Flying......

[chrisfarrow64]

Interested in what you do.....

We're planning a one-way trip next year, flying to Munich and back from Pisa. This'll be my first trip flying with the bike (and only my second tour). As standard I have 4 panniers, a small rack pack (24l) and a bar bag. We're camping so don't think I can cut this down much.

I'm fine with boxing the bike and taking one large pannier as cabin luggage, but what about the other bags? A few options suggested so far:

- Put them all in a large cardboard box and take as hold luggage (sounds fine but would need to source another suitable box in Pisa as well as a bike box)

- Get a bigger rack pack that everything can fit in and can go as hold luggage (reckon I'd need around 80 - 90l which makes for a very big rack pack that I feel would be unwieldy on the bike)

- Get a large dry bag which will take everything and then pack down at the bottom of a pannier for the duration of the trip (quite feasible but unclear how small it could pack down and therefore how much room it would take up bearing in mind space is at a premium).

What do you do?

[MrsHJ]

I fly most years with the bike and panniers.

The panniers and other kit off the bike goes in this bag which packs down nicely into the bottom of a pannier for the tour. I just take a very lightweight collapsible backpack in the plane and use it for shopping and touristing during the trip. I've had mine since 2014 and it's been on quite a few tours- Netherlands, Switzerland, USA, France, Italy, probably some others I've forgotten. The zip is starting to go so thinking about replacing but the individual panniers etc inside means it's pretty secure..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... 1OLE&psc=1

Check out flying BA business class- it includes 2 bags. Can be one bike and the above bag.

[Mr.Benton]

The last time I flew from the UK I put all my panniers into an Ikea bag and tied it up with rope.
When I flew home I purchased a bag similar to https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laundry-Strong ... 8116&psc=1 and used lots of packing tape to seal it up.

Both worked fine.

[chrisfarrow64]

I fly most years with the bike and panniers.

The panniers and other kit off the bike goes in this bag which packs down nicely into the bottom of a pannier for the tour. I just take a very lightweight collapsible backpack in the plane and use it for shopping and touristing during the trip.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... 1OLE&psc=1

Check out flying BA business class- it includes 2 bags. Can be one bike and the above bag.

Thanks, that looks like an excellent solution. Unfortunately BA are not an option from Manchester. I'm booked with Lufthansa going out and Easyjet for the way back. Prices seem really quite reasonable to include both the bike and a large poiece of hold luggage.

[chrisfarrow64]

The last time I flew from the UK I put all my panniers into an Ikea bag and tied it up with rope.
When I flew home I purchased a bag similar to https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laundry-Strong ... 8116&psc=1 and used lots of packing tape to seal it up.

Both worked fine.

Thanks. The big bag certainly looks to be the way to go.

[simonhill]

Beware these laundry bags as they are not very durable. I have got through 3 on last 4 flights. Biggest problem is the way the handle is stitched to the bag.

It goes right underneath which is good, but the stitching down the side on handle to bag is a weak point. I got one bag back which had the handle almost pulled off. The stitching acted as perforation for the tear. Presumably the baggage handlers just grabbed one handle and pulled. That is a lot of weight for one puny handle and the bag gave way.

On another, one handle was ripped off. Fortunately the airline baggage tag was on the other handle.

Using them as a basic container and strengthening them with tape, etc is a good idea. Also don't leave loose stuff inside in case bag gets ripped. I have only 2 panniers, but tie them together and tag them with flight i d.

[simonhill]

A method I have used in the past is to get a large piece of polythene sheet from a bed shop. I then wrap my panniers in that and seal it with packing tape. Probably a large rubble sack would do as well.

[ANTONISH]

I use a standard bike bag - tough material - bought from Decathlon.
Tha bag weighs a couple of kilos.
I don't camp so the weight is acceptable.
I leave most of my cycling stuff, shoes, tools etc in the bike bag - I think the allowance is 30 Kg and I've never got to that.

I have a stuff sack which I use to carry my other clothes - it rolls down small enough for hand baggage and doubles as a means of carrying all my baggage if Ineed to get on a train (easier to handle an unladen bike.

[foxyrider]

The last time I flew from the UK I put all my panniers into an Ikea bag and tied it up with rope.
When I flew home I purchased a bag similar to https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laundry-Strong ... 8116&psc=1 and used lots of packing tape to seal it up.

Both worked fine.

Thanks. The big bag certainly looks to be the way to go.

+1 for the laundry bags - i put a luggage strap around mine to keep the filled panniers together.

[andrew_s]

What I've done with front and rear Ortlieb Rollers is to repack before and after, so one empty front goes in a rear, and the other front is hand luggage.
The two rears are then zip-tied together back to back, using the holes available in the ends of the hook rails and the lower bash guard.

Doesn't work if you've also got a bar bag tho'.

[chrisfarrow64]

Thanks folks, think I'm sorted on this now. More questions to follow shortly....