Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
hoogerbooger
Posts: 673
Joined: 14 Jun 2009, 11:27am
Location: In Wales

Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by hoogerbooger »

Do Easyjet accept bikes with both wheels on in CTC poly bike bags ? Any one been refused ?

(Am thinking of flying Bristol to Toulouse to get to central Pyranees)

On their website RE bikes they just say:

Bicycles are permitted for carriage provided that specific criteria is met:
- The bicycle must be packaged in a bicycle box or bicycle bag.
- Only one bicycle per box/bag is permitted.
- No other items can be carried in the bicycle box/bag (i.e. clothing)
-The handlebars must be flush with the frame.


No indication of maximum size of bag or type of bag so at face value looks possible, but I've been caught out before by one airline when looked fine by website wording, but was different at the airport.

Comments on recent Easyjet experience appreciated
old fangled
bohrsatom
Posts: 807
Joined: 20 May 2013, 4:36pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by bohrsatom »

It depends on the size of your bike.

My other half has a small frame and her bike has travelled several times with Easyjet in a CTC poly bag with both wheels on. I am over 6ft and my bike travels with the front wheel removed.

Your bike needs to fit through the luggage scanner which means that it can't be any taller than around 80cms. At Gatwick there is a marked area on the floor outside excess baggage and the people working there make you put your bike on the floor to confirm it's not larger than the maximum size.
simonhill
Posts: 5226
Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by simonhill »

Slightly worryingly that marked shape on the floor at Gatwick has a big diagonal chopped out of it. This means that a bike box, for example, doesn't completely fit in.

I presume the shape is just to show max length and max height, but one day, some idiot will insist your bike fits into the shape, which would be impossible.

For the OP I flew with poly bag Southend to Jersey and return. Bike in bag, wheels on, med size 26" bike. Initially the airport at SoS weren't happy handling it, but Easyjet staff said it was OK and it went through. Don't think they scanned it, maybe did the sniff test.
hoogerbooger
Posts: 673
Joined: 14 Jun 2009, 11:27am
Location: In Wales

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by hoogerbooger »

80cm scanner would mean we'd both need to remove front wheels (& my front rack to avoid shredding the bike bag). But better than both wheels off. ( is making box out, bag back seem a safer option)

Do the bikes have to go through scanners at all airports now .....or just some?

More importantly has anyone had the CTC Poly bike bag refused by Easyjet
old fangled
Steve
Posts: 388
Joined: 2 Apr 2007, 1:42pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by Steve »

Yes, at Berlin. Depends who are running the baggage operation at any particular airport I believe.
mnichols
Posts: 1465
Joined: 22 Apr 2013, 4:29pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by mnichols »

Steve wrote:Yes, at Berlin. Depends who are running the baggage operation at any particular airport I believe.


what did you do when it was refused?
mnichols
Posts: 1465
Joined: 22 Apr 2013, 4:29pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by mnichols »

Have flown many times from many airports and from my experience whilst it's important to check the airline policy it's actually the airport policy which is the important thing
Steve
Posts: 388
Joined: 2 Apr 2007, 1:42pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by Steve »

mnichols wrote:
Steve wrote:Yes, at Berlin. Depends who are running the baggage operation at any particular airport I believe.


what did you do when it was refused?


Had to buy an enormous cardboard box from the airport for about 30 euros. Never received a reply from my follow-up complaint to "Easy"jet.
mnichols
Posts: 1465
Joined: 22 Apr 2013, 4:29pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by mnichols »

Supplementary question, anyone's bike been damaged in a CTC bag when flying?
bohrsatom
Posts: 807
Joined: 20 May 2013, 4:36pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by bohrsatom »

mnichols wrote:Supplementary question, anyone's bike been damaged in a CTC bag when flying?


mine got two dings in the downtube in a poly bag on a flight from Gatwick to Basel. I didn't notice the damage immediately so was out of luck as far as compensation was concerned. Bike was naked in a CTC poly bag.
simonhill
Posts: 5226
Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by simonhill »

They completely deflated my tyres on the SoS to Jersey and return. Tore bag to do it and didn't replace valve caps. No real damage, but bike sitting on flat tyres and tubes.

I fly a lot and normally box. You can keep air in tyres. Apart from my mistakes (axle rubbing on frame) no problem with the tens of flights boxing.

I agree box on way out, bag on way back is a good idea. Also if bag is new, it is folded neater and smaller.
Woodtourer
Posts: 354
Joined: 23 Jan 2018, 1:51pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by Woodtourer »

We fly Iceland Air last year with poly bags. I used lots of extra padding on the outbound flight. Since I work part time at a bike shop I grab a bunch of foam pad tubes thst new bikes are shipped with. I used tape and zip ties to secure. No problem!
ubert767
Posts: 139
Joined: 4 Aug 2013, 8:16pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by ubert767 »

simonhill wrote:They completely deflated my tyres on the SoS to Jersey and return. Tore bag to do it and didn't replace valve caps. No real damage, but bike sitting on flat tyres and tubes.

A couple of years back, when using the CTC bag method out of Bournemouth Airport, the baggage handlers were far more caring and used a pen knife through the bag and side walls to full deflate my partially deflated tyres. Not a good start to a tour !!!
Now I too use the "box out/bag back method" which seems to work well.
mongoose
Posts: 39
Joined: 5 May 2017, 9:45pm

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by mongoose »

hoogerbooger wrote:80cm scanner would mean we'd both need to remove front wheels (& my front rack to avoid shredding the bike bag). But better than both wheels off. ( is making box out, bag back seem a safer option)

Do the bikes have to go through scanners at all airports now .....or just some?

More importantly has anyone had the CTC Poly bike bag refused by Easyjet


Last year at Gatwick for an Easyjet flight to Munich my bike with its wheels on in its CTC bag was slightly too big for the oversize conveyor and slightly bigger than the outline on the floor but that just meant I had to wait until a member of airside staff came up and escorted me and the bike down to airside security [floor below] where the CTC bag was checked and then taken to the baggage handlers. On the way back the bike fitted in the oversize conveyor at Verona, BA that time.

Previously at Basle on the way back, Easyjet refused the CTC bag and wanted it boxed until I showed them the printout from the Easyjet conditions and the manager confirmed the CTC bag was OK - the handlers were Swissport and the manager was Easyjet.

I have flown a few times with my bike in the CTC bag to different airports without problems and without damage, though once the handlers tore the bag and fully deflated the tyres. I used pipe lagging to protect the frame and cranks and removed the disc rotors for the outbound journey as a precaution.
mattheus
Posts: 5044
Joined: 29 Dec 2008, 12:57pm
Location: Western Europe

Re: Easyjet and CTC Poly bike bags

Post by mattheus »

Easyjet @Nice refused mine a couple of years ago. This was fair enough - the reason we had booked with BA was that BA do take poly bags, but we didn't expect Easyjet to.

(I don't rush to fly with Easyjet, and it would be an absolute last resort to fly with The Cheap Irish Airline.)
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