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Following a previous thread, I have signed up to do the BC bike race next year and now obviously need to get there! Any suggestions for good airlines to travel with a bike from most likely either Heathrow or Gatwick would therefore be appreciated. I will almost certainly fly premium economy or equivalent if that makes a difference.
Can't recomend anyone, but can suggest that you avoid AirTransat for shoddyness of service and, due to their stingy bike weight allowance (23kgs) anyone in the Air France/KLM/Delta partnership.
Flew BA this year, and it wasn't utterly soul destroying
BA do not charge extra for bikes either. Worth weighing that up when considering costs.
Flew Manchester to Vancouver with Air Transat this summer and the weight limit was 32KG, it only cost $20 each way!
BUT
Vancouver airport "lost" 12 bikes for 2 hours but that could have happened with any airline, they all use the same ground staff.
Bikes turned up fine on the return to Manchester
For convenience it's really one of AirTransat, BA or Air Canada as they are direct. People have mixed experiences with AirTransat and personally I'd avoid them. They also don't do Premium economy. BA / Air Canada are both pretty similar to be honest even in premium economy so personally it'd come down to price at that point.
WsetJet is a slightly more budget option that may offer a good price but you'd have to transfer in Calgary as it isn't direct.
I've done it with BA to Vancouver. Was classed solely as sports equipment but I think they may have changed their policy a few years back.
Have only good things to say about AirTransat and Canadian Affair (can't remember if they're one and the same).
Got through with a ridiculous amount of kit, at the time they didn't class camping/hiking gear and bikes as the same allowance, so I got approx 50kg of kit through AND my maximum baggage allowance, all for $20 and a nice smile to the checkout girl 8)
Never any problems with the flights either, except for once or twice having to stop and sit at Calgary, which would have been outrageous were it not for the return ticket price of £450...
Transhat / Thomas C0ck can suck a big bag of dicks.
I just flew Vancouver / Heathrow Premium Economy on BA the other day. I was on my own and they over-booked in both directions (not sure how this is even allowed?), so meant waiting around until they allocated me a seat, but once on the plane the experience was as good as one can expect from a 9hr flight.
As for bikes, you are at the will of the ground staff regardless of airline so other than a few bucks you toss a coin and hope for the best.
Flown BA the last few years, business class lets you have 3x32kg bags (as well as all the other perks) for about £700 more than cattle class, £200 more than premium.
You want the bed for a decent kip after the race 😉
me and the wife flew BA from aberdeen to vancouver via heathrow.
bikes were boxed and traveled both ways with no damage or issues.
Flew scum class
We payed for an extra bag as we were touring and the bikes in boxes were exactly 23kg.
was 1500 all in for us both plus extra baggage.
On the plane it was as good as a 9hr journey gets.
Arrivals at vancouver was good as we were the only flight arriving (7pm friday night).
One thing is that if you need a mini van taxi for the bike boxes you will wait for some time for dispatch to send one and even then only just do the bikes fit in.
Thanks for all the replies so far.
Sadly that seems to be the best that can be expected of flying these days!nickc - Member
Flew BA this year, and it wasn't utterly soul destroying
I like your thinking. 🙂tomhoward - Member
Flown BA the last few years, business class lets you have 3x32kg bags (as well as all the other perks) for about £700 more than cattle class, £200 more than premium.You want the bed for a decent kip after the race
Interesting to see that BA seems to be a favourite at the moment. They certainly seem to have the easiest bike rules.
Me and the GF flew cattle-class on AirTransat from Scotland direct to Vancouver last year - no hassles with our 30Kg bike bags.
Try Westjet. We went with them last year. THey are a canadian budget airline but were excellent aslong as you take some food with you
Had more trouble with Air Canada than any other airline. Late flights, delays, plane HVAC going crazy.
Make sure your bikes are CLEAN when you go. Mine nearly got sent back for a bit of gravel on the tyres.
BA regular here
it goes as part of your baggage allowance 23kgs but via the oversize belt.
If it's just you then you will needs to book it I think.
They were rather strict on this need this time.. bag weigh 24.8kgs kept asking me if there was anything else but the bag told him just my knee pads. In he end he let it go.
On the Vancouver end they asked to open the bag to check. So if you take a bike box be sure you have extra tape as I asked the person do you check boxes as well and she said yes.
I hate flying it's all he same. Your other alternative is Virgin. Also check flights Via Seattle sometimes they are cheaper.
oh FYI for those thinking to fly through toronto as its cheaper .
you have to collect your bikes and take them through customs and everyone i spoke to experianced the same as alan above.
where as we flew heathrow-vancouver direct and no one looked at our bikes at all.
on the way back no issues with them wanting to look as we were under the 23kg max weight.
oh and for anyone thinking airfrance - i was due to my extensive business milage with them - if your box is over 300cm lxwxb then you will be charged 300euro flat rate.
Now i had a small frame stripped down to component pieces and still couldnt get it into a shape that fit that criteria !
virgin to seattle, then the bike goes free.
Check out icelandair via rejkavik. 23kg plus a bike bag is £100. Cheap airline with limited on board service but inflight entertainment is decent.
I flew using air Canada. They were ok. But not great service.
WsetJet is a slightly more budget option that may offer a good price but you'd have to transfer in Calgary as it isn't direct.
Westjet do direct flights from Gatwick to Vancouver. You can often upgrade to their 'Plus' cabin on check in pretty cheaply too for a nice big baggage allowance and Premium Economy-ish seating.
Make sure your bikes are CLEAN when you go. Mine nearly got sent back for a bit of gravel on the tyres.
Never had that issue with Canada, across a few airlines. Direct or internal transfers. Bike wasn't filthy, but pretty far from spotless, wasn't even checked to my knowledge
I'll definitely have a look at Westjet in a bit more detail. I'd seen them come up as an option but had no idea about or experience of them. Otherwise BA is looking pretty good, and for once the prices aren't too outrageous.
I fly London - Calgary / Vancouver three or four times a year and recently the factor that seals the choice is 'can I get to the airport.... will the trains be running?' We come up to the airport on Southern (Gatwick and Transat is first choice) but if its a scheduled strike day or daft early in the morning, we go Heathrow and Air Canada. I just came back from Fernie and Air Canada only charged £30.00 extra for a bike in a cardboard box; it got inspected by security and the gaffer tape was cut but no hassle, I just carry a spare roll of tape.
Done West Jet a couple of times and they are our third choice.
Out of interest, what makes Gatwick & Transat your preferred choice?
Monarch??? Ryan Air???
Coming from the US this year they didn't bat an eyelid at the bike bag, just waved straight through (AFAIK all international gets in the same terminal?) immigration was almost happy compared to the US, what's the purpose of your visit? Ride bikes and have fun at Crankworx.
Nice enjoy yourself there 🙂
I've been to Canada 3 times in the last 3 years, all with Air Transat and have been very pleased with the service.
The bike costs £20 each way.
Seats are comfy, staff are nice, you can book your seats well in advance and pay £33 each way to get bonus legroom.
My only hitch was a cracked rim (which could happen with any airline), they paid for a new one (eventually).
Flew to Seattle via Vancouver, on Air Transat. Was not as bad as I had thought it would be, but I paid £200 for the upgrade. Felt like business class in 1980, (I am guessing here).
Usually BA is my choice, I flew a few times with them and no cost for bikes (both within the UK and to US).
The trip to Heathrow for us involves a train and a National Express bus journey so there is more chance of delay (especially with the bus doing from Woking, along the M25 car park and into the central bus depot.... buses only go once an hour).
Transat is generally the best priced, but it does not go every day, so when we have a time constraint, Air Canada gets the business.
Flew Gatwick to Vancouver with Air Transat in July, can't fault them.