2023-07-20 14:53:15
Traveling with a bike on the plane requires organization. Each airline has its own special baggage guidelines. Thus, before booking your ticket, it is essential to check the requirements for sports equipment. Preparing well and packing your bike with care guarantees a smooth trip. CycloVagabond offers us his advice for flying with a bike.
©Vincent Lavallee
Find out regarding the airline’s bicycle policy
If you want to go by plane with your bike, it is important to choose an airline adapted to your practice. Indeed, the rules relating to bulky luggage, in particular sports equipment, vary from one company to another. Checking various elements before booking will avoid unpleasant surprises – such as additional costs. Note that it is still quite rare for a company to prevent you from taking your bike on the plane.
Also, you must register your request for special baggage classified as “sports equipment” at least 48 hours before boarding. With the online approach, you easily save a few euros. Fares start at €40 to fly with a bike in Europe. You will have to pay up to more than 100 € to leave the Old Continent. The total weight of bicycle luggage and the size are also taken into account by airline companies. For example, Air France and Emirates limit you to a 23 kg package, with a maximum length of 300 cm. At British Airways, it is indeed 23 kg authorized, but a dimension of 190 cm at most. While EasyJet and Lufthansa accept special baggage up to 32 kg.
Transporting an electric bike by plane
However, beware! Transporting an electric bicycle by plane is prohibited. In question, the lithium battery which remains very flammable. A spark on board is enough to ignite the hold. Which remains, of course, very problematic for safety in full flight. Despite these restrictions, it is still possible to bring small objects containing lithium, such as telephones and laptops. But, between 2014 and 2022, there are no less than 356 incidents related to lithium batteries. Thus, to satisfy travelers on electric bikes, airports have recently installed VAE rentals. This has been the case since March 1, 2023, at Bordeaux Mérignac airport, where there are self-service electric bicycles.
Prepare your bike before flying
Flying on a bike is no small feat. On the one hand, airlines demand impeccable packaging. On the other hand, on arrival, you have only one wish: to recover your fragile travel tool in good condition.
Respect the instructions of the airline
In anticipation of your flight, find out regarding the instructions imposed by the airlines. In general, on a classic bike, you have to disassemble the pedals, the wheels – the front one may be enough – and the handlebars. By doing so, you respect the mandatory dimensions. Don’t forget to deflate the tires for added safety. Due to atmospheric pressure, these can explode in midair. And some operators do not hesitate to tear the cardboard to check if you have done it!
Wrap your bike to avoid breakage
What cyclist has never had a heavy heart watching his box move away on the boarding carpet? Do not panic ! If you have packed it carefully, your bicycle will arrive at its destination safely. To do this, remove the front wheel – and rear if necessary – as well as the handlebar. Place them in the length of the frame. Pack (don’t remove) the derailleur with bubble wrap, fabric or newspapers. Thanks to this protection, you protect this precious part of your bike from shocks. Ditto for all the other components that you consider fragile. Don’t hesitate to protect them by taking care not to exceed the authorized baggage weight.
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Reach the airport with a packed bike
Your bike is packed; your saddlebags and suitcases are ready. You must now reach the airport with all of this equipment at arm’s length! You have several options for flying with a bike:
Using public transport is not the ideal solution. You will understand why. Imagine your journey from the city to the airport. You push a 23 kg box with panniers on your arms, without help. You put a lot of effort into loading your bike onto the train or bus. In short, to avoid if you do not want to lose all your energy on this trip. Ask someone to take you with their van or a large vehicle. Here is the ideal situation. Little effort, the comfort of the passenger compartment and the respect of schedules. A converted taxi that accepts large parcels is also a simple and effective solution. When booking, all you have to do is specify the dimensions of your luggage. The valet parking service is convenient if you plan to take your car to the airport. This can be a convenient way for bike trips of a few weeks. You book your parking and your valet, without stress. The latter awaits you at your departure terminal to receive your vehicle and park it safely.
Within the airport, you can load your luggage by bicycle on a trolley to move around better. As you will have understood, you will need to arrive at the airport in advance. In addition, you will need to check in at 2 different locations. Your bags will be boarded at the baggage counter. While you will go to the special baggage counter for your bike.
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Flying with a bike: the cover or the box?
Without a doubt, we recommend a rigid cardboard. Indeed, once you arrive at your destination, you won’t be able to pedal for miles, encumbered with a bike cover! So you will have to get rid of the packaging. In major airports, you can buy your card directly at the counters of certain companies. Knowing that leaving by plane is stressful enough, it is best to arrive on D-Day with a bicycle already packed. To do this, all you have to do is go to your nearest bike shop and pick up an empty box.
Upon arrival, the choice is yours. Either throw away your box – we don’t recommend this – or hand it over to your last scheduled hotel, if you can. Some airports, such as Keflavik in Iceland, provide a Bike Pit. This is a space where you store your cardboard, to then retrieve it at the end of your journey. And if you still want to invest in a bike cover, Decathlon manufactures them at a good price/quality ratio.
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Since 2021, Giuseppe Papa, alias CycloVagabond, organizes cycling trips in Europe and the rest of the world. Taking the plane with his bike, he’s used to it! It accompanies people wishing to explore the planet at the slow pace of their bicycle. His favorite destinations? Kyrgyzstan and Patagonia. But, it also guides you on the roads of France, Italy and any other country of your choice. His dream: to make you discover the beauty of the outside world, meetings and sport on vacation.
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