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Hi all,
We normally fly to the alps with our bikes on easyjet, so we’re pretty used to the dos and donts for them. However noticed there is a good flight from heathrow that would work using swiss air.
The only thing i’m a bit worried about is that they tend to use smaller planes than easyjet, so I guess if several people turn up with bike boxes, they may leave some behind. This would be an issue, as we’re planning on sticking the bike bags in left luggage and doing a hut to hut – so it’s not like we can have the bikes turn up a day late!
Has anyone flown with them – any negative experiences with bikes?
Bump - no one's tried it?
Have you checked on seatguru what they use on that route at that time? A quick sqy suggests its either a Embraer 190 or a bombardier c-series. They're kind of middling, smaller than an Airbus, so no palletised luggage, but bigger than the md80s or wretched saab junk they used to fly.
Yes, though quite a lot of years ago. Err, 2004. Yep, lots of years ago, so things have probably changed in the meantime... Back then, you booked your ticket and then had to drop customer service a line to tell them about the bike (which they carried at no extra cost, and so long as it was pre-booked didn't count towards your regular luggage allowance). For whatever reason, customer services had noted it all down correctly for the outbound leg, but not for the return leg. We found this out at check in on the way back. Fortunately about half the group had hired bikes, so we were able to repack and redistribute at check-in so everyone just about scraped through within standard luggage allowance.
Looks like the flight out (the only direction that matters!) is on a Bombardier CS300 - are they big enough to take bike bags?
Swiss air have a fairly clear bike policy - 50 euros and in a bike bag up to 32kg.
I've just booked Swiss flights to Geneva for Megavalanche. No need to pay extra for the bikes as long as you don't go for the very cheapest options. This from their website:
"We are happy to transport your sports equipment subject to no extra charge, provided that you do not exceed your baggage allowance. "
A seat with a checked bag cost me £14 extra one-way.
Ah, good point. Did you phone up to book? I looked on their website and they say "An item of baggage must not exceed 158 cm in size (width + height + depth).", which I guess bike bags must exceed.
Luggage policies are always vague!
Business class is not much more, and you get more than enough luggage weight allowance for a bike bag (2x32kg). Doubt i'd get a bike bag under 32kg as we'll not have checked luggage as well.
I booked business class on the way back as the upgrade was only a few pounds more than a beer and pizza in the airport!
I emailed after booking to notify them that I would be travelling with a bike.
Blimey that was painful.
After 30 minutes on the phone with their support people they've said it's either going to cost me £133.80 or maybe some other number. They can't decide until I've made the booking.
The problem seems to be that it's a bicycle, and they have a charge for that, and since the dimension of a bike bag exceeds 158 cm in size (width + height + depth) they think they will charge. And it'll be more if it exceeds how big a bike cardboard box 'should' be - apparently 162 x 92 x 24 (I told her I had a bag and it blew her mind).
This is after I'd already pointed out if I flew business i'd have a 32kg weight allowance and their website says "We are happy to transport your sports equipment subject to no extra charge, provided that you do not exceed your baggage allowance."
I've also noted the return flight isn't actually operated by them, and they have a different bike policy!