Bike Bag or Hard Case

Al Christie · Post by **Al Christie** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:19 pm

Hi all - I'm looking for a bit of advice about flying with my bike. Is a well packed bike bag padded out with cardboard etc...good enough to take on a plane or should I be looking for a hard case? (all pretty expensive)
Thanks in advance for any advice

terry browne · Post by **terry browne** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:35 pm

Hi Al, I flew a roadie 3-4 years ago ex USA (Newark) to the UK with either Virgin or Continental, as I recall. It was fairly loosely packed, with wheels in place, no other preparation. The one problem I had was that the tyres had to be deflated (which was done at the airport). There was no excess charge either!

Al Christie · Post by **Al Christie** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:39 pm

And no worries about over zealous baggage handlers. I'm just a bit concerned that it gets launched and breaks carbon! Thanks though as it is going to the US on Virgin!

Dr Dave · Post by **Dr Dave** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:55 pm

Hard Cases are much safer - Cycleworks loan/rent them out.

Al Christie · Post by **Al Christie** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:08 pm

Fantastic - thanks doctor! That sounds like a solution / prescription (if we continue on the medical theme - sorry I'll quit now. I am just high on the thought of not forking out £150 on a bag! Thanks again and well done to everyone coming back in on the Ampleforth trip last Saturday. It was minus one or two and still every single one of the group said hello and smiled...really impressed - great credit!

Arthur · Post by **Arthur** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:26 am

I've got a hard case for sale. £100.

Arhtur

justsweat · Post by **justsweat** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 1:11 pm

I think it depends. When travelling in Europe I tend to use a soft case (I travel probably 10 times a year), the two reasons for this is a. it is lighter and most of the airlines, apart from BA who give you a 23kg luggage, allowance sting you.

Easyjet I think even after paying £17.50p each way only allow 12kg, whereas the rest tend to allow 20kg. If I use a bike bag I can get most of my training kit in as well. I use this to pad the bike, by putting everything in plastic bags and putting them in relevant places.

When travelling outside Europe, I always use a hard case, although if you are doing the states make sure you don't lock it, as they will break the locks to check what is inside. Normally you can then negotiate the price of the bike into the plane deal. I think last year we where allowed 46kg plus one item of sporting equipment, as there where 7 of us, we managed to get 3 bikes, 40kg of nutrition, a bike rack etc etc over. Did take a van and trailer to get it to the airport though.

Remember also that most of the plane companies don't let you carry gas cyclinders.

Brian