Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

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22camels
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Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by 22camels »

Just booked a return Bristol-Reykjavik with Easyjet for next summer. Paid for one bicycle (70 quid), and zero hold bags. According to http://support.easyjet.com/case-4040 "No other items can be carried in the bicycle box/bag (i.e. clothing)". Yet the weight limit is 32kg. My bare bike wouldn't come to more than 12kg. What's the point of the extra 20kg if no other items should be carried?

I am hoping to get away without a hold bag and stuff everything in my opaque bike bag. In all, it should come at around 22kg, as it did last time when I flew with BA where you're allowed a bike free as part of your 23kg allowance, as long as everything is packed as one item and it looked like this:
Black bike bag, with camping mat on top of the rack, and two panniers containing tent, sleeping bag, tools etc.
Black bike bag, with camping mat on top of the rack, and two panniers containing tent, sleeping bag, tools etc.

Anyone with any recent (post Jan 14) experience of Easyjet enforcing this rule (which I believe is new)? Will I get away with it or will I be made to pay for an extra hold bag? Currently looks like 36 quid online, something like 50 at the airport, and I am not sure if that's one-way or return in which case my luggage will end up costing me twice my actual flight..
Edwards
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by Edwards »

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ChrisButch
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by ChrisButch »

I've often flown with a bike from Bristol with Easyjet, and always found them very good, especially after they clarified the weight rule (ie if you've paid for a bike it doesn't count towards your overall weight allowance). I've always used a solid bike case, but never tested the 'no extra items' rule, as I always have hold bags as well. I've heard of people being caught out elsewhere by this, however. I think the 32kg max thing has to do with handlers' H&S.
22camels
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by 22camels »



very good :)

as far as 32kg, i think it was raised from 23kg in Jan 14 after many complaints that it was too low so not sure where H&S comes in.. anyway if I can only put a bare bike in the bag, all I need is 12 or 13 kg.. I know there are others with fancy mountain bikes and whatnot that might weigh up to 20kg by themselves..
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RickH
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by RickH »

22camels wrote:as far as 32kg, i think it was raised from 23kg in Jan 14 after many complaints that it was too low so not sure where H&S comes in.. anyway if I can only put a bare bike in the bag, all I need is 12 or 13 kg.. I know there are others with fancy mountain bikes and whatnot that might weigh up to 20kg by themselves..

No single item is allowed to be more than 32kg even if your allowance is more than that - that is where H&S comes in, lifting more than that is deemed to be a health hazard or need specialised equipment. If you had, say, 40kg allowance you couldn't have a single 40kg bag, whatever the contents.

According to this page you may put other stuff in with your bike provided you also book a hold bag. From the table:-
Easyjet wrote:1 bag, 1 large sports item
  • Total allowance 2 items @ 52kg total
  • 1 item must be genuine sports equipment as defined
  • You may distribute weight between items as desired

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22camels
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by 22camels »

Yes, the regulations (as in the link in my original post and in the page you quoted) clearly say no other stuff allowed inside bike bag.

Yet I know plenty of people would have got away with it. How do you define a bike, does the lock/bottle cage, lights/bike computer, rack, count?

I would like to see a bike in a bag with few extras that weighs 32kg. Hard bike box, fair enough, bag, I am not sure I'd want to ride that.

Edit: i've flown with BA a number of times, of course when you ask them, they say no extras inside bike bag, in practice, nobody cared (I didn't have any additional checked baggage allowance and they could have got me to pay extra..).
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cycleruk
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by cycleruk »

Flown Easyjet a few times with a bikebox. Extra items in box included helmet & shoes + all parts appertaining to bike such as tools/pump/saddlebag etc.
I have had companions who took just a "cabin bag" and put other clothes and items in their boxes with no problems.
The only time Easyjet has come into contact with the bike is at the checking in desk when they weigh the bike etc.
After that the boxes/bikes usually go through an Xray machine but it's not Easyjet personnel who carry this out.
Upto now the only issue has been CO2 cylinders that have shown up on Xray and been confiscated.
If you are using a "see through" bag then you may have problems at the check-in desk?

My bike & box + bits usually weighs about 24 kgs.
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TimP
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by TimP »

22camels wrote:


very good :)

as far as 32kg, i think it was raised from 23kg in Jan 14 after many complaints that it was too low so not sure where H&S comes in.. anyway if I can only put a bare bike in the bag, all I need is 12 or 13 kg.. I know there are others with fancy mountain bikes and whatnot that might weigh up to 20kg by themselves..


"Warning, the link contains swearing" - no kidding - I think the swearing actually was more than the other words in total. Swearing punctuated with swearing - but it was worth listening too. Very funny.
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foxyrider
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by foxyrider »

cycleruk wrote:Flown Easyjet a few times with a bikebox. Extra items in box included helmet & shoes + all parts appertaining to bike such as tools/pump/saddlebag etc.
I have had companions who took just a "cabin bag" and put other clothes and items in their boxes with no problems.
The only time Easyjet has come into contact with the bike is at the checking in desk when they weigh the bike etc.
After that the boxes/bikes usually go through an Xray machine but it's not Easyjet personnel who carry this out.
Upto now the only issue has been CO2 cylinders that have shown up on Xray and been confiscated.
If you are using a "see through" bag then you may have problems at the check-in desk?

My bike & box + bits usually weighs about 24 kgs.

+1 for that, get past checkin and you're done, never been asked to open the bag to check whats there and the guys at the scanners are only interested in 'contraband'.

I've never had any issue other than getting under the 23kg weight! With 32kg thats not an issue either. My bike bag has often had a lot of 'not' bike in with it - pannier bags, shoes, camping gear etc. If i can get that in the bike bag i can easily get my clothing into my hand luggage - made even easier with the relaxation of hand luggage weight limits!
Convention? what's that then?
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22camels
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by 22camels »

My latest thinking is that even if I can get away with it, it's not good to stuff too much gear into the bike bag as it makes damage to the bike more likely, because I have a soft bag with little padding and it's not obvious there's a bike inside, the extra weight of the gear is not going to help if it gets dropped and very heavy things will annoy baggage handlers. If I had a heavily padded bag, or a hard case, I would perhaps be less concerned. Cardboard box, not so sure (yet to try that method).

Most recently I again maxed out the BA 23kg allowance - 11.5kg was bike, the rest was gear and the weight of the bag (1.3kg), see below. I've flown a few times like this now but I think I've been lucky. Will have more gear to take on the upcoming Easyjet flight and decided to pay for an extra check-in bag for the panniers, and use a CTC clear bag for the bike itself. It does cost more though, this extra bag. This time it was £41 return which is not that much compared to the £150 the flight + bike cost. On the other hand, I've got another flight in autumn with BA, that cost me £100 return incl. bike, and there I would have to pay £72 for an extra check-in bag, which would make no sense at all. Fortunately I am planning to go light on that occasion.

This would all be much easier if airlines just gave you a total weight allowance so you could carry as many bags as you like within a weight and size limit. It appears to be that way for some, e.g. Emirates last time I checked, at least on certain routes.

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bigjim
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by bigjim »

I always pad my bike bag/box out. I leave tent and sleeping bag in there plus tools and cooking gear. I've never had it checked or asked about. E/jet included. I've never known an airline ask to look inside a sealed bag/box. Most of the time they do not even weigh it. Though Ryanair always does. Some just ask. How much does it weigh? Once past check-in security don't seem to be interested as long as there is nothing dodgy in there. The only problem I have ever had is at Porto when the bag would not go in flat through the machine. They said I would have to undo it so they could look inside. Evidently they tried putting it through at an angle and it worked.
annido
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by annido »

Just wondering if I can piggyback onto this discussion. I'm flying to Germany shortly and intending to hire a bike there. I'm expecting to only take hand luggage. Is there likely to be a problem over taking a tool kit in hand luggage?

I can't believe that a helmet would be a problem but if that's the case, would also appreciate a tip off.

Thanks.
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bigjim
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Re: Extra stuff inside bike bag with Easyjet

Post by bigjim »

Never had a problem with a helmet. It's a hat! They will not allow a tool kit past security. Took 3 tiny allen keys off me once.
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