Bike tours: For many, it is the highlight of the year, the holiday. Due to the discontinuation of Air Berlin and now also Niki Airlines, flying to apparently less complicated destinations, such as Palma de Mallorca, is becoming increasingly difficult. If you also want to take your bike with you on the plane, there are a few regulations to be observed that can quickly turn the journey into a nightmare. So that you can start your cycling holiday or your training camp in the best possible way and without any nasty surprises, we have summarized some important information for you in our big travel story and even created a list of the best bike cases/bags that we have tested for you.
In the following we have put together an overview of various airlines, all of which have different rules, limitations and prices regarding bicycle transport. Before that, however, we would like to give you a few basic tips. In principle, it is possible to transport bicycles with any airline, with the exception of (almost) always e-bikes due to their battery or motor.
Before boarding the flight, you should register the bike directly when booking. With some airlines it is also possible to register and hand in the bike at the airport, but this is usually more expensive and there is no guarantee that there will be enough space on the plane for your own bike. It should also be noted that taking a bicycle with you on different routes can also cost different amounts. For example, taking a bike to Mallorca is sometimes significantly cheaper than to the Canary Islands or South Africa. Here, too, you should find out in good time which tariff zone you are in.
Bicycle on the plane: How much does which airline cost?
As with flights, there are sometimes considerable differences between the various airlines in terms of price and the general conditions for taking bicycles with you. For example, the maximum weight varies between 32kg and 25kg, with some airlines you can save even more if you register the bike long before the trip. We took a look at the most popular holiday airlines for attractive destinations by bike.
In the following overview you will find not only the respective special features of the conditions of carriage, but also two example prices for two popular holiday destinations: Palma de Mallorca and the Canary Islands. The prices always refer to the outward and return flight if the piece of luggage has been registered in advance.
| Airline | Features | Mallorca | Canaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa | - Registration required - Weight limit: 32kg - Maximum length: 200cm | 100€ | 100€ |
| Condor | - Early booking discount 30 days before departure - Registration at the airport possible, but expensive - Complimentary transportation in Business Class - Weight limit: 32kg | 89,98€ | 109,98€ |
| Transavia | - Registration required - E-bikes expressly permitted (observe battery regulations!) - Weight limit: 32kg | 88€ | 88€ |
| norwegian | - Registration required - Special suitcases can be rented at some airports - Opaque pricing model - Weight limit: 25kg | 100€ | 100€ |
| TAP | - Weight limit: 32kg - Prior registration is not mandatory, but recommended | 100€ | 100€ |
| TUI Fly | - Weight limit: 30kg - No e-bikes allowed - The bicycle can also be wrapped in foil | 130€ | 130€ |
| Iberia | - Many airports offer bike boxes for €20 - Surcharge for long distances depending on the weight | 90€ | 90€ |
| Ryanair | - Registration not necessary, but recommended - Weight limit: 30kg | 120€ | 120€ |
We also took a closer look at the baggage regulations of all airlines. Here you can find out what needs to be taken into account and which holiday plane may have annoying pitfalls when it comes to bicycles on the plane:
[accordions handle=”arrows” space=”no” icon_color=”#” icon_current_color=”#”]Lufthansa offers special excess baggage tariffs for sports baggage. It is important to note that you have to register your sports equipment or, in our case, your bicycle before the flight. Sports luggage is basically divided into three categories at Lufthansa: small, medium and large (small, medium, large). Bicycles belong to the middle/medium category if they weigh less than 32 kg and have a maximum length of 200 cm. The price is 50 euros per route per bike within Europe, including the Canary Islands. With intercontinental flights, however, it is twice as expensive and costs 100 euros per route per bike.
With Condor and Thomas Cook Airlines, the pricing is not quite as easy to understand as with many other airlines. There is always an early bird price here, which applies to bookings no later than 30 days before departure. Nevertheless, you can register your bike up to 8 hours before departure. Later you have to register at the airport and pay a hefty surcharge. For passengers in Condor Business Class, sports equipment is transported at no extra charge. However, timely registration up to 8 hours before departure is also necessary here. You should contact the responsible service center for this. The bike must not weigh more than 30 kilos and must be within the specified dimensions of length 200 cm x width 40 cm x height 100 cm.
According to the airline, at Transavia there are a number of safety regulations to be observed, which are also useful tips for all other trips and flights by bike:
- Due to the pressure on board, you will have to deflate the tires completely or almost completely
- Fold up the pedals or unscrew them entirely
- The handlebars must be turned parallel to the frame
- A bicycle box or bicycle case should be used
- Air pumps powered by CO2 cartridges cannot be accepted
As one of the few airlines, Transavia also offers the transport of e-bikes and electric bicycles. However, only electric bicycles with dry batteries can be transported. With regard to the batteries, the following rules apply: The battery must be removed and the poles isolated with tape to avoid short circuits. However, the battery does not have to be packed separately, but may only be transported in hand luggage. If the bike has a lithium battery, the power must not exceed 300 Wh. Batteries over 300 Wh are unfortunately not allowed on board. The price per bike per route is 44 euros, with a weight limit of 32 kg. A pre-registration is neccessary.
The Norwegian airline Norwegian expressly points out that the bike booking should be made early to ensure that there is space for the bike. Here, too, the airline recommends protecting the bike on the journey. Bicycles that are not packed in a bike case must be turned over. In addition, the pedals must be removed, the wheels deflated, and other individual parts removed or covered. A special service is that you can rent hard cases for bicycles at selected airports. The total weight must not exceed 25 kilograms. The price for all flights except international long-haul is 40 to 50 euros when booked online and 50 to 75 euros at the airport. Here we ask ourselves when it is the more expensive and when it is the cheaper price. We did not get any concrete information from the airline, even after several inquiries. International long-haul fares are 65 euros online and 75 euros when booked locally at the airport. The prices apply per piece per route.
At TAP, everything is a little less complicated. The prices are divided for flights within Portugal, Europe and Morocco, as well as intercontinental flights. With the former, it costs 50 euros to take a bicycle with you on intercontinental flights, and the prices apply per route. The weight limit is a decent 100 kilos. We recommend registering in advance to be on the safe side.
Bicycles can be booked at TUI FLY for a fee of EUR 65 each way. The weight may not exceed 30 kilograms. In addition, the bicycle must be packed well, the handlebars rotated in the direction of the frame and the pedals removed. The bicycle can also be packed in cardboard or foil. TUI Fly does not transport e-bikes.
A special feature of the next airline: Iberia has packaging measuring 131+72+21 cm at many airports. The price of these boxes is 20 euros per piece. On medium and short distances, there is a surcharge of €45 for taking a bicycle with you, regardless of the baggage allowance. On long-haul flights (America, Asia and South Africa), one piece of carry-on baggage counts as the passenger's baggage allowance. If, in addition to this piece of baggage, one or more other pieces are added and the total number of free baggage allowances is exceeded, this is considered excess baggage. This additional piece of luggage then costs €75. Maximum weight allowance is 23kg, with an excess baggage charge up to a total of 32kg. This surcharge is always payable at the airport.
The low-cost airline Ryanair also makes it relatively easy for us. Prior registration should be made, then taking a bike with you costs 60 euros per route. The bike can also be booked at the airport, but we cannot guarantee that there will be enough space. Here the price is 70 euros. The maximum weight of the bike must not exceed 30 kilos.
All prices come from the websites of the respective airlines. The data is as of January 2018. If there are any changes, please contact us ppgad@pucrs.br
Bike on the plane: bike bag, suitcase or box?
The topic of packaging or the question "How do I transport my bike?" is, in addition to booking the flight, another important topic before the journey starts. Basically there are two options here: Either you go to the bike shop and get a bike box for a donation from the coffee shop, or you invest a few euros more and buy a special bag or suitcase for the bike .
The bike box is unbeatably cheap, but packing it is quite tedious and you also need some protective and padding material. In addition, the bulky box has to be accommodated somehow at the destination. If you also have to travel further distances to the airport with your luggage, you can get your first training session by towing the huge box.
It's much easier and more convenient with a corresponding special solution. There are now numerous bags and cases for bicycles that are designed precisely for such purposes. Unfortunately, depending on the orientation and construction, these are quite expensive. Suitable solutions are available from around €250. On the other hand, the bike was stowed much faster and tended to be safer. Thanks to the wheels, handling the large piece of luggage is also much easier than with a box. To give you a brief overview, we tested seven current bike bags and panniers and summarized our results in a list of the best.