Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
randonneur
Posts: 56
Joined: 9 Apr 2007, 5:55pm

Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby randonneur » 20 Aug 2009, 7:45pm

Note from October bikes on BA will no longer carry a bike for free if checking in any other luggage.
Minimum charge £28, check out http://www.ba.com

simonhill
Posts: 3321
Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby simonhill » 26 Aug 2009, 11:49am

This has been discussed here recently, so I am confused about your £28.

Look here http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ba ... blic/en_gb

Where they say:
"In addition to your free checked baggage allowance, you are allowed to take one of the stated pieces of sporting equipment with you free of charge, provided it meets the following restrictions:" one of stated pieces is a bike.


I have previously pointed out that neither a carboard box or the (in)famous CTC plastic bag are mentioned in their accepted packaging.

vernon
Posts: 1584
Joined: 8 Jan 2007, 6:03pm
Location: Meanwood, Leeds

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby vernon » 26 Aug 2009, 1:24pm

simonhill wrote:This has been discussed here recently, so I am confused about your £28.

Look here http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ba ... blic/en_gb

Where they say:
"In addition to your free checked baggage allowance, you are allowed to take one of the stated pieces of sporting equipment with you free of charge, provided it meets the following restrictions:" one of stated pieces is a bike.


I have previously pointed out that neither a carboard box or the (in)famous CTC plastic bag are mentioned in their accepted packaging.


You need to look more closely:

Directly above your quoted text is:

When you fly with us you can take certain types of sporting equipment in addition to your normal checked baggage allowance. If your equipment bags meet the dimensions and weight restrictions, they may be carried free of charge until 7 October 2009.

* Sporting equipment - for tickets booked from 31 July and travelled from 7 October 2009

Could turn out to be expensive....

travelling
Posts: 302
Joined: 22 Apr 2009, 8:04am

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby travelling » 26 Aug 2009, 2:08pm

I flew to the states with klm from the u.k and thier website is as vague as the b.a. in one part it said I could be charged upto 150 euro's and another it would be considered as the second part of my two item luggage allowance.

In the end I braced for the worst expecting a huge rip off, got to check in and all they charge me for was 15 quid for one of thier "authorised" boxes. Yet I have friends who flew with ryan air to dublin to play golf with familly and the two mens tickets were 50 pounds but two golf bags..68 pounds( sorry no pound signs american computers do not have it)

As airlines profits fall they will start charging for what they used to take for free.. sad but true
I have the lightest bike in the world....then I put my fattest body in the world on it...the only pounds that have been lost are from my bank account

MartinBrice
Posts: 454
Joined: 13 Nov 2007, 9:57am

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby MartinBrice » 26 Aug 2009, 3:30pm

it looks to me very much as if BA has, in effect, banned bikes.
the poly bag is obviously no longer acceptable.
in the other hand if you can get the bike down to BA's accepted size then it can go for free as part of your baggage allowance.

simonhill
Posts: 3321
Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby simonhill » 27 Aug 2009, 3:54pm

Ooooops sorry for my error - I see what you mean about post October - I had to plough through for the £28 - that is for online booking in Europe, its upwards of £32 for longhaul.

Don't really know why I care - I always fly Emirates where bikes are free and give you 32kgs as standard in economy - anyone having more than that ought to have a motorbike!

Are BA stil the "World's Favourite Airline"?

simonhill
Posts: 3321
Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby simonhill » 28 Aug 2009, 10:46am

Thinking about this charge - can't be bothered to plough through website again, but it is presumably charged each time you check in. Hence if you are on a return trip, it is really £28 (or whatever) times 2, ie £56 quid and upwards.!! That makes it more than some budget airline fares.

DurableAce
Posts: 116
Joined: 8 Jun 2009, 8:12pm

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby DurableAce » 11 Sep 2009, 4:55pm

It doesn't look like they have in effect "banned bikes", just taken an opportunity to charge for them.

I've flown BA several times in the past with my bike, specifically because they didn't charge. It's a shame they've decided to change and it will almost certainly mean I'll be taking my business elsewhere in the future.

d clark
Posts: 13
Joined: 27 Jan 2007, 7:38pm
Location: near Aylesbury, Bucks

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby d clark » 11 Sep 2009, 7:34pm

Does this mean they will now pay up for any damage to the bike?
Del C

BARRACH
Posts: 98
Joined: 16 Mar 2010, 4:47pm

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby BARRACH » 17 Mar 2010, 4:59pm

Has anyone travelled with their bike by BA since the last post and what was your experience.
We are already booked on BA for a trip in June 2010.

lukepinkhandbag
Posts: 60
Joined: 26 Jan 2009, 8:14am

Re: Changes to British Airways Carriage of bikes

Postby lukepinkhandbag » 17 Mar 2010, 5:40pm

I'm fairly philosophical about this paying for bikes to get on mass transport. As far as i can see we're all getting flights far too cheap anyway, they do not reflect the true cost of fuel and environmental impact. If you have bought a ticket for something then you have entered into a contract to have that item carried and so have the airline.
In the days before budget airlines you paid full price for the ticket and then had a nail biter about getting your bike on. It's the same for rail tickets, you get a ticket(ish) for your bike but it still doesn't guarantee you a place. On the continent you pay a charge for your bike on the train but then you know you're getting on. I do wonder about all this flying anyway...