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The future Mrs A and I are off to the Alps in a couple of weeks for our honeymoon so we're naturally taking our bikes. I know there's been a lot of debate on here in recent weeks so I hope this helps.
Concerned that our 2 bikes and one hold bag would only give us 44kg of weight allowance, I phoned customer services to get some confirmation. I'm glad I did.
I spoke to a chap who told me that the current policy on the website is out of date and that bikes are now NOT subject to excess baggage charges. In short, if you've booked a bag and your bike on before you fly, you'll be allowed up to 20kg for your hold bag and up to 32kg for your bike. As long as both weigh no more than 50kg combined, you're laughing!
Here's a copy of the email I was sent just after I put the phone down:
[b]25th June 2012
Dear Robin,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your query.
As discussed during our recent conversation I am emailing you with some information on our bicycle and baggage policy.
Carriage is subject to the availability of space on board the aircraft. The conditions of carriage for bicycles are:
· One bicycle per bicycle box/bag will be permitted
· No other items can be carried in the bicycle box/bag (e.g. clothing)
· The handlebars must be flush with the frame
· The pedals must be flush against the frame or removed
Important: Bicycles are exempt from any excess baggage charges relating to the weight of the bicycle. If the hold baggage and bicycle weigh more than 32kg, passengers will not have to pay any excess baggage fee as long as the hold bag weighs no more than 20kg and the bicycle weighs no more than 32kg. The total weight of the baggage cannot exceed 50kg.
Passengers travelling with bicycles are recommended to check-in 2 hours prior to STD.
Yours sincerely
Mark Forsythe
easyJet Customer Services[/b]
Hope this helps the masses, at last Easyjet have seen sense!
surely one would simply buy the extra -carrying sports luggage ticket at £15(last time i looked)
have flown with this many a time
20+32 = < 50
Interesting, thanks for this, Rob. Flying easyjet with my bike in August, so this clears things up. Having said that, I've flown with them loads already and never had a problem, although I've always half expected one. Reckon my bike in its bag must come to around 25kg.
so what if you get there and there isn't room in the hold????
Whos got to try first ?
this was discussed a few days ago, basically the "bike isn't liable for excess baggage charge" used to be in the website T&C until earlier this year and they changed it to remove that line, however someone found from the FAQ section the line is still in there. Oh and two people contacted Easyjet and got two different answers.
I'm certainly working on the 50Kg total but I'm also praying it doesn't come up at all at the airport (never has before...) as trying to prove the correct answer when Easyjet don't seem to know themselves won't be much fun.
20+32 = < 50
Your qualification in counting is really starting to pay dividends now
Easyjet holds are usually pretty empty places as everyone goes budget and takes their stuff in their hand luggage. 🙂
Lol @ Alex222 😀
This is a big help. Was sure this was the case but good to have it clarified. Think teh 50Kg total limit is new but that is managable
Thanks Robin
Ok if I cut and paste into a word file? WIll take it along with me to airport just in case
Go knock yourself out Taz, that was the idea 🙂
Anyone got an idea of how closely they check whats in the bike bag?
20+32 = < 50
52 is equal or less than 50. PMSL
52 is equal or less than 50. PMSL
It does say that in the easyjet policy.
so what if you get there and there isn't room in the hold????
Same as if they run out of room on the plane, you get on the next one.
I had this the first time I used them to get to Malaga, stood at the back of a que of 4 people who weren't getting on that plane. The frst 2 were a couple going to a wedding so took the 250euro compensation and jumped on an air lingus flight half an hour later, the next bloke was shouty and generaly just a bit rude. After about 10 minutes I got a tap on the shouder from one of the customer services girls and invited round the back of the kiosk (yep for about 0.3seconds I thought my luck was in too!) to check in for the next flight which only had one seat left but they weren't going to tell the other guy that as he was being rude!
Anyone got an idea of how closely they check whats in the bike bag?
IME they only bother if you turn up with a 32kg bike bag and no other lugage. Which would look like you're trying to play the system. I've always checked in a normal bag and a bike bag and never had a problem, even though the normal bag is underweight and the bike bag had extra 'padding'.
20+32 = < 50
Yep, its 20kg max and 32kg max for the bag and bike respectively, and both have to be under 50kg total.
Anyone got an idea of how closely they check whats in the bike bag?
Air Canada didn't check with me. Besides, if they tell you to remove anything, tell them it's padding and you want them to state in writing that they want you to remove the padding, and will compensate you for any damage to the bike that occurs as a result of removing the padding.
They'll let you keep the 'padding' 🙂
They'll let you keep the 'padding'
Might work, but:
They could sting you for £xx excess bagage charges (and have done to people on here) as the 32kg explicitly only applies to the bag and bike, not anythiong else which is prohibited from being in the bag. If you took a half empty "20kg" bag as well then if they ask you can transfer stuff and use the 'padding' line before you do, but otherwise I'd reckon on them chargeing excess baggage as 15kg of bike + 15kg of stuff is £150 in excess bagage each way.
It would probably void any insurance for the stuff in the bag if it got damaged/lost as you've told them there's nothing but the bike in there, so if it goes missing/gets ripped open you can only claim for the bike.
I took my bike with Easyjet a few weeks ago to Greece.
Bought the sports luggage addition. They didnt check the contents of my bike bag, it was heavy and had backpack, kneepads, shoes, I think circa 32kgs (anything over 30kg gets a sticky label)
(anything over [s]30kg[/s] [b]23kg[/b] gets a sticky label)
FTFY (I think), usualy they just write 32kg on it as it has to be less than that, but anything heavier than 'normlal' get's a warning lable for the handlers to let them know that this one needs throwing extra hard.
Can you get away with wearing a helmet as a hat?
I don't trust it in my bike bag.
I take my helmet in hand luggage.
You only get one bag of hand luggage, and a helmet tends to take it all up. Flying with a bike bag and carryon to save baggage fees.
You only get one bag of hand luggage, and a helmet tends to take it all up. Flying with a bike bag and carryon to save baggage fees.
My mate wears his full face helmet onto the plane. 🙂
+1 sat here in Andorra for the advice. Never had the slightest issue flying Easyjet with booked sports bag for bike. My Evoc bag, helmet, chain lube, camelbak and shoes come to 24kg. Hold bag was 14kg.
I just got the same email back from EasyJet so at least it seems like a standard response and not just one person thinking that!
I make sure my bike in its bag and my hold luggage come to under 32kg. Keeps it simple at the airport and means I can still carry it all! Handy when the Malaga trolley staff have been on strike.
Had 23kg bike inc.bag and 20kg hold luggage. Got fast tracked at check in!!
Carry helmet on and rucksack is fine. easy jet have previously check led I think answer is they can so what they like..doesn't matter what you have printed out, check-in staff are the gurus they make decisions.
Whats the best way of doing it then?
If Im flying with my road bike (fairly light) do you think I could get away with only purchasing the sports equipment add on and then putting some extra bits and pieces (helmet, shoes etc.) in the bike bag along with my bike? Then taking clothes on in the hand luggage
This would save me £52 in luggage fees
Probably. So long as bike bag is no more than the HSE recommended 32 kg.
imagine yourselves working as a baggage handler and having to lug all those bags to/from planes all day 💡
I fly on the 6th and there are at least 10 bikes that I know of going on the same flight ❗
My workplace has a 25kg limit for lifting etc 🙄
You may get on the plane this side of the pond but what happens on your return ❓
Consider what trying to save £50 might cost if you are challenged 💡
Been abroad with easyjet and thompson, never been quizzed the contents, I had knee pads and tools in with the bike.Get some pipe lagging or bubble wrap to protect your frame, and take the rear derailleur and pedals off.
I took my lid strapped to my rucsac as hand luggage - No problems.
Anyone just got back from a trip and care to update us on the debacle subject of 32kgs max n'that ?
if your bike weighs more than 32kg, time to buy some titanium rotor bolts? 😉
pedals, rear mech off and don't forget to space the frame and forks.
have a great trip.
Got back last week, we all had an amazing time.
Outgoing
Hold bag = 12kg
Bike = 27kg
Return
Hold bag =10kg
Bike = 31.5kg (including wet soggy kit that I'd stuffed in)
We had no problems with bikes as all under 32kg, then if you paid for hold luggage you got another 20kg AND then you can have a carry on bag which has no weight limit BUT must fit within the sizes specified.
Don't try to take tools, pumps in your carry on as a couple of guys were relieved of theirs.