Bikes on planes - time for a CTC campaign for clarification

[Vorpal]

Ryan Air and Easy Jet are cheap because they're... well, cheap. Don't expect them to train staff in how to handle bikes. Mostly, they aren't handled by their staff, anyway. They're handled by contractors who specialize in baggage handling. And guess what? They're cheap.

Once when I landed at a city ariport, I was sent to the 'special baggage' area to collect my bike. The special baggage area had a good view over a baggage handling section where the (non-special) baggage was being unloaded from the little trucks, and loaded onto the conveyor belts to be taken to their waiting passengers. What I observed was...

Three workers took a couple of bags each off the trucks and tossed them onto the belts. They then took a step back and repeated the toss. Then, they had to move to get more bags, but still tossed form a step further away form the belt. And the next time was a step further. You get the idea. If I remember correctly, it was about 7 or 8 paces back before someone missed the belt. At this point, cigarettes exchanged hands and disappeared into pockets. The process began anew with the next load to arrive.

This was some years ago. And maybe wouldn't be permitted by the H&S folks today. OTOH, what do bored and poorly paid workers do with our bags and bikes when we aren't watching?

If you travel often with your bike, purchase a case for it.

[Barrenfluffit]

Easyjet:
Have rewritten their guidance and its greatly improved in clarity; particularly over weight limits and interaction with other baggage charges.
http://www.easyjet.com/en/planning/baggage.html

It now costs £18.50 per flight in advance to fly with your bike and £26 if paid at the airport.

[Mythical]

Easyjet:
Have rewritten their guidance and its greatly improved in clarity; particularly over weight limits and interaction with other baggage charges.
http://www.easyjet.com/en/planning/baggage.html

It now costs £18.50 per flight in advance to fly with your bike and £26 if paid at the airport.

If only I'd seen that on monday I'd be £18 better off!!
Ah well...Plenty room for souvenirs on the way home!

[CJ]

Easyjet:
Have rewritten their guidance and its greatly improved in clarity; particularly over weight limits and interaction with other baggage charges.
http://www.easyjet.com/en/planning/baggage.html

Yes it seems a lot clearer: payment of the sports equipment fee buys you an extra 12kg. Not many bikes weigh that little especially when packed in a heavy bag or box! But never mind, since the new clearer guidance says that allowances are transferable between this allowance and the 20kg allowed for other hold luggage, so your 15kg bagged-bike will be okay provided your strapped-together-to-make-one-item-panniers don't come to more than 17kg.

However, also checking out EasyJet's full Carriers Regulations (which you're recommended to do in order to discover exactly what sporting equipment they will transport and how to pack it) I discover that:

Bicycles are subject to the sports equipment fee and exempt from any excess baggage charges relating to the weight of the bicycle.

Not so clear after all then. It doesn't say anything like that for golf clubs or surf boards etc. So it sounds like the sports equipment fee could buy more than 12kg when the sport is cycling.