FLYING WITH BIKES

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
Ann Kennedy
Posts: 41
Joined: 29 Jun 2008, 12:58pm

Re: FLYING WITH BIKES

Post by Ann Kennedy »

Like most others we've not had problems using the CTC bags on easyjet or BA. Going ryanair this year so am a little concerned that they may be a bit more difficult.

But i have a related question - we are doing a one way trip - flying to Tours and back from Bordeaux. Don't want to carry wrapping with us. So was planning to see if i could find the equivalent of the CTC bags somewhere in France and get them sent to our last stop .... don't suppose there's anyone out there familiar with French mailorder cycle suppliers - or shops in Bordeaux. Long shot i know!

Not sure i can face spending time rummaging in skips in industrial estates .... there's a wine festival to visit!
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Helen
Posts: 367
Joined: 8 Jan 2007, 5:50pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: FLYING WITH BIKES

Post by Helen »

Not sure i can face spending time rummaging in skips in industrial estates


...but you could find a Monsieur Bricolage DIY store and buy some plastic sheeting and a roll of brown tape. I've done this several times in various countries. Should cost about a fiver.

Google stores and opening times before you go.
rualexander
Posts: 2639
Joined: 2 Jul 2007, 9:47pm
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Re: FLYING WITH BIKES

Post by rualexander »

Ann Kennedy wrote:Like most others we've not had problems using the CTC bags on easyjet or BA. Going ryanair this year so am a little concerned that they may be a bit more difficult.

But i have a related question - we are doing a one way trip - flying to Tours and back from Bordeaux. Don't want to carry wrapping with us. So was planning to see if i could find the equivalent of the CTC bags somewhere in France and get them sent to our last stop .... don't suppose there's anyone out there familiar with French mailorder cycle suppliers - or shops in Bordeaux. Long shot i know!

Not sure i can face spending time rummaging in skips in industrial estates .... there's a wine festival to visit!


Ryanair are usually no problem with the CTC plastic bag.
If you know your last stop well enough to have a mail order bag bought in France sent there why not just post the bag you go out with to that address? It's not much hassle to carry a CTC bag with you anyway, folds/rolls up reasonably compact.
Ann Kennedy
Posts: 41
Joined: 29 Jun 2008, 12:58pm

Re: FLYING WITH BIKES

Post by Ann Kennedy »

Thanks Helen - good idea but there does not appear to be a Mr Bricolage in central Bordeaux .....

Glad to hear the Ryanair are ok with the bag, that is reassuring!

We sent some CTC bags from the UK to our final destination last time but the postage was pretty steep so am looking for a cheaper solution this time (as i don't really fancy cycling 500 miles carrying the bag unless i have to!)

However, i have just had a reply from a bike shop in Bordeaux which says that they can supply similar bags for 10 euro - sounds promising!
a-bathmaker
Posts: 1
Joined: 21 Apr 2011, 1:22pm

FLYING WITH BIKES - Monarch

Post by a-bathmaker »

In case you book to fly with Monarch from the UK. April 2011: Monarch now has a weight limit of 20kg for a bike (but 32 kg for other sports equipment) and their staff escorted us to the weighing machine to ensure we were charged for excess.

I have flown with them before with a bike, and paid in advance for bike, no problem, accepted in bike box both ways within the charge.

I have written to them and they claim my concern is in isolation. No-one else has this problem apparently!

Their response and my message to them pasted below

Response from MOnarch
Thank you for your email dated 19 April 2011.

I was concerned to read that you were unhappy with the charges made to carry your bikes on your flight.

As stated on our website we do allow up 20kg for each bike for a charge of £18.50 when booked over the internet. Any sports equipment deemed heavier than this, such as canoes etc will be charged at a more expensive rate of £35 at the airport. Our business development team do review the charges and the rate and will amend accordingly.

Your own comments are isolated however they will be passed to our business development team for information. If they feel it is necessary to raise the weight of the bikes because of the weight of the bike box they will do following our customer feedback.

We are sorry that you felt let down by the charge for excess baggage however as these charges were correct we are unable to reimburse these as requested.

I’m sorry that I am unable to offer you a refund on this occasion but thank you again for contacting us with your comments.

Yours sincerely

Mary Shiels
Customer Relations Advisor



-----Original Message-----
From: Monarch Website Enquiries
Sent: 19 April 2011 19:00
To: Customer Relations-Monarch
Subject: Monarch Airlines Communication: ID 390271_230324404

type: baggage and excess baggage (after you've flown (flight number begins with ZB))

subject: excess charge for cycles on ZB 496 on 9 April 2011

name: Ann-Marie Bathmaker

email: ann-marie.bathmaker@uwe.ac.uk

phone: 0121 472 1264

PNR: R25MPL

VC#:

Message: I travelled in a group of 6 to Alicante last week. We booked bicycles on to the flight, and have travelled on Monarch flights with bicycles packed in boxes in the past, pre-booked, paying the fee for bicycles on line. We found at the airport that you now specify a limit of 20 kilos per bicycle, and had to pay between £20 and £120 excess baggage at Birmingham airport. Your staff appeared to have undergone recent training to ensure that they check and charge, as we were individually escorted to the large items conveyor belt (unheard of!) in order to scrutinise the weight of each bike box.

Yet you state:
Please make every effort to protect your bicycle - we recommend the use of a bicycle bag with padding for added protection.

Has anyone in your organisation weighed a bike recently? Or a bike box?

On the other hand, it is possible to carry other sorts of sport equipment up to a weight of 32 kilos for £35.

What happened to us appeared as blatant money grabbing, and was a very disappointing way to start our holiday.

I would like you to consider
a) refunding the excess that you charged to members of the party
b) reviewing your policy on weight of bicycles, unless you can guarantee looking after them carefully without the weight of a bike box to keep them safe while in your baggage handlers' hands.
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