that you cited but perhaps in Canada the rules are different? I use a luggage scale and I usually aim for 48 pounds because the airline scale often adds a pound.

I did not hide the fact that I had a bike, I wore my bike helmet onto the plane because my bags were too full to fit the helmet. I was not charged an extra fee for having a bike. Because I had two checked bags, I did have to pay a regular checked bag fee for the second bag where the first bag was free.

But, most bikes unless they are a coupled bike or a folding bike will not make the 62 inch criteria.

The luggage I took is in the attached photo, the black case (checked) is the S&S case, it is exactly meets the 62 inch criteria, the green bag (checked) was most of my camping gear, my rear rack and a few other bike parts, the yellow duffle (carry on) was some more stuff and my handlebar bag (carried on).

There are occasional reports of airline staff not knowing the rules and demand extra payment if a bike is in the case. I would have said bike parts but not a complete bike. Pedals, saddle, and a few parts were not in the black case with the rest of the bike but were elsewhere, so I would have been truthful that there was not a complete bike in teh case.


My Rohloff bike will not fit in my S&S case and stay below the limit of 50 pounds, so I carry the saddle, pedals, rack, maybe a few other things in a different checked bag. A luggage scale is your best friend, I aim for 48 pounds, the airline scale sometimes adds a pound. The most dense stuff like pedals are easily packed elsewhere.

canamdad

If you live in Canada (or close to it in the US) Air Transat has lots of flights to Europe at good prices and will take bikes in boxes (or their own plastic bags) for $30. CAD each way and a 32 KG max weight. I've flown them a couple of times but with coupled bikes so they meet the 62" max dimensions and go free as the first piece of luggage. I think it is unlikely that a non-coupled bike is going to meet those dimensions unless the fork is taken off and then it's going to be tight.

djb

i recently flew with a mexican airlines, bike was about 35 canadian, will fly with air transat this summer, again, as mentioned, about 30 for bike.

jefnvk

First/business class generally get 70# instead of 50#, and sometimes frequent flyer members and airline credit card holders as well, I presume one of these was the case.

paulthepyke

after rechecking normal checked baggage is 50 pounds 62 inches linear max but a bicycle can go up to 70 pounds and 62 inches linear, but there is a bike fee that is 175$ canadian if I declare my baggage as a bike. here is a copy of their policy:


Bicycles

Bicycles; non-motorized touring or single seat racing; are allowed as checked baggage on most flights, with the exception of certain Delta Connection® carriers.

If you are checking a bicycle that does not exceed the size (62 linear inches/157 cm) and weight (70lbs/32kg) guidelines for normal checked baggage when folded, no oversized or overweight fees will apply.
If the bicycle exceeds the normal baggage linear dimensions (62 linear inches) but must not exceed 115 linear inches (292 cm) — excess weight fee may apply if over 70lbs/32kg, but no oversized fees apply.
Bicycles over 115 linear inches (292cm) and/or 100 lbs (45kg) will not be accepted.
A limited liability release form must be signed by the passenger in the case that the bike is not properly packed.

Bicycle Transport Fees / Packaging Information

150 USD/CAD for travel to all regions (excluding Brazil, Europe and North Africa)
150 USD, 175 CAD*, or 125 EUR* for travel to/from Europe or North Africa
150 USD for travel to/from Brazil
*CAD amount will be charged exit Canada, and EUR amount will be charged exit Europe.

Your bike must be packaged in a container (cardboard, canvas, hard shell, etc.) in one of the following ways:

handlebars fixed sideways and pedals removed
handlebars and pedals encased in plastic, Styrofoam or other similar material


Paul

Tourist in MSN

In the future I will still plan to have my bike case weigh 48 pounds (based on my luggage scale), as I can see Delta demanding an overweight payment if over 50. I have had too many problems with Delta to have any trust in them.

I hope you have a great trip.

In a week I fly on Southwest with my folding bike in a 62 inch S&S Backpack case (as in the photo above) and Southwest is clear on their website that my bag has to be below 50 pounds.

A side note on connecting flights. Some European airlines have a criteria of 20 kg, not 23. So, check to see who is operating any connecting flights you might have.

paulthepyke

Thanks for the tip, its my first trip overseas so I am learning all the rules and regulation for airline companys and it is very confusing, kinda like reading attorney stuff.

Paul

fietsbob

I got the charges from connecting flights, to get to the 747.
No new charges SeaTac to AMS

Tourist in MSN

One more tidbit, in Europe in some regions you are expected to bring your own bags to grocery stores. That is something that you never see listed in articles about traveling there.

jefnvk

Never seen that, where are those? Been to plenty of places where they charge for bags (including a rapidly increasing number of places here in America), but never to a place I'm expected to bring my own.

djb

France has had this for a long time now. I recall it clearly the summer of the Olympics in China, we were camping with French friends and had to carry groceries out in out hands at a local store.

**geez, just checked and it has been already ten years ago...

jefnvk

Well, I'll toss one of those reusable shopping bags on my packing list

djb

which reminds me to add this to my list as well. A light, very packable one would be fine, in fact both my wife and I should have one in our panniers.

Dark Arrow

Getting that way here in Australia too. Bringing your own bags is the preferred way.


Side note on BA flights. I have tickets booked for July with BA if you wish to book your seat prior to 24hours in advance of the flight there is a charge $45AUD per seat (per leg) so if we have 4 legs it's an extra $180 (per person) to pick seats in advance. That seems a bit wrong.


Bear

jefnvk

Lot of airlines getting that way, sadly. Just booked on a Canadian carrier, it was $30 (or more, depending on seat) per seat per leg. Didn't really feel like dropping $180 over three legs just to pick our seats, I guess I'll just get what they give us at checkin.

I understand charging for the premium seats, kinda sucks when it is that way for any seat.