Bike on planes

We chose Geneva, a small city near the Alps with a nice fountain, to kick off. We got there on BA. Last year we had taken our bikes to Toulouse and returned from Barca with BA without padded comfy bags or bike-boxes that certainly don't fit in the side pocket of a pannier. The bikes were not even wrapped in a Very Big Plastic Bag. However, they came out on the baggage carousels at Tooloose and Gatwick attached to prams, zimmer frames, backpacks and everything else what with the wiring catching on bits and bobs. So this year, we checked with BA and their website about bikes. On the blower they say packaging isn't necessary, just do the trick with the pedals, seat and handlebars but we opted for the Very Big Plastic Bags as they doubled as protection and insulation. However, despite a helpful operative checking the bikes in, a jobsworth appeared as if by magic out of the thin air of Terminal Five quoting this regulation and that code of practice and was uppity about letting them on unless they were boxed up. We explained that we had followed instructions: the website said bikes must be in a bag - this did not exclude Very Big Plastic Bags at 4.25 each (2008 prices) from CTC (ex postage). The operative relented. The likely lads at the outsize baggage hole thought the bikes were OK anyhow. Unfortunately, both D and I had forgotten which way to undo pedals and we made the big mishtake of sending the bikes on with pedals.













Bikes in Very Big Plastic Bags (at Nice for return, pedals removed) under the keen vigilance of D.

BA will start charging for large items in late 2008 as Ryan already do. As of June 2008 you could take the bike plus one pannier checked, and one pannier and small tent on the plane. There is the issue of the tools, which they won't let you take on board. You have to have completed the seat, pedals and handlebars palaver before you check the tools in. Though they didn't mind the pump (let some air out). Anything remotely sharp must go in the hold - tent pegs and poles, stove, cutlery etc. You'll get charged again for anything you have to take back from the security gates and check in.

The outward to Geneva and inward from Nice were 113 squid in total per person - a bargain compared to the train. Not only is the train much more expensive but is also a nightmare for bikes...well, so I have read and been told.
We had arrived at 6am for the 8.20 flight so as to get the bikes sorted, which, thanks to the jobsworth took a while. The flight landed with us but, sadly for the plans made of  mice and men, not the bikes.  Euro 2008  was on and so there were flights every two hours that day so we had some lunch and practised talking to people. An Australian woman working for the Red Cross en route to Eritrea was also waiting for luggage off the same flight. She was a front line nurse specialising in amputations and had a few sharp instruments in her baggage.
The bikes arrived and thanks to the pedal gaff, a tooth on my big chainwheel was bent inwards and screwing up my gears so that I could only ride in low gear - which looked hilarious on the dual carriageways outside the airport. A mudguard screw had sheared off leaving the shiny new guards flapping around and rubbing on the front tyre. We left the airport two hours behind schedule with me in low gear and an irritating rubbing noise. Twenty minutes later we returned to the airport, having wondered why the dual carriageway looked familiar.
Then, bearings finally sorted out, we were off to the town centre.