Clifton CC

Has anyone ever taken a bike on a Jet2 flight? They have seperate charges for skis and golf bags but I didn't see any mention of bikes on their web site. I am wondering if it is just classed as a normal bag.

Thanks

Quote from Jet2 Website

"Golf clubs and skis may be pre-booked on line, through the call centre or at the airport sales desks subject to payment of the relevant extra charge. For all other “outsize” items you must advise our call centre in advance of travel and separate charges may apply. Outsize items are items such as pushchairs, travel cots, child car seats, musical instruments, wheelchairs and sporting equipment.

We can carry sporting equipment up to a maximum individual weight of 32 kgs. Apart from these exceptions we can not carry any single bag that exceeds 25 kg in weight"

The way I read it so long as you advise the call centre when booking or before travel you should be ok as the bike is "outsized sporting equipment". Also keep the packed weight below 32kg.

I *think* there are also maximum dimensions quoted on the Jet2 website - I've looked time and time again and have not been able to really understand it. I'm taking a hardshell bike box to Italy with Jet2 in a few weeks and it's giving me sleepless nights worrying about it!!

As much as I hate to pay the 50p a minute or whatever the call centre cost is, once I've got the box and got the bike in it, I'll be phoning Jet2 to let them know size and weight and get it from the horse's mouth that it's OK (or at lest prepare myself to pay excess baggage!).

Don't bother trying to email them (or the Dart Group, of which they are part) you won't get a response (or at least I didn't). One approach that did work (and all credit to Mrs Jason for this idea) was to phone Leeds Bradford airport and ask for Jet2 check-in. I did this at about 9pm one Fri, when they were quite quiet. After a few mins of telephone ping-pong I did get through to the right desk and there was a real person who could provide information. If I could ever rely on it in a pre-flight argument at check-in is a different matter, hence my decision to pay the 50p a minute.

Very interested in other people's experiences.

Jason.

I took my bike in a hard case from Leeds to Toulouse last year with Jet2, and paid the supplement for a bike at Leeds Airport. I should have done it on line, and if you do it that way you save money.

I think it was circa 50 quid return.

I took my bike to Alicante in March with Jet2 from Leeds and booked and paid two months in advance via the call centre. It cost me £25 each way but you've no worry about the flight being full already of outsize luggage which is what could happen if you just turn up at the airport.

Good luck.

Andrew, Dom,

What were the dimensions of the bike boxes you used (if you have them to hand or easily available)? I've reserved one from bikeboxalan.co.uk (Andrew, thanks for the link), but the size is bigger than Jet2 state on their website.

The Jet2 max sizes are (from memory) 184cm x 84cm, while the one I have reserved is (again from memory) 111cm long x 94cm high x 30cm thick (i.e. it's too high). I've just spoken to Jet2 and they say it's too large. Any thoughts?

Jason.

PS Andrew, how is the training going - it would be good to meet up for a pre-ride beer / natter.

there were 2 blokes from Otley on the flight back from Rome on Monday and each had their bike fully assembled, wrapped in clear cellophane and covered in fragile stickers/tape and they had no problems at all with jet 2 at the Italian end.

there were people at Leeds Airport with bikes in cardboard boxes too, so I'm a bit surprised that they claim restrictions.

Sadly with jet2, you cannot speak to anyone to sort it out but there is a customer services email on the website - might be advisable to get in touch asap if you have any worries.

Anyway, back to the 2 oldish blokes from Otley.

They rode all the way to Rome from Otley over 3 weeks and with only one p*ncture, that is some going.

Suffice to say, they had impressive suntans.

Thanks Andrew,

Typical of Jet2, they quote dimensions on their website in imperial with metric conversions - only the conversions aren't right!!

Anyway, I've decided to book the bike on and stop bloomin' worrying about it. I'm sure a few grubby bank notes will solve any last minute hitches.

Corvara here we come!

Jason.

Hi Jason,

I was thinking of getting my bb from Bike box Alan but he's at Rotherham I believe and I spotted a better alternative!. I hired one from York Cycleworks. They did me a great deal, cheaper than BB Alan and no hassle of picking up and dropping off. The box was large (I didn't check the dimensions on the Jet2 site before I flew) but no issues with it on my flight from Leeds to Alicante.

Good luck

Dom.

Yeah the bike boxes from Cycleworks are enormous. I hired one to go to Spain 4 years ago. It took me ages to pack the bike as the box was/is in 2 halves I had a problem getting the two to join and the straps are just a nightmare. On the way back from Alicante the thing wouldn't fit through the oversize bag scanner and I had to unstrap it and open it up to show the jobsworth security guy. Something to bear in mind!