Bikes on Ryanair

[fatblokish]

• Contrary to that which I have read elsewhere, it appears as though no pedal removal/handlebar tweaking/tyre deflation is necessary for flights on Ryanair; can anyone confirm this?
• Will 50m of clingfilm serve as a protective bag adequate to satisfy its requirment (see below).
• Finally, is my understanding of the para below correct, insofar as any bike weighing between 20 and 30 kg will attract the excess rate in addition to the standard bike rate?

ta.



Sporting or musical equipment including but not limited to large fishing rods, golf clubs, bikes* (bikes have a weight limit of 30 kilos), scooters, fencing equipment, pole vaults, javelin, surfboards, bodyboards, snowboards and skis and large musical instruments including but not limited to harps, double bass and drums are inherently unsuitable for carriage by airlines operating fast turnarounds such as Ryanair. However, these items may be carried in the hold of the aircraft in addition to your personal checked baggage allowance up to a limit of 20 kilos per item upon payment of a discounted online fee of £50/€50 per item, per one way flight. If the item is purchased at the airport or through a Ryanair call centre a higher fee of £60/€60 per item/per one way flight will apply). Any sporting and musical item weighing over the 20 kilos allowance will be charged for the excess at the applicable excess baggage rate per kilo.
*Bicycles - MUST be contained in a protective box or bag.

 

[Red Light]

 

[stephenjubb]

darn, at £50 each way for a bike I would fly with someone else if possible.

 

[Alun]

Yep, I think you're right about the 20/30 kilo limits for bikes.
How much does yours weigh?

 

[TheDoctor]

Bear in mind that if it's a choice between loading your bike or making their take-off slot, it'll be your bike left behind every time. And get good insurance.
Personally I wouldn't chance it. Use another airline, use the trains, hell, walk if you have to.
They're fine if you turn up with hand luggage and you don't mind sometimes being a bit late, but if anything at all goes wrong, you're on your own.

 

[fatblokish]

darn, at £50 each way for a bike I would fly with someone else if possible.

Pedal power one way, jet power t'other. I don't really bemoan the £50 as I have had good value from Ryanair in the past; travelling with just hand luggage several times for next to nowt.

 

[fatblokish]

Yep, I think you're right about the 20/30 kilo limits for bikes.
How much does yours weigh?

No idea, when I have strapped on the pannier rack I really must weigh it.

 

[suffolkcindy]

I flew my bike all the way to bangkok for forty euros. I would not entrust it to ryanair as their budget philosophy extends to handlers wages

 

[suffolkcindy]

Ps. My boxed bike weighs 20kg but panniers weigh 8-10kg so its tight because some airlines give 23kg max for boxed sports equipment.

 

[rich p]

Easyjet give you a bike allowance of 32kg and only charge £25 each way if that's an option.

 

[endoman]

Well I'm booked Ryan Air for The Etape, the bike box is booked on. To do it through the travel company meant the bike being away for almost 2 weeks and me taking half a day off work at each end to get the bike to their drop off point. Shall put the vital stuff in carry on, and arrive at check in with plenty of time. Lucky to have borrowed a box off club mate as well.

 

[gavintc]

I think you will find that airports employ baggage handlers not the airlines direct and as a result, your baggage is likely to be treated in the same manner as other airline's bags. The only issue, as someone has already stated; the need to make slot times. But saying that, instinct tells me to not trust Ryanair.

 

[Fab Foodie]

darn, at £50 each way for a bike I would fly with someone else if possible.

Always. For no other reason than it's a bloody horrible experience and I'd rather not give the man's airline any more cash than absolutely necessary.

 

[fatblokish]

I've been on a few Ryanair flights and not had a poor, or indeed horrible, one yet. I do know of others that have not had a good time. IME, as long as one's expectations are lowered, Ryanair meets them admirably.
Anyway, all this is perhaps irrelevant as the tickets are booked with Ryanair and there is no suitable alternative airline.

Any further thoughts on the three Q's I posed at the start of the thread?

ta

 

[Lone Rider]

• Contrary to that which I have read elsewhere, it appears as though no pedal removal/handlebar tweaking/tyre deflation is necessary for flights on Ryanair; can anyone confirm this?
• Will 50m of clingfilm serve as a protective bag adequate to satisfy its requirment (see below).
• Finally, is my understanding of the para below correct, insofar as any bike weighing between 20 and 30 kg will attract the excess rate in addition to the standard bike rate?

Ryanair ask for bikes to be boxed - so removing pedals and turning bars is inevitable. The weight limit for bikes is 30 kilos, all other sports equipment has a limit of 20 kilos. I have flown regularly with them and never had a problem, except for some scratches on the bike before boxing was required - the scrathes were caused by another bike's pedals!​