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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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  #1  
Old 18 Mar 2013
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Flying with bike gear
I'm in the early stages of planning a tour of New Zealand and will be flying out from the UK and hiring bikes out there.

it's the first time I will have flown with my bike gear and was looking for advice for how to transport my helmet.

Heathrow have told me I can take it though security OK but the airlines are mostly telling me it has to be packed as checked in baggage and those that are OK with it being carried on are saying it has to go in my hand baggage which is too small for a helmet to fit...

any other advice for flying with bike gear in general also appreciated, I intend wearing my boots and jacket when boarding the plane to save a bit of weight in the cases
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Old 18 Mar 2013
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If you have a helmet bag then take it as carry on, if not pack it in checked luggage, that is what I did, but I had a large kayak bag for my camping gear as well
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Old 18 Mar 2013
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thanks,

trouble is that the airlines have said I can't carry it on and I can't afford to turn up at the airport to find that they wont let me on board with it.
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Old 18 Mar 2013
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hmmm, I've brought a helmet as carry on a few times with no problem. I've also worn moto boots and jacket a couple of times, also no problem.

but if they've already told you you can't bring it as carry on, you should be able to wrap it up within another bag and check it.
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Old 18 Mar 2013
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Airlines are getting strict about what you can and can't take on-board.

Personally, I'd check it in as a fragile item (well wrapped in a sturdy box) or well wrapped in a box but in your checked luggage. I've taken a lot of odd stuff like that for my daughter who has moved to NZ.

As hand-luggage, the stewards may insist you put it in the overhead compartment rather than between your feet (a flying helmet is quite a weight!) & I've seen how the hand luggage gets jammed into those overhead spaces - other passengers don't care if their heavy bag gets dumped on top of yours.

It may be worth taking a cheap helmet from home so you're not too upset if it gets lost or damaged.

Make sure your boots & other gear is clean. NZ don't like imported dirt
Enjoy the trip, it's a wonderful country!
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Old 18 Mar 2013
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I've travelled with my lid (an Arai) several times with no problems on BA, most recently to JNB from EDI a year gone November. I put it in my carry on bag (a Travelpro Platinum tote bag)- you won't be allowed to carry it separately any more as I did on my first trip to NZ many moons ago. It just fits into an overhead locker sitting upright, gotta watch you don't damage the vents in the top eh?

Most lockers are the same height in my experience, but if there is a problem getting it into the locker one time on a trip to CPT I stashed it under the seat in front. This may not be possible on some planes, I suppose especially if there is an AVOD unit under there.

Nobody will be able to dump anything on top of it because there won't be room.
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Old 18 Mar 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pheonix View Post
It may be worth taking a cheap helmet from home so you're not too upset if it gets lost or damaged.
That's exactly what we decided last night, I'm not taking a £500 helmet to have it thrown around in the hold.

If we had more time before hitting the road I'd just buy a new one out there.

I think I'm resigned to the fact I'll have to check it in, at least the big airlines are upping their baggage allowance and doing by weight and not pieces of luggage. I think we'll just package them separately and take cheap helmets
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Old 18 Mar 2013
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Hi,

Helmets are not so heavy so i stuffed my helmet into a disposable cardboard box with my tent and sleeping bag. To save weight i took the jacked and on board together with laptop and camera no problem.

http://www.adventure-travel-experien...en_suedamerika

Enjoy your trip, Tobi
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Old 19 Mar 2013
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Re: Flying with bike gear
So basically you guys are telling me I'm worrying about nothing

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