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Hey all,
The Mrs and I are taking our bikes out to New Zealand and we're going to be flying Malaysian Airlines - the bikes in question are a Whyte T-130 and a Banshee Spitfire, so not particularly small. Malaysian has a size restriction on baggage - all dimensions adding up to less than 158cm, which seems crazy small; smaller than most large suitcases. So the questions are:
- Does anyone have any experience of flying a bike with them? Are they flexible (at all) on those dimensions?
- I'm guessing that there isn't a rigid bike case that will satisfy those dimensions - the Bike Box Alan recommend using "average" dimensions, but that still comes to 200cm - does anyone know any different?
- Has anyone got any experience of stripping down a bike and getting it into a smaller case? Weight not likely to be a problem for us (32kg max per item). Any hints and tips welcome...
Cheers - Adam..
The size is allowed luggage I would imagine. You will need to pay extra for sports equipment I would think. I paid 50 euro extra when I flew to The Canary Islands just to give you an idea.
Not seen anyone turn away an evoc which will take nearly any modern bike and hold packing is in containers so it's all well locked after
Aaaah, awesome @mikewsmith - I'd totally missed that one (after trawling through loads on baggage sizes)! Thanks - that looks hopeful...
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As mikewsmith says if it looks like a bike case then never had a discussion on size reckon a cardbox that looks oversize opens a potential hassle
No ideas on that airline sometimes book mine as sporting goods sometimes Just take as oversize in general allowance
Don't forget Nz entry rules on bio hazard you have to declare sporting goods and q1 at desk will be is it a mountain bike ? Need to clean everywhere seeds / mud and they know where to look and I know some people just fit new tyres don't forget soles of mtb shoes they will get checked
And enjoy
Yep under the saddle and inside the steerer are it's to get clean or maybe that's where they look if the rest is spotless!
Never flown with Malaysian Airways but have taken bikes onto at least 6 different other airlines & never had a problem with Bag or Box size. The only time I have seen a bike refused was someone who had shrinked wrapped one & no matter how much he argued they would not aloow it onto the plane.
When we went to New Zealand 18 months ago with my bike & the wifes they went to town checking them for any signs of muck or dirt (Luckily I had placed new tyres on both bikes so that saved a lot of cleaning). They found some dirt on the Wife's boot cleats & took them away to be cleaned & disinfected. If they had found some onto the bike I believe they would have impounded it for full disinfection & that would have meant going back to collect another day?
2 Extra Hours cleaning will save lots of stress at the Airport.
Thanks for the cleaning tips - I've already got a task in our big flippin' list for bike cleaning...
They mostly checked my tyres when I went to NZ, although they took my tent away for a full inspection