s1362083

I would also add that 2 rolls of cling film and lots of tape does a good job if airport wrapping is not available. I would absolutely recommend that over no wrapping as it's saved my box contents from being scattered all over the world in transit on numerous occasions!

Also second the advice above regarding doing the final taping at the airport. Not only for security scans on entry (e.g. Iran and Kyrgyzstan) where the X-ray machine is too small for a whole box but also because often I have been asked to prove that I have deflated the tyres (e.g. India and Bolivia).

BobServant

EDINBURGH EDI
- terminal design. Doors are wide enough but the anti ram bollards are difficult with a bike bag on a trolley.
- departure no problem. Check in as normal and bikes go to oversize bag drop at far end of the check in desks, closest to international arrivals. No airline has ever weighed bikes as they won’t fit on scales at check-in.
- arrivals. Bikes come off with the rest of the luggage at Belt 6

Geneva GVA
- departures. I agree with OP’s comments, check in staff are very strict on their made up version of the rules. Worth having relevant bits of policy printed out or bookmarked. We were sent to customer service desk to sort out our bags a few years ago.
- arrivals. No problem but the hire car bus is a pain.

layz

Interesting thread. Some day I will take my bike overseas but haven’t got round to doing it yet.

Domestically it’s so easy to take the train, you can cycle to the station and don’t need to disassemble/package your bike.

I think a taxi to the airport would be the only practical way to do this. My public transport trip to LHR is bus-tube-HEX (or bus-tube change at Green Park, which would be a pain carrying a bike) so not really feasible.

corporate-wage-slave

Bikes are allowed on HEX. From the conditions of carriage:There is also provision on HEX to buy a second seat for large baggage.

To add a few more resource details, here is the HAL site for cyclists:
https://www.heathrow.com/transport-a...ctions/cycling

and I've attached HAL's PDF of the cycle routes to Heathrow.

Prospero

This thread can now be accessed via the BA Forum Dashboard

Steve in Olympia

From the TSA website:

CO2 Cartridge

Carry On Bags:
No
Checked Bags:
No
Except for personal medical oxygen cylinders, you can only carry an EMPTY compressed gas cylinder onboard a plane. To be permitted (in either carry-on or checked baggage), it must be clearly visible to the TSA officer that the cylinder is empty.

Steve in Olympia

The BA website is quite clear about CO2 cartridges:

​​​​​​​If you'd like to take any small, non-flammable gas cartridges with you that contain carbon dioxide or another suitable non-flammable, non-toxic, non-corrosive gas, please contact us to get approval.

You can then take the following items in your hand or checked baggage:

• max. two small cartridges per person, fitted into a self-inflating safety device, such as a life jacket or vest
• only one device per person
• max. four cartridges up to 50ml water capacity for other devices

adrianlondon

I haven't taken my bike on a flight since 2007! Back then, on a flight from LHR to STR (Stuttgart) on BA I rode to the airport, took the pedals off, deflated the tyres slightly (I don't believe there's any scientific reason for this!) and turned the handlebars. No wrapping, no box. The oversize luggage people simply wheeled the bike where they needed to, and seemed happy to do so. I believe not wrapping/boxing a bike isn't allowed any more. Pity, as I'm sure it's easier for everyone if a bike looks and acts like a bike.

Thinking about it, deflating the tyres and turning the handlebars does help stop the baggage handlers riding it around their warehouses

Steve in Olympia

It is on the BA website, hiding in plain sight under "Baggage Essentials":

https://www.britishairways.com/en-us...d-restrictions

TheFlyingCyclist

Interesting. When I started doing this I asked at T5 check in (once) and was told it was fine as long as there were only two of the smaller ones, which is basically what the FAA website above says. Didn’t bother asking again as it seemed like quite a knowledgable answer.

greg5

Anyone out there that has experience with if you can get away with a Brompton as your carryon?

Forever in Seattle

I have a padded soft bag that I used to take my bike(s) on long haul flights all the time. It used to be that bikes were classed as sporting equipment and taken for free on BA (back in the day when you could only join BAEC with a full fair ticket etc.). The bag is smaller than the ones usually found in bike shops, which makes it easier to get in and out of cars, but with no wheels a PITA to carry around - but I had carried it on the Underground, it just is hard work, but the beer at the end of your journey will be well earned!

For my mountain bike(s) I used to have a fork spacers (get one from a bike shop, they used in the packing of new bikes), and for the rear a piece of plumbing polly pipe cut down for the rear drop outs with a quick release. Take off the rear mech and zip tie to the polly pipe. The frame use foam to protect (such as insulation for water pipes), unbolt the handlebar and zip tie it to the forks and throw in a load of bubble wrap, wheels each side of the frame, and clothes into the bag for extra protection and to pad it out.

Steve in Olympia

Forever in Seattle

It used it be additional to your checked baggage allowance, now it is part of it.

flatlander

At checkin for BA at BRU yesterday, this came to mind when looking at the quite exhaustive list of forbidden items listed on the counter. CO2 cylinders were specifically enumerated with both the size and quantity limit, as above.