Hi STW,
I'm after some more advice from the STW masses regarding flying my bike back to the UK.
I emigrated out to Australia in March, still waiting for my bike to arrive on the big boat actually. I have to come back to the UK next year in April for my sisters wedding and i'd like to bring my bike back with me to ride some of my old favourites.
I'm looking for some info on which airlines are best to travel on with a bike, it seems most of the top carriers offer 30kg baggage but charge a fortune for excess baggage, around $70/kg. I estimate my bike, in a bike bag with helmet etc will weigh around 20kg. I'll be going for 2+ weeks so using just the remaining 10kg for clothes isn't really an option.
Has anyone done this journey with a bike? which airline? and how much did you pay extra?
Thanks in advance for any help
I've just gone the other way, with Emirates. Like you say, 30kg then anything over that is charged in 5kg increments - no special 'sports equipment' category.
I had an extra 15 kilos (bike was about this in a cardboard bike box). Cost an eye watering £525
can you not just rent one?
Quatar give you 30kg and then (IIRC) 20kg for a bike.
That was from London to Thaiand. We checked in with 145kg. 90kg allowance for three adult tickets, 20kg per bike (two of them) and paid the rest.
@joshvegas, I could but it'll be a pain in the arse. I'll be staying in the midlands so plan to ride my old local the Wyre Forest and a few trips out to Wales. I'll need something to do during the day as there is only so much catching up with family and friends you can do and what better way to spend a trip than on your bike. 🙂
Looks like i'll be wearing all my clothes for two weeks onto the plane looking like the michelin man and using my baggage allowance to bring the bike. What makes it worse is my Mrs wants to take hers as well, so we'll get stung twice.
@makecoldplayhistory, thanks, i'll check them out. Not flown with Qatar but like most middle-eastern airways such as emirates and etihad so hoping there of a similar quality.
At that price you could buy a bike. Then sell it again.
It's about time the airlines looked at total weight for the passenger and their luggage IMO.
Not that that helps the OP in any way, but current pricing policies are made to look like the sham they are if weight and excess baggage was so important.
Not that I lose any sleep over it mind 😉
It's about time the airlines looked at total weight for the passenger and their luggage IMO.
I agree.
No problem. Qatar are fine. No better or worse than Emirates etc.
I don't pay for the flights (the company does). Actually, I presented them with the bill for the excess baggage too 🙂