[Closed] Flying a MTB to Oz with Emirates - Your Experience ?

Expensive to do and when you get to Oz they keep it a few days in customs, you have to make sure it's dirt free (they clean it down for you mind). For that length of time I wouldnt bother. Just hire one.

Took mine to Melbourne last year as was over there for a few months with work.
I read a lot of horror stories online before going about people having their bike impounded and having to pay for a steam clean etc. but thought I'd just go for it anyway.
I spent a few hours giving it a good clean, making sure there was no mud anywhere, including under the cleats on my shoes.
Then packed in soft CRC bag, pipe lagging around frame, took chainset off as was easy and meant frame wasn't sat on chain rings. The airlines normally say to remove pedals anyway so might as well take the whole thing off!
Also, I bought some new tyres to avoid hassle of cleaning mud from the tread.
Plenty of bubble wrap and most importantly spacers in the dropouts. I used a piece of 15mm plastic pipe in the rear, my forks had a 20mm axle which I forgot to tighten and they were squashed when I unpacked the bike (they did spring back though and aren't bent at all).
When I arrived at melbourne, had to wait around 10 mins at the oversize baggage claim, bike came out and I went to que for customs. I was sent to another que and the bloke just asked if it was a MTB or road bike, when I said MTB he just asked to see the tyres, when he saw they were new he just waved me through, no hassles.

Coming back, nobody wanted to see anything, imagine my surprise when I found a koala on my seatpost back in the UK! (erm, that bit may be made up).

In other shorter words, go ferrit if you can be bothered to clean it up a bit and I highly recommend getting new tyres for minimal hassle!

EDIT: oh, and its not expensive, I flew with Emirates specifically for their baggage allowance as your bike just comes out of your total allowance, no extra cost. It did mean taking some clothes as hand luggage but they're pretty generous with that too so I managed to just scrape through in total, and that was taking enough stuff for 3 months away!

Yes, I looked into it with Emirates, but because it comes out of general baggage allowance (which is admittedly generous) I couldn't fit everything I needed in. If you were really clever you might consider buying in the UK sales a bike from a brand that is still expensively niche in Aus (bear in mind that run-of-the-mill bikes are 20-30 percent more in Aus, less common brands, such as Surly, much more so), having it shipped over by the shop to Aus (£175 or less), riding it for a month and then selling it - I think there's a fair chance you'd make a few quid...
I bought a bike from Evans, it was shipped over in less than five days and even with duty and GST is still substantially less than retail here. Of course, I feel guilty about not supporting my LBS...

Hah, amazing how 2 experiences can be so different. Perhaps it was because i was going over as an emigrant rather for a holiday.

I flew to Perth with Emirates twice last year with my road bike via Dubai. Once economy, once business class. No problems either time.

Bikes DON'T come out of your luggage allowance, they are free and extra on top of your allowance.

Upon arrival in Perth the customs had a brief glance inside the bike box but no more. Definitely make sure it is sqeaky clean though.

Sorry.

Just checked the Emirates website and it seems I was wrong about the bike not coming off your allowance - I was sure I checked before we flew and it wasn't included. Anyway, not such an issue anyway with a 6kg road bike I guess.

30kg pp Economy, 40kg pp Business, so pretty generous anyway.

Bikes DON'T come out of your luggage allowance, they are free and extra on top of your allowance.

erm, yes they do, [url= http://www.emirates.com/english/plan_book/essential_information/baggages/extra_checked_baggage_allowances.aspx ]its only golf clubs that don't...[/url]

EDIT: [url= http://www.emirates.com/english/help/faqs/FAQDetails.aspx?faqId=214958 ]No, really they do![/url]

[url= http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/help/faqs/FAQDetails.aspx?faqId=214958 ]http://www.emirates.com/uk/english/help/faqs/FAQDetails.aspx?faqId=214958[/url]

Damn, just beat me to it corroded! 😆

I've flown back and forth from Dubai with my mtb on Emirates. I've always had good experiences with them.

Edd

Bikes DON'T come out of your luggage allowance, they are free and extra on top of your allowance.
erm, yes they do, its only golf clubs that don't...

I just called Emirates, and the bike WILL form part of my 30KG allowance... good job the kids are flying with us too... small clothes = more space for my stuff! lol

Just got to find a decent hard shell bag now, as I'm paranoid about damaging the bike.

If you were really clever you might consider buying in the UK sales a bike from a brand that is still expensively niche in Aus (bear in mind that run-of-the-mill bikes are 20-30 percent more in Aus, less common brands, such as Surly, much more so), having it shipped over by the shop to Aus (£175 or less), riding it for a month and then selling it - I think there's a fair chance you'd make a few quid..

Interesting Idea 🙂 and It'd save me having to bring it back! wonder what the most desirable bike brand (Sub £1.5k)in Oz is ... Ideas ?

 

I've taken both road and mountain bikes to Oz with Emirates and have had no problems. If you can make it work as part of your luggage great, it's definitely easier than shipping which takes time and money to do.
When I took a bike as luggagethe customs gave it a once over and cleaned the wheels up with disinfectant with no charge and packed me on my way.
The bike I took via shipping took longer(it goes on the same plane bizarrely but has to do the customs thing took a week) and cost me £100, which is cheaper than excess baggage I think?
Also took ages to get it through customs, they tried to charge me import tax when I was only holidaying, it took a lot of persuasion to get it through. They cleaned the wheels too at no charge though!
Have a good trip, riding around Brisbane is really good but confined to trail centres.Give Gap Creek a look, it's biggest and probably best. Daisy Creek southside is more like a UK trail centre and good fun but you'll need a guide. Try the guys at 99 Bikes they do shop rides most mornings as I'm sure other shops do too.
If you want any more info pm me, I can ask a few mates to show you around if you want?

Anything but Trek, Spesh or Giant! You need to find something with a 20 percent discount in the UK (so that more than covers the Aus import duty / GST). Then you're effectively having it shipped out for less than any excess baggage charges. Brands like Santa Cruz, Yeti, Rocky Mountain, Surly, Salsa, still have a premium in Aus. Lapierre could be good. Whether you want the hassle of selling it at end of your hols is another matter.

If you want any more info pm me, I can ask a few mates to show you around if you want?

I would if I could, is it cos I'm a new member or I'm stoopid, can't see a PM button against your name ?

Anything but Trek, Spesh or Giant! You need to find something with a 20 percent discount in the UK (so that more than covers the Aus import duty / GST). Then you're effectively having it shipped out for less than any excess baggage charges. Brands like Santa Cruz, Yeti, Rocky Mountain, Surly, Salsa, still have a premium in Aus. Lapierre could be good. Whether you want the hassle of selling it at end of your hols is another matter.

I was thinking of Cube, Canyon or some other well specc'd bike. I'd leave it with my Bro in-law, and get him to sell it on for me.

Hmmm Buy the same bike as I own, ride it for a month, and sell it on for a small profit after... and not have to bring it home either... hmmmmm 😕

Brisbane. 🙂 I loved Brisbane. Lots of family near Ipswich.

make sure you head up the Sunshine Coast towards Noosa. Fabulous part of the world. I wouldnt hesitate to move over there if the Wife would do it.

I wouldnt hesitate to move over there if the Wife would do it.

... Hey idea, swap wives, everyone's happy that way lol Mine has a pretty good spec too: 5"9' size 10, and great to ride! lol

There's lots of great bike shops in Brisbane. Buying a bike and selling it is probably cheaper than hire anyway. eBay is your friend.

You'll probably end up riding in Bunya Forest, so [url= http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/forum/board/3 ][b]this site[/b][/url] may be of interest. Mt Nebo is good too and also is a great road climb.

When will you be in Brisbane? I'm heading over in Feb for a few months and may be able to loan you a bike for the odd ride if all else fails. (SS 29er though 🙂 )