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Confused about British Airway's bike policy

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Confused about British Airway's bike policy

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flag hootmacloot
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:18 Quote
Hi guys and girls, ws just wanting some help in regards to BA's bike carrying policy. Am travelling from UK to Australia for a few months and want to take my bike. Now their policy states you can take a bike as sporting goods, in most cases for free provided it is packed in a recommended case. Their policy, however, also states that your case cannot exceed a H+W+L of 158cm.

I have tried to find a case/bag within these dimensions and have failed. I have spoken to BA and they are suggesting that if the case exceeds these regulations it will not be allowed to be carried. I have spoken to cargo who said I have to call sales on Monday as they will be able to explain costs etc.

Now I am not fussed about paying extra as regradless of the cost, it will be cheaper than a new bike, but has anyone flown BA lately with a bike? If so, how did you get on? And is their policy, which is slightly ambigious as it suggests that they will carry recognised bike cases as long as they look like the pictured ones http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagsport/public/en_gb, a bit of a con if there is no such bag/case?

Anyway, any help on getting a case with these dimensions or your experiences would be great.

Thanks.
flag sam-davies
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:25 Quote
The photo here looks like a normal bike bag so it seems acceptable, but I've never flown my bike with British Airways so I'm not certain.

[Quoten]Accepted travel cases:
Recognised bicycle bag.

Whilst most bicycle bags comply with the standard dimensions, We will accept all single bicycle bags as illustrated.

[/Quoten]
flag RM396
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:28 Quote
Maybe take it all apart and put it in 2 separate bags/suitcases?
flag hootmacloot
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:30 Quote
Yeah, that's what I figured. That's why it is a bit confusing as there is no chance of getting a case with those dimensions. The guy at Evans said that the bags he sells for air travel are bigger than that and he's never had any complaints. Just don't want to get the the airport and be stranded with a bike that I cannot put in cargo or check in as sporting equipment.
flag hootmacloot
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:31 Quote
RM396 wrote:
Maybe take it all apart and put it in 2 separate bags/suitcases?

Have thought about that. As excess baggage is £25 per piece under 22kg but no doubt they'd object for some reason.
flag odin333
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:38 Quote
not totally sure about your air way but there is another cheaper alternative.

theirs a new company out there, that will send you a box, then you put your bike and stuff in it, then put the address were you want it to go. they come by and pick it up and ship it there for $100. i can't remember the name, it was in the December issue of Mountain Bike Action in the InterBike section if anyone knows what i'm talking about.
flag charlesdavid17
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:43 Quote
iv flown with bikes 6 times with british airways and swiss airlines... its a bit random!
the size of the bag you should ignore, what you want to do, is if possible email BA and ask them can i take a bike on the plane, and does it count towards my overall baggage allowance of, for a flight to OZ id say like 30? kgs per person...

90% of the check in staff dont know what they are doing with regards to bikes, if you can produce the return email from BA saying its fine, then thats sorted,

however if you dont get an email or whatever, best thing to do is go, at check in say you have your luggage, and then a bicycle which is sporting goods... they SHOULD say yea thats fine, PROVIDED its under the weight limit of a single piece of luggage which i think is 28kgs...

ONCE ona return journey from switzerland the check in person said it was part of my baggage allowance, of 30kgs total... bike being about 27... so i was allowed 3 kg of ALL MY RIDING KIT and other clothes ect from the week i had been away! so i ahd to pay something like £10 a kg every kg over!! bastards! so it was like £180 or summit...

but yea it SHUD be a breeze
flag RM396
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 at 7:44 Quote
Fake a reply email! Razz
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