Another flying with a bike comment

[matt2matt2002]

Flew from Edinburgh to Addis Ababa via Istanbul with Turkish airlines last month.
Bike boxed weighed 28 Kilo.
Only carry on luggage.
At Edinbugh I was not allowed to use my unused 40 Kilo luggage allowance for my bike.
Paid £70 approx.

Flying back, without asking, the check in lady said I wouldn't have to pay for the bike since I was allowed 40 Kilo luggage allowance!

Bike arrived safe. Within an hour of landing I was on the road cycling to Waverley Station.

So.,.....
Expect the unexpected when flying with your bike.

[iandriver]

Taking a print out of the airlines bike/ baggage policy is a common recommendation. The staff, and who they are employed by, is always going to be a huge variable.

You either got robbed one way or got away with it the other I guess.

[foxyrider]

had a similar issue flying with Lufthansa - it seems to be the staff at the UK end that don't understand the airlines policies, in my case at Manchester, think it cost me £40 - on return from Munich I just turned up with the bike which was taken from me and I was checked in, no quibble.

[matt2matt2002]

Taking a print out of the airlines bike/ baggage policy is a common recommendation. The staff, and who they are employed by, is always going to be a huge variable.

You either got robbed one way or got away with it the other I guess.

Yes. I got away with it. The rules clearly stated that I should pay for the bike. I asked to see if there was some flexibility. Silly me. I was talking to an airline. But I thought it was worth a chance. All they could say, was No. Which is what they did in Edinburgh.
In Addis they were more open minded, flexible or ignorant of their own rules. So I scored.

My only observation is that within airline companies there are staff who interpret rules differently.

[simonhill]

A recent report on Thorn Tree, had someone refused standard bike box in US on Etihad. They were flying to Nepal. He got someone to FedEx it to Nepal, it cost $1500.

At least you knew beforehand that they charge although this wasn't clear from your first post.

I can only re re reiterate to anyone else, check conditions before you book.

Glad you had a good trip.

[matt2matt2002]

A recent report on Thorn Tree, had someone refused standard bike box in US on Etihad. They were flying to Nepal. He got someone to FedEx it to Nepal, it cost $1500.

At least you knew beforehand that they charge although this wasn't clear from your first post.

I can only re re reiterate to anyone else, check conditions before you book.

Glad you had a good trip.

Indeed. Take a print out of the terms and conditions with you. Plus a head office contact number.

But expect the unexpected and accept it if it's to your advantage.