How To Travel With Your Bike

by Sarah D October 31, 2022

So you’ve already read our article ‘Should I get a Bike Bag or Hard Plastic Bike Box?’ and are ready to make the purchase. But when it comes to actually travelling with your bike, there are a few things you’ll want to consider (and mistakes you’ll want to avoid):

Will my bike bag or box fit my bike? You would think that most bags and boxes would fit most bikes, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Always check the measurements of your bike against the technical specification of the product you’re about to buy. The two important measurements are:

Bottom of the chainset to the top of the saddle (you may have to remove the seat post if your bike measures too big here
Front fork to the rear derailleur

It’s important to note that most electric bikes can’t have their wheels removed due to the internal electric cabling, and most airlines won’t accept motorised-pedal bikes.

Will it fit in my car? Picture this: You’ve bought your travel case and you’ve gone to all the effort of dismantling your bike and packing it up, only to find out that it doesn’t fit in your car!

It’s important that you know the dimensions of your car before you buy a box or bag so that you’re not left stranded at home, unable to even make it to the airport. And remember to take into account the space needed for other luggage (and people) that will be travelling in the car with your bike.

Do all airlines accept bikes, and what do I need to know? Did you know that for some airlines, you need to contact them months in advance to let them know you’re bringing your bike and may need to disclose the weight and size of the bike bag or box?

It’s not difficult to travel with your bike by plane, but it’s worth reading your airline’s rules regarding the transport of your bike. We’ve pulled a list together of 8 popular airlines and their regulations for travelling with a bicycle:

Airline	Accepts bikes?	Details
Air France	Yes	You can only transport bikes and folding bikes in the hold with prior approval from our customer service department. Please submit your request at least 48 hours before your flight's departure Can transport an electric bike, as long as the battery has been removed (Lithium batteries over 160 Wh are strictly forbidden on board the aircraft) At the airport, you must pay an additional fee that varies based on geographical zones May be charged extra fees if the bag/box exceeds 23kg
British Airways	Yes	Call at least 72 hours before you fly as we need to know how big your bike container is and, if possible, how much it weighs Non-motorised pedal bicycles only Size limit of up to 190 x 95 x 65cm (75 x 37.5 x 25.5in)
Easyjet	Yes	The handlebars must be flush with the frame. Pedals must be removed or flush against the frame Bicycles with hydraulic suspensions or brake systems will be accepted Electric bicycles are not permitted for travel A non-refundable fee will be charged A bicycle can be added at the time of making your booking or once a flight has been booked
Emirates	Yes	If you intend to take a bicycle as checked luggage, please contact Emirates at least 24 hours in advance. Special packaging rules may apply
KLM	Yes	You can bring your bicycle with you at a fee, which is calculated based on your travel route Make sure to reserve for the transport as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before departure. The sooner you do this, the higher the chance that there’s enough space in the aircraft for your bike
Ryanair	Yes	Max weight 30kg Electric bicycles cannot be transported by plane A bicycle can be added at the time of making your booking or once a flight has been booked
TUI	Yes	If you’re taking sports equipment with you, you’ll need to call TUI at least 2 months before you travel on 0203 451 2695 to pre-book it onto your flight. If you don’t pre-book, they may refuse to carry your equipment when you get to the airport
Virgin Atlantic	Yes	You can bring a bicycle as part of your baggage allowance - as long as it doesn’t weigh more than 23kg. If you're taking it as your checked-in baggage, but it weighs more than 23kg (but less than 32kg) there'll be an overweight baggage charge. Non-motorised bikes only

Did you know that at Turbo Trainer Hire, we rent out bike bags too? Click here to see our range of travel bags.