PedalingWalrus

I'm trying to figure out what the best way is to book with Lufthansa from Boston To Frankfurt.

They have 2-4 Economy fares divided into 2 main categories: Economy and Premium Economy. If I understand it properly the main difference for a bicycle tourist is 1 checked bag vs 2 checked bags. Checked bag seems to include sports equipment (i.e. bicycle) up to 23 kilograms. The price differences between Economy and Premium Economy are almost double the money. For example $600 Economy ticket would be $1200 with Premium Economy. Their online PDF about extra baggage fees says $150 for a bicycle each way.

Seems to me that going Economy, checking the bike in and paying for extra bag is the way to go. In case the first baggage could not be a bicycle under Economy then paying $150 for the extra bike is still a better deal under Economy vs booking Premium Economy for double the money to get the 2 checked bags allowance?

I did email them asking for advice...

fantom1 

For intercontinental flights you have 1 free bag up to 23kg and 158 total cm (h+w+l). Premium you have two free. This includes sports baggage, but the same weight/dim. limits apply.

Otherwise its $150 each way. See below.

https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/Excess-baggage
https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/Free-baggage-rules

indyfabz

But what else do you get with Premium Economy? Might be worth if it if you need/want things like extra leg room.

jefnvk

According to this page, dimensions do not apply to sports baggage, only to number of pieces and weight:

https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/Excess-baggage

fantom1 

I think it explicitly states that the rules do apply to it...

"Sports baggage is carried free of charge(2) under the free baggage regulations (number/weight of bags)."

Next Page as linked from "free baggage regulations" above:

"Free baggage dimensions
The maximum size per piece of baggage, regardless of class, is 158 cm (width + height + depth).

Items of baggage that are larger or heavier than the permitted dimensions and weight or that are additional to the free baggage allowance will be carried as excess baggage for a flat fee. Items that weigh more than 32 kg will be transported by air freight for a charge. For further information, please visit the Excess and Special Baggage page."

To me what I wrote is correct, but there is nothing quite so unclear in this world as airline baggage rules

jefnvk

Hmm. That verbiage doesn't show for me on the sports page, and my experience has generally been that one doesn't advertise sporting equipment flying free in place of a checked bag if dimensional limits still exist. But, agreed, I dunno why no one can make a clear luggage policy.

linus

Air Canada had more seating room, better food, and better entertainment system.

PedalingWalrus

Yeah but can You roll on the bikes like with Lufthansa ? I am quite motivated that with Lufthansa I only need to tilt the handlebars and remove pedals and that's it. No need for a bicycle box.

jefnvk

Uhh, better check that:
https://www.lufthansa.com/mediapool/..._237919198.pdf

PedalingWalrus

:-) I might have an outdated information. I know they used to allow it unboxed because I've done it but that was 15 years ago

Here is an interesting post from 2016 from CGOB

And here someone thinks your bike is treated better if it is in a plastic bag

I'll just do the bag I guess ... such a PITA :-)

debade

My wife and I rolled our bikes on a Lufthansa flight the summer of 2015 from Laguardia, NYC. We started our ride in Edinburgh and ended in Copenhagen. We paid for the bike as cargo. I want to say $150. In NY, we went through a discussion with the check in manager. We trained her on the policy and she confirmed our understanding with someone in her chain of management. So, know the policy in case the people at the counter are not trained. Back then , the roll-on program was for selective flights and perhaps it is still the case. I do not know the current policy.

In Frankfort during the luggage transfer, we did see our bikes on the tarmac. Mine was laying on its side. I suspected it had fallen as my wife's bike on resting on the tires. I took a photo from the window in the terminal.

Upon getting our bikes in Edinburgh I saw my rear fender was broken. I took the bike to the LBS and got new fenders. Long story short, I called Lufthansa and received a full refund for the fenders. Bikes were in perfect shape on our return to USA.

In case this will be helpful, in Copenhagen, we purchased a cardboard box and took it by bus to the airport the day before our flight. We put them in a locker. The next day we biked to the airport and packed our bags in the boxes. The boxes were checked. The bike was rolled on without making any changes to any of its parts (pedals, saddle, etc). It was rolled on like you would put it in your garage.

jefnvk

I did the bag coming back from Iceland. Worked well, no concerns about damage, biggest probably is handling it in the bag (box is MUCH easier).

jefnvk

I have no idea why edit isn't working, but that should say the biggest problem is handling it in the bag in the terminal, IMO it is easier in a box.

downtube42

I went to the airport not sure what to expect from Lufthansa when I flew from Dallas to Paris with my recumbent in a big honkin' recumbent box. Between my wife and I, we had one checked bag and the bike, flying economy, and they charged us nothing. Nada.

On the return flight, which was Lufthansa the first leg and an American carrier the second leg (forget which one), they charged us... nothing.

Per their policy, I expected at least $150, maybe more because the box was so big. Go figure.

veganbikes

I have nothing to add but Premium Economy would be a great one to add to the oxymoron list.

Good luck with your flight and have a great trip!

PedalingWalrus

Thank You. The plan is to fly in July 2018. :-)

This would be our first bike tour where we actually fly the bikes.

Previous flying with the bikes was just a transport of my kids bicycles from one country to another and that was around the year 2000.

teacherlady

Last summer we were able to roll our bikes on Lufthansa for flights from Belgrade to the US. We were charged 100 Euros for the bikes. As far as I know, you can roll aboard all Lufthansa flights.

If the flight is a code share with United, you can get a United credit card which gives you 2 included bags per ticket, not just one. However, you would have to box your bike as a standard piece of luggage to have it count as a bag,and not a bike. That is only possible if your bike is a folder or has couplers.

redbagsrambler

Just for the record:

I flew Lufthansa from Charlotte to Dresden just this past August (2017) and did not have to pay a fee. I was also not required to box the bike. I also did not have to turn the handlebars nor remove the pedals. The only request made of me was to deflate the tires. Otherwise, it was just roll the bike up, have the ticket agent tag it, and watch a Lufthansa employee roll the bike away.

However, there were conditions to be met in order to avoid the bicycle fee and boxing requirement:
1) All segments of an itinerary had to be on Lufthansa operated aircraft. If any segment was on a partner airline, the bike had to be boxed.

2) The bike had to be the ONLY piece of checked baggage. Checking any other bags - even something as small as a toiletry bag - would trigger the bicycle fee. I wrapped my small pocketknife and multi-tool in a paper towel and tucked them into an opaque water bottle which I placed in the bottle cage when I checked the bike. Everything else was carryon.

3) You must call the Lufthansa customer service number and register your bicycle prior to the day of your flight. The Lufthansa customer service agent explained to me that Lufthansa aircraft are equipped to carry a limited number of unboxed bicycles, but you have to reserve a space in advance. The earlier you call the better to ensure you have a space. In my case, the customer service agent reserved a space for all round trip segments of my itinerary.

On the return flight from Budapest to Charlotte, a Lufthansa employee at check in initially told me I needed to wrap the bike. However, she corrected herself and let the bike go with only deflating the tires.

Also for the record, I checked with the Lufthansa agents at Charlotte airport several days before my flight since they would be the ones I had to deal with on the day of my flight. They initially told me I needed to box the bike and pay the fee, but corrected themselves when I told them what customer service had told me.

PedalingWalrus

Wow. Great info. Thanks!

Tandem Tom

How did you handle your other gear??

redbagsrambler

I travel pretty light when I tour in Europe. When on the bike, everything fits into two rear panniers and one handlebar bag (Lone Peak Mt Rainier and Lone Peak Alta, for those wondering about bag sizes.) This includes riding clothes, street clothes, one pair of lightweight walking shoes, jacket, rain gear, toiletries, bike stuff (spare tubes/nuts/bolts, small hp pump, lube, etc).

I do not pack the items in the panniers for the flights. I place everything (including the empty panniers) loose inside a canvas duffel bag which is my one piece of carryon luggage. The duffel is small enough to meet carryon restrictions and easily fits inside an overhead bin even when fully packed. (The duffel also serves as a great supplemental bag when on the bike. I lay in it the clothes I prefer to keep wrinkle free, then roll it up tight and strap it to the top of the rear rack.)

Valuables like my camera, phone, passport and other travel documents, currency, and so forth are placed in the handlebar bag which qualifies as the allowed personal item. I strap my helmet to the handlebar bag.

Items I check with the bike are the water bottle (with sharp bits inside such as pocketknife, multitool, etc) placed in a bottle cage and tightly secured with a zip tie, a cable lock wrapped around the seat post and spare spokes taped to the top of the rear rack.

I don't camp when touring in Europe, so I don't have to contend with packing camping gear. But should I ever choose to camp, I could get my small tent and sleeping bag in the duffel. I would likely purchase an inexpensive pad and tarp in Europe after I arrived and discard when done. Lot cheaper than a round trip bike fee.

jefnvk

Are tents allowed as carryon? Seems to me the stakes would be a no-go, but I really don't understand the logic behind half the rules anyhow.

In any case, I can get my stuff for a week in Europe down to one pannier and handlebar bag too, if you don't pack on the heavy side it isn't that hard to do, other than the obvious tools and such that are no-gos in the cabin. Really easy on a credit card trip.

gauvins

In my experience, they must be checked. Not even obvious that guylines are legit (once had to check a climbing rope).

jefnvk

I just don't understand why setting an easy to follow, logical policy is so difficult, where so much isn't left up to the discretion of the security officer or gate agent.

linus

TSA agent was not happy with my large tube of toothpaste and a bottle of lotion, but they missed my Leatherman Tool. I didn't even know I had it until I sat down in the plane looking for my wallet.