Flying on airlines in motorcycle gear - experiences please

the woodster

the woodster

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I am doing a fly/ride in Romania and Gran Canaria in the next few months. Acting on info received from talking to some who have done it, I intend to fly wearing my textile jacket, trousers and boots. I may or may not treat my lid as hand luggage and put the remainder of my clothing in pannier inner bags in a suitcase, which will be then be transferred to panniers in Romania. Gran Canaria is different as I will have no need to travel with gear once I get there.

I'd be interested in the experiences of those who have done this and any tips when doing so. Any issues with the airlines when doing so etc. ?

Thank you.
 
I flew home from France on Sunday with all of my gear including lid in a large sports bag which I checked in - no issues.
I collected a bike in Scotland and wore my gear and carried my helmet - no issues.
might be the most relevant - 4 of us flew Ryanair to Gran Canaria in January, 3 with lids in bags and 1 carried his in a helmet bag - no issues either way.

Barry
 
I flew too Spain 2 years ago in a BMW suit,too travel onwards too Morroco including boots on...
Pockets stuffed with stuff..
Small suit case in overhead plus carried my helmet aswell, think it was Easyjet...
Chuffing hot but managed it with not too much pain...
 
the woodster said:
I am doing a fly/ride in Romania and Gran Canaria in the next few months. Acting on info received from talking to some who have done it, I intend to fly wearing my textile jacket, trousers and boots. I may or may not treat my lid as hand luggage and put the remainder of my clothing in pannier inner bags in a suitcase, which will be then be transferred to panniers in Romania. Gran Canaria is different as I will have no need to travel with gear once I get there.

I'd be interested in the experiences of those who have done this and any tips when doing so. Any issues with the airlines when doing so etc. ?

Thank you.
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If you’re going to check a bag in, why take the pain of travelling in bike gear? I’d check the lot in and stay comfy…
:nenau
 
3 of us did Canary Motorcycle Tours last October, 23kg holdall with the lids when in the hold along with some of the clothes and toiletries, we wore bike jeans and mesh jackets so they came in the cabin.

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk
 
yoyo said:
3 of us did Canary Motorcycle Tours last October, 23kg holdall with the lids when in the hold along with some of the clothes and toiletries, we wore bike jeans and mesh jackets so they came in the cabin.

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk
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Thanks for your reply. Was that 23kg for all three of you or is that separately?
 
Clothing, is clothing, is clothing. Just because a pair of trousers has Rukka or Frank Thomas on them, does not prevent them being trousers.

Wear your motorcycle kit (if you must) and don’t give it another thought.

Me? I’d carry my helmet. Why? On the slim chance that the airline or baggage handlers might lose the damned thing. The last thing I’d want to be doing on arrival is going out to look for and buy a new melon box.

Enjoy your holiday.
 
Wapping said:
Clothing, is clothing, is clothing. Just because a pair of trousers has Rukka or Frank Thomas on them, does not prevent them being trousers.

Wear your motorcycle kit (if you must) and don’t give it another thought.

Me? I’d carry my helmet. Why? On the slim chance that the airline or baggage handlers might lose the damned thing. The last thing I’d want to be doing on arrival is going out to look for and buy a new melon box.

Enjoy your holiday.
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Good advice, thanks.
 
the woodster said:
Thanks for your reply. Was that 23kg for all three of you or is that separately?
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For the 3 of us, we flew with Easyjet and from reading their T&C they wouldn't allow helmets as carry on. One holdall for the lids and a carry on each was ample.

Sent from my SM-S921B using Tapatalk
 
I personally wouldn't check a helmet on in luggage...

If the airline are saying they don't allow helmet as carry-on.......I would not use that airline.


Never had a problem carrying a helmet on to a plane.......just make sure you use a proper helmet bag...which basically is just luggage.

Sent with a Zen10
 
younger06 said:
I personally wouldn't check a helmet on in luggage...

If the airline are saying they don't allow helmet as carry-on.......I would not use that airline.


Never had a problem carrying a helmet on to a plane.......just make sure you use a proper helmet bag...which basically is just luggage.

Sent with a Zen10
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I’ve checked a helmet in many times . Carried inside a padded helmet bag and covered with bike jacket etc in luggage so very secure .
I’ve also carried a helmet on many times .
Will be checking bike gear in for Canary Motorcycle Tours trip next January. But I’ve got 2x23 kgs luggage allowance.
 
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I’ve taken crash helmets as carry on and checked in luggage with a couple of carriers but always checked in advance what their policy is.

As for excess weight, it’s always cheaper to pay for an extra 23kg and take everything in one bag than it is to pay for being a few kg over weight at check in. It’s also worth weighing your bag when it’s empty. Wheeled bags with a hard bottom weigh a lot so are they worth the weight penalties when you can pay £1 or €1 for a trolley at the airport?
 
Bonnie Tyler said:
I’ve checked a helmet in many times . Carried inside a padded helmet bag and covered with bike jacket etc in luggage so very secure .
I’ve also carried a helmet on many times .
Will be checking bike gear in for Canary Motorcycle Tours trip next January. But I’ve got 2x23 kgs luggage allowance.
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In fact you’ve just reminded me, I bought a helmet bag for my January trip after chatting to yourself.

Barry
 
Smartbazza said:
In fact you’ve just reminded me, I bought a helmet bag for my January trip after chatting to yourself.

Barry
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The Oxford ones are good as lined with fur so very protected

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Bonnie Tyler said:
I’ve checked a helmet in many times . Carried inside a padded helmet bag and covered with bike jacket etc in luggage so very secure .
I’ve also carried a helmet on many times .
Will be checking bike gear in for Canary Motorcycle Tours trip next January. But I’ve got 2x23 kgs luggage allowance.
Click to expand...
Some of you bods must travel with an awful lot of stuff. I flew to Bogotá wearing normal clothes and with all my kit for three months (including my tank bag, tail pack and a few tools) in a packable hold-all and was still below the single bag luggage allowance.

The only exception was my helmet because as Wapping says, that’s the one thing that’s a major pain if it goes AWOL.

What on earth do you lot take with you??
 
richardbd said:
Some of you bods must travel with an awful lot of stuff. I flew to Bogotá wearing normal clothes and with all my kit for three months (including my tank bag, tail pack and a few tools) in a packable hold-all and was still below the single bag luggage allowance.

The only exception was my helmet because as Wapping says, that’s the one thing that’s a major pain if it goes AWOL.

What on earth do you lot take with you??
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All bike gear including helmet , jacket, armoured jeans , boots and gloves in one bag and normal clothes , wash bag , shoes etc in other bag .

I know I’m odd taking a change of clothes
 
I find traveling with my bike gear on always causes problems.
Usually with the police.:LOL:
 
Flying in your bike gear will be the most uncomfortable thing you will ever do.

I have a large bag, I pack my bike gear and helmet into it - plus a smaller bag with clothes - pay the extra fee ££ online when you book and travel in comfort.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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