Best airline?

[basic_extremist]

What would be the best Australian national airline to transport DH bikes? im not to concerned about the cost, aslong as my bike is on the same plane as me and its 100% bump free. Any info is a big help.

[tinto]

http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=44630

Virgin seems popular and bike-friendly.
Do a search on the main airline names, and you'll dig up a lot of good info.

[shiznik]

Vitgin is the cheapest for bikes, no experience with my bike + Virgin safety though

[mtbmamma]

We travelled to Whistler and back last month without a scratch on the bikes and no extra cost with Qantas. But we are going to Tassie in two weeks and they have checked out the cost and it is $22 per bike each way. I don't feel that $44 is going to kill me so have gone with them, I get the frequent flyers and know that they will be there when I get there. Haven't travelled Virgin to give an opinion.:)

[kizza01]

The only reason you would travel virgin is because they proclaim to be bike friendly and its free. I will never fly virgin again (funds permitting) because they treat your bikes like shit.
This is kierans story...

On my way back from buller this year with profaine, we were in melbourne air port waiting to board the flight back to lil old adelaide. Many of you will know the big floor to ceiling windows that they have at tullamarine. We were standing there watching the plane be loaded with baggage, and happened to notice our bikes on the cart.

Not only were they stacked on their sides, but also ON TOP of eachother. I can only assume the baggage guys were blind as it was plainly stated in huge fucking letters to keep them up right and not stacked.

Thinking that they couldnt balls it up even more, we were thouroughly gob smacked to see them put the boxes up right on the conveyer into the plane, then walk along side it and PUSH them so they fell on their sides. I nearly had kittens on the spot.

Upon arrival in Adelaide, we went to customer service and lo and behold, were told sorry, we cant claim compensation to damage to our bikes as we had signed a waiver, even tho they didnt take the care that was requested, and that they were sorry, and bad luck.

Bad luck this you two bit airline.
You cant check the boxes in without signing that fucking waiver, and i damn well expect the best care to be taken like the fucking desk woman said in melbourne. We even had the mane of the guy that loaded our bikes (it was on his vest) and they still didnt do shit.
*breath* *breath*

So long story short from now on i dont trust virgin.

THE END

[Binaural]

So did your bike actually have any damage? It's not clear from your story.

Honestly though, all baggage handlers are the same (except Pete J, but you have to fly to Finland if you want his services ;)) They don't directly get paid extra to be gentle, and it costs an airline a lot of money if a plane is late for takeoff. If you trust a sticker to protect your bike then you're crazy! I always use two bike boxes to fly my bike (one cut up and used inside the other plus HEAPS of padding to protect my bike. It's a good idea to brace your dropouts as well with some wood as well as as making good and sure nothing can rattle. A well packed bike should be stackable without major worries.

As an aside, when I caught an internal flight once in malaysia I saw my bag tossed 6ft off a loading dock into the bottom of a box trailer to be loaded into a plane ;)

[captainmorgan]

We travelled to Whistler and back last month without a scratch on the bikes and no extra cost with Qantas. But we are going to Tassie in two weeks and they have checked out the cost and it is $22 per bike each way. I don't feel that $44 is going to kill me so have gone with them, I get the frequent flyers and know that they will be there when I get there. Haven't travelled Virgin to give an opinion.:)

That's because you get 2 pieces of luggage when flying to north america. Domestically you get one piece of luggage. Any more and you have to pay excess.

[kizza01]

So did your bike actually have any damage? It's not clear from your story.

Honestly though, all baggage handlers are the same (except Pete J, but you have to fly to Finland if you want his services ;)) They don't directly get paid extra to be gentle, and it costs an airline a lot of money if a plane is late for takeoff. If you trust a sticker to protect your bike then you're crazy! I always use two bike boxes to fly my bike (one cut up and used inside the other plus HEAPS of padding to protect my bike. It's a good idea to brace your dropouts as well with some wood as well as as making good and sure nothing can rattle. A well packed bike should be stackable without major worries.

As an aside, when I caught an internal flight once in malaysia I saw my bag tossed 6ft off a loading dock into the bottom of a box trailer to be loaded into a plane ;)
Yeah i had some minor wheel out of true-age and a bent rotor. But still the lack of customer service is appalling. BTW is wasnt one sticker, the whole bloody box was covered in stickers and texta. We did pack the bikes with padding, and i hate to think of the damage if i hadnt.

[scratchy]

Go Virgin, if you can't be bothered to pack you bike properly for normal baggage handling, it ain't their fault.

Baggage handlers are baggage handlers, regardless of Airlines. You have to assume worst case scenarios. Judging an whole airline by the actions of one Baggage handler in lunacy.

What is different is the money different airlines sting you for carrying bikes, and Virgin is by far the best Airline for pricing of bikes, no contest.

[simon134]

I uesd to work at Sydney International terminal thru the whole baggage area and i will say that the Qantas baggies are the worst of the lot.

The smaller gigs such as Menzies & Aero care aren't as bad.

Qantas baggies are the biggest DUMBSHITS i've seen.........absolutely useless assholes they are.............that is being VERY KIND.

Even you tell them 1000 times the simpliest of instructions within a space of 30 min,they will still forget.

Now T2,the Domestic terminal where Virgin Blue is at,after working with them for about 6 mnths,i'd have to say they are much better than the Qantas MORONS,but still the reject here & there.

IMO,do not bother with expensive bags when going overseas,they are treated like shit...........i've seen too much in my time there.And avoid big straps & those chunky locks.

:)

[The_Hoff]

I've seen good and bad treatment of bike boxes regardless of the airline. Luckily though I've never experienced any damage (touch wood).

I take the time to pack my bike reallllllly bloody well so it wouldn't matter which way it is packed it'll be fine. I always mark the box Fragile and This way up etc but you know that doesn't mean jack squat to them.

Oh and if you think you saw some dodgy stuff loading the plane, I had my bike box left sitting on the tarmac after the conveyer belt loading thing had driven away and I was looking out the window thinking WTF won't it fit? Then 3 guys walked over to it and proceeded to do the old 1-2-3-THROW to the guy in the baggage compartment of the plane!

I just don't watch anymore:)

[basic_extremist]

Well i'll be flying from SA back to brisbane, so fingers crossed i guess. Looks like i'll be taking virgin.

BTW thanks for the help every one!!

[gnarly_rider]

Not only were they stacked on their sides, but also ON TOP of eachother. I can only assume the baggage guys were blind as it was plainly stated in huge fucking letters to keep them up right and not stacked.

Thinking that they couldnt balls it up even more, we were thouroughly gob smacked to see them put the boxes up right on the conveyer into the plane, then walk along side it and PUSH them so they fell on their sides. I nearly had kittens on the spot.

Mate, you seriously didn't expect them to not stack them on top of each other or to actually keep them upright?????

No baggage handler anywhere is going to do so unless they are having a very good day. Qantas will do no better. Pack them with the expectatation of being dropped/dragged and stored upside down.

[bazza]

just take your time to pack it (use 3 boxes and a shitload of packing foam, double box the actual bike than cut up the other one and use it for spacers for your rotors etc etc). i know if i was a baggie i wouldnt take 2 minutes to neatly stack a massively heavy awkard box in a plane out on the tarmac. and don't forget to keep your box and packing gear and take a shit load of cable ties to do it all back up again.

[jayisbikes]

if your bike is packed in one of those super expensive plastic box thingies, then the waiver you have to sign says you will be covered by their insurance for DAMAGE and LOSS of your bike.
if ya pack it in a bike box you are only covered for LOSS.
its a tough one to call, but i just fley back from the states with air new zealand and didnt suffer any undue damage. also have flown with virgin and didnt have any problems.
i used to be a baggage handler too and i can vouch for the rough handling service from qantas crews (i wasnt working for qantas) one of the guys in their crew was the original PLUCKA DUCK !!!!

[Rik]

You're delusional if you think that putting a bike in a box is all you need to consider it "packed". Shesh :eek:
Seriously... foam everywhere, cardboard bracings to protect vital parts and a partial disassembly of the bike is what's required to make it "packed". If you're not confident in your packing to drop the box from half a metre high on its side then you haven't packed it well enough.

[ajay]

You're delusional if you think that putting a bike in a box is all you need to consider it "packed". Shesh :eek:
Seriously... foam everywhere, cardboard bracings to protect vital parts and a partial disassembly of the bike is what's required to make it "packed". If you're not confident in your packing to drop the box from half a metre high on its side then you haven't packed it well enough.

Half a metre?

Man, have you seen how the luggage handlers treat that stuff? Id call it packed if you could confidently drop it about 3metres on to its corner!

[Z L]

virgin is most definetely the best cus of the price and if u dont want ur bike damaged just put a shitload of bubblewrap around it.

[tassiehardtail]

yeah virgin was good with my ride
and it costs the least as well

[Anthonaut]

If you think about it- baggage handlers are baggage handlers for a reason.

ie they're not the sharpest tools in the shed

[nsr077]

For ultimate safety try packing you bike a boogie board bag.. Trust me, no bastard will want to touch it.

[Hamsta]

Bubble rap, foam and use 100 mile an hour tape around all edges and corners of the box. Pack some big bin liners to stash all your padding in when you get to your destination, makes re-packing easier.

I've used inflatable bags, like a wine cask bag only bigger and tougher, that you pack around your bike then inflate using a pump. They can be deflated and re-used.Try a logistics company, they may give you some freebies and free bubble wrap etc. Prepare for the worst baggage treatment ever, regardless of the airline.

[BIG ANT]

I have traveled with my bike a bit as my work requires me to be away from home for weeks at a time.
Virgin and Jet Star are with out a doubt the worst, arrogance and the general attitude demonstrated by both airlines when something goes wrong makes me want grab the Nerd behind the counter and treat them the way the treated my ride
Qantas don’t beat around the bush, they charge extra but I have never had a problem.

[Hamsta]

I have traveled with my bike a bit as my work requires me to be away from home for weeks at a time.
Virgin and Jet Star are with out a doubt the worst, arrogance and the general attitude demonstrated by both airlines when something goes wrong makes me want grab the Nerd behind the counter and treat them the way the treated my ride
Qantas don’t beat around the bush, they charge extra but I have never had a problem.

What has gone wrong?

[fleshbone]

yeh after reading articles on farkin also in the latest amb(sam hill on cover) im inclined to go with virgin.also travellers should look at getting those bike carriers things that have been talked about around here on farkin and also in bike mags,from my findings those bag things are top notch.:)