whitla

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning a bike tour with my family from Copenhagen to Hamburg or from Hamburg to Copenhagen this summer. We ride on 2 Tandems. We are wondering what airlines are going to be most accommodating of this. Ideally this airline would supply a bag to fit the tandems at the airport so we don't have to carry the bag around with us.

On initial investigations KLM looks like it may do this but I am wondering what experiences you guys and have had with this.
I'm looking forward to your insights.

Machka 

Check British Airways. They do provide bags, but I'm not sure if they'd provide something large enough for tandems.

whitla

I called them and they repeated what is on their website:
Flying with Sports Equipment or Musical Instruments | British Airways

We will accept non-motorised bicycles up to 190cm (75in) in length, provided they are packed in a recognised bicycle bag.

Tandem bikes are more than 75in (about 90in with the front wheel on)

Squeezebox

What about Icelandair?
Don't forget most airlines require a reservation for a bicycle.

jefnvk

I just booked a trip from Toronto. IIRC, the one I remember specifically saying they provided bags was Air Transat. They were very reasonable on bike charges and fares, but I don't know if they fly to your destination (or fit your schedule, as they don't generally fly daily flights, which is why I ultimately didn't use them).

Tandems, on the other hand, may be problematic. I remember quite a few airlines outright labeled them as cargo-only when I was researching.

jefnvk

Call them up three more times and ask, and see if they give you anything but a line by line reading of their website

There is a web form somewhere on the British Airways UK site that you can get better answers out of, for anyone reading this in the future. Hope to save you some of the pain I just went through....

whitla

I'll check.

fietsbob

Or SAS?

whitla

It thought of them too but they don't fly out of Toronto.

whitla

KLM is looking pretty good.
https://www.klm.com/travel/ca_en/pre...e/index.htm#p4

They actually list Tandems as something that they will take.

axolotl

That is false.

mantelclock

I think he meant bicyclist.

fietsbob

OK, I flew via Sea-Tac. (to CPH then on nto AMS)


FWIW, KLM and Northwest, Code Share .

Squeezebox

So check when you book your flight.

And what about the "Fly My Bike" type of folks??

jefnvk

Wrong, or at least not completely the whole story. My trip involves Brussels Airlines from Toronto to Brussels and Air Canada from Amsterdam to Toronto. Both limit the number of bicycles available per flight. Brussels Airlines outright told me that pre-reservations were required (and to be honest, was a PITA to accomplish), Air Canada did not require it but did warn that I may then run into showing up at the airport and bikes being denied. I pre-booked both, I'm sure for others that just showing up worked, but it seems silly to plan a trip months in advance and not have this confirmed.

Copy and paste from their respective websites:
Brussels: "Sporting equipment and other equipment must be pre-notified before travelling. Please contact our Service Centre."
Air Canada: "Bicycles are accepted on a space available basis only and should be pre-registered at time of booking."

Since the OP is looking at KLM: "To bring this type of special baggage, you need to make a reservation via My Trip or via KLM Telephone Reservations, and receive confirmation of your reservation no later than 48 hours before departure. You also need to pay an extra fee at the airport.". FWIW, KLM/AF/Delta is what I normally fly across the Atlantic, I've got no complaints.

As squeezebox mentioned, it is best to verify with the airline you choose directly.

axolotl

You failed to quote Squeezebox's post:
What Squeezebox wrote is false. Most airlines do not require a reservation for a bicycle.

whitla

So far, it seems the ones that take tandems do require booking in advance.

jefnvk

Whether or not more than 50% do, I don't have the exact numbers (and I'd doubt you do), so it is not a point I can conclusively argue. Having just spent a month researching airlines friendly to bikes, I will say that a very large number of the airlines do require reservations, or at least come highly recommend with the chance of being turned away because of space limitations if you don't, and as a general point it is something that one who may not be familiar with airline policies SHOULD be aware of.

Squeezebox

I have also heard that it is best that it is best to download their policy statement about bicycles and oversize when you secure your flight. That way they can't shaft you later.

imi

I would have checked BA and SAS first as mentioned (as appears to have been done).

Then KLM and Air France

Emirates is an outside tip... Long time since I checked their baggage policy tho'

Air Berlin? German Wings? (Are they still operating?)

edit: and of course... Beware Code-Sharing :/

imi

Good advice... with one caveat... Airlines and Airports can ALWAYS "shaft you" as you so delicately put it, "For Security and Safety Reasons"...

gerryl

Chances are real good that you are going to have to pay extra for a tandem (they appear to exceed the maximum size for sports equipment on any airline) no matter what airline you travel on. Having accepted that as a fact of life, I would try to make this trip as painless as possible. The easiest, safest ( for the bike ) and fastest way is a non-stop flight, in your case that means Air Canada (code shared with Lufthansa and SAS) from Toronto to Copenhagen. If you try to fly to Hamburg all types of issue arise. You will have to change airplanes and maybe airlines at one point or another, which means the bike gets handled by ground crew one more time, and the connecting flight may have different rules (fees) for tandem bikes, more headaches. Bite the bullet and take the direct flight to Copenhagen.

imi

Lufthansa have previously had THE WORST bicycle policy...

Yes, direct non code-shared flights can be worth the extra...

tmac100

I agree with your assessment of needing to reserve a bicycle as "luggage'. I have never reserved a bicycle with Aeroflot, Air Canada or British Air when flying out of Toronto. Mind you, the best thing is to check if YOUR airline requires a "reservation". But then, why would they when they don't require notice for the number of bags any passenger is checking in...

whitla

Originally Posted by Squeezebox
I have also heard that it is best that it is best to download their policy statement about bicycles and oversize when you secure your flight. That way they can't shaft you later.


Noted.