easyJet

[Electrifying Cycles]

I thought I would pass on my astonishment that easyJet would take an electric bike and lithium battery. I spoke to a customer who wanted to take an electric bike to Croatia. I said you would not be able to take the battery on the plane. Warning of the massive fines etc.

However to my surprise they informed the customer that you could take an electric bike and lithium battery. They simply asked for the battery to be packed separate from the bike. The cost was less than £30. To say I was shocked was an understatement. Not sure if they were incorrectly informed? when they told me I suggested they get this confirmed in writing.

Anyway thought you might find this interesting

 

[103Alex1]

That's a very exciting possibility indeed. Presumably they want the battery packed and shipped in the hold ?

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

Yes from memory. It had to be packed separately, that was the key thing. Still shocked but for people travelling it could be very useful. Would always check before travelling and get written confirmation. They only problem they had was the box holding the bike was an inch too long.

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

Hmmm, that's strange. I've been flying with bikes for years, and there has never been a size limit on the boxes you use??

 

[103Alex1]

Hmmm, that's strange. I've been flying with bikes for years, and there has never been a size limit on the boxes you use??

Quite a few airlines nowadays have dimension restrictions on oversize luggage items they will permit to be shipped as accompanied baggage. If you exceed the relevant criteria the box must go as cargo unaccompanied.

Looking at the size of box my Agattu came in for example, which I still have in the garage, there's no way that would get through the front baggage acceptance section of any airport ! Bike would need to be extensively "unbuilt" / rebuilt at the other end, and fitted into a much smaller box.

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

Hmmm, that's strange. I've been flying with bikes for years, and there has never been a size limit on the boxes you use??

It would not fit through the checked baggage area without being made a bit smaller. To be fair the box was large (big enough for the bike to have both wheels on) probably something like 180 (l), 28 (w) and 105 (h) (in cms).

 

[mike killay]

Not too happy about this.
There are Lithium batteries and Lithium batteries.
I would not like to fly with someone else's dodgy battery in the cargo space.

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

The lithium battery in question was from a branded make. But I take your point regarding the quality of some lithium batteries.

 

[flecc]

It would not fit through the checked baggage area without being made a bit smaller. To be fair the box was large (big enough for the bike to have both wheels on) probably something like 180 (l), 28 (w) and 105 (h) (in cms).

Very large items are put manually through another path to the aircraft. I used to regularly run a friend down to Gatwick to assist him through transit and security with his packed hang glider. It's box was approximately 340 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm which length of course would have no chance of going the normal baggage route. Mounted on two platform baggage trolleys, one at each end, after check-in we'd take it into the security inspection area to open the box for sniffer probe examination, then resealed to a larger baggage gate where it was taken from our hands, still on the baggage trolleys. Never any problems.

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

Thanks Flecc, perhaps as it was only slightly too big they preferred the alteration, info based on what customer passed on.

 

[gofaster]

Hi. How have people got on with flying with their electric bike and battery? Have the security and check in people been ok - or have they been unfamiliar with them? I once got allen keys taken off me - to lose the ebike battery would be rather worse!

(With the helpful advice on this forum I put an Oxydrive kit on my wife's light road bike. It was wonderful when we drove to the Alps, we'd now like to fly to Tenerife and not have to hire an expensive heavy ebike)

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I think they've tightened up since the above posts. Last time I flew, they wouldn't even allow my spare phone battery in the suitcase. It had to go in hand luggage.

 

[steve.c]

I'll check with Flybe and see what they say about electric bikes and battery's ?? Here in Exeter.
Regards Steve.

 

[gofaster]

The Easyjet website used to say they would carry electric bikes "provided they weigh under 32kg when suitably packed and provided the battery is removed and separately packed in an item of hold luggage"

The website has been revamped. The cycling section now doesn't mention it. I phoned them and as expected got someone who isn't familiar with ebikes. She had to check with her supervisor constantly. She came back and said ebikes were ok, as long as the battery was packed in your hand luggage. She then said Lithium batteries were ok but not Li-Ion. I said that's strange as I understand Li-Ion are much safer than Li-Po. She said she would send an email - I could reply with my battery's spec sheet and they would check it out. I never got an email!
Any ideas?
Anyone know a sea freight company that would get a 36v 9Ah Li-Ion battery to Tenerife????
We are going for a month - so don't want to spend a fortune hiring a much heavier ebike