British Airways new rules effectively bans most cycles

pgerrish · Post by **pgerrish** » 10 Nov 2007, 9:44pm

The new BA rules for sports equipment effectively rules out most cycles (except folders) . The length+width+height must be less than 62 inches. This is despite the fact that the pictures show bags for dismantled cycles including hard cases. The size would also rule out quite a few golf bags!!

Has anybody heard official comments from BA or is this something that CTC should campaign on given BA importance in the UK and world market? Or should I just get a Bike Friday?

Paul
Sheffield

Bananaman · Post by **Bananaman** » 12 Nov 2007, 12:38pm

Surfers have already mounted a pretty concerted campaign. Personally I think BA have scored a huge own goal here. I have waxed long and liracle in the past about how enlightened their baggage policy was. I now have no reason to consider them above other airlines.

Will · Post by **Will** » 12 Nov 2007, 5:33pm

I'm travelling on BA on Friday from Edinburgh to Heathrow. I've got a printout from when I booked my ticket back in October that states

"You may check in your free checked baggage plus one additional item of sporting equipment providing that it weighs no more than 32kg and does not exceed the dimensions: 2.5m x 1.0m x 0.8m (98 in x 39 in x 31 in)."

I'm expecting them to honour that.

I think the new figures are in advance of the opening of Terminal 5 at Heathrow, which does not have the capacity to handle anything bigger.

Will

George Riches · Post by **George Riches** » 12 Nov 2007, 5:52pm

Don't BA only operate to/from Heathrow these days? Didn't they sell off the other routes?

I see flybe write

"Exceptional items (golf clubs, bicycles, musical instruments etc.) may be carried at a charge of GBP17.00, EUR25.00, CHF39.00 per exceptional item."

I haven't found any dimension information on their website.

Does this mean we should think of hiring bicycles at the destination rather than take our own (as people do with cars)?