PART 1: Domestic Travel (In AIR)
Are you preparing for your next big triathlon race? You must be putting your heart and soul into being able to execute a seamless race. I’m sure you will do great on the race course. A big task ahead of you even before you get to the start line, is getting your entire race kit to the venue. Especially your darling bike that shall take you through the bike leg. I never liked anyone mishandling my bike. I am sure even you are possessive. Packing your bike in a bike bag and flying with it can feel quite overwhelming, especially if you are doing it for the first time or if you are travelling alone.
With my ambitions rooted towards being a professional triathlete, I happen to travel a lot with my bike. In the last year, I’ve carried my bike in a soft bike case across 14 domestic and international flights. Getting to every race has been a very interesting experience filled with extreme joy, excitement, frantic moments at layovers, bike delays and more. Through this blog, I am thrilled to share some details on travelling with a bike bag across cities in India. Part 2 of this blog, shall cover more information on travelling overseas with a bike bag.
Firstly, what’s a bike bag?
A bike bag is a large bag that can completely fit your bike. Some are hard cases where you may have to remove some parts like the handlebar and pedals while some are soft cases where you just have to remove the aero bars. In the image below, you can see that the soft cases have some extra space on one side to accommodate the handlebars.
How to pack your bike?
I want to share a video on this but for now here are some basic protocols:
Deflate the tyres completely once the wheels are removed. Don’t forget to place them inside the bag.
Make sure all the belts and protective covers are fastened.
Remove the Co2 cartridge from the saddle bag. They will not be allowed in an airplane.
You can choose to zip lock your bag or plastic wrap it to keep the items inside protected from theft. Don’t go with the thought “Why would they steal something in an airport”. Well, a few items in my bike bag went missing on an international trip.
Consider weighing your bike bag as well and ensure it's within the purchased limits.
You can choose to add an APPLE AIR TAG to the bike if you are keen to keep track of it. Airlines do not provide any tracking service.
There can be an instance where immigration or airport officers ask you to open the bike bag. In that case, you will have to open it! But when you are aware that it has been opened, you can claim in case of loss. I also carry some extra zip ties in case of such scenarios.
I recently travelled to Bahrain in December 2023 for an Ironman 70.3 race, there was a small incident at the airport. My saddle bag arrived from the bike shop just moments before I stepped into the car and my mind was completely focused on getting to the airport. After we checked in our bags and walked into Terminal 2, we received a call from an airport authority. They requested permission to open our bags. Funnily, the CO2 cartridge was in the saddle bag. They removed it with our guidance over a camera and then checked the remaining bags. I felt slightly stupid. I had even reminded my friend to remove the Co2 cartridge from his saddle bag the previous night. But these things do happen especially if there are some last-minute delays. So it's always better to keep everything organised and clear.
Are Airline policies different? (Check the end of the blog for airline policy links)
YES!! Each airline has its own set of policies across sports equipment and oversized luggage. It is mandatory to read through it completely before making a flight booking(even if your agent is booking it). In most domestic airlines, the policies are similar but they tend to vary drastically with their international counterparts. It's always better to have your ‘oversized luggage’ pre-booked to ensure a hassle-free experience at the airport counter. There are three simple checks:
1. Cost of the oversized luggage
2. Can it be pre-booked
3. How does the airline measure the weight
Pro tip: Some airlines like Vistara waive off the Sports equipment charges and they do not have a pre-book option(As of now)
Let's get to the main section…
Most domestic airlines offer oversized luggage transfers between major cities. Air India Express and Indigo charge roughly Rs 1500 per oversized bag per passenger. In a domestic airline, the weight of the bike bag is included in the total permitted weight. For example, if you have 15kgs permitted for check-in luggage, your check-in luggage and bike bag combined need to be within this limit. If it exceeds then you would need to purchase excess baggage. Purchasing excess baggage at the airport counter is always more expensive than pre-booking it. Alternatively, if it’s a short race trip, you can just pack all your extra items in the bike bag (soft case) and just carry the other items in your cabin bag. The weight of a cabin bag is usually ignored in domestic airports. I typically purchase 20kgs check-in luggage (in total) considering the weight of my bike and bike bag is roughly 16kgs. I place my helmet, shoes and bottles inside my bike bag.
My last trip to Mangalore was on an Air India Express flight and it was quite hassle-free. Everything including my favorite Chicken Junglee Sandwich was pre-booked and delivered on time.
Pro Tip: “Priority Pass” can be quite convenient as your baggage and bike bags are sometimes delivered faster.
In some cases, airlines may not have an option to carry sports equipment to some tier 2 cities. It's better to call and inquire first before making a booking.
BIKE BAG Collection at the Terminal
I tend to have some frantic moments while I stand and wait for my bike bags. I am just praying for it to first arrive safely without any damage.
In most standard international and metro city airports, the bike bags arrive at a separate place meant for ‘oversized baggage’.
In smaller cities like Mangalore, the bike bags arrive on the regular terminal belt.
It’s wise to keep an eye on both points and contact an airline executive at the earliest. In most cases, the regular luggage arrives first and the bike bags come after some expected delay.
Carrying BIKE BAGS in a car
Two soft bike bags or two hard bike bags fit in either a hatchback or an SUV.
HATCHBACK: Driver + Navigator + 2 Bike Bags with seats bent at the back
SUV: Driver + Navigator + 2 Middle seats + 2 Bike Bags at the back
If you are travelling in groups of 2 to and from an airport in another city, you can hire a compact or a regular SUV to travel with the bags. SUVs like Ertiga and Innova can fit 2-3 people along with a driver and 2 Bike bags. A sedan cannot fit the bike bags (in most cases) as the back seats cannot be bent.
In some cities, I have found it quite overwhelming to request drivers to carry bike bags. I try to check for Airport transfers from hotels and let them know about the oversized bags in advance. Being very confident about which car can fit the bags can be helpful, especially when you are negotiating a transfer with a driver.
Well, coming to an end...
This guide is meant exclusively for domestic travel which is shorter and quicker. PART 2 of this blog shall cover international travel. If you are taking a domestic flight as a connecting flight to an international destination, then do not forget to give that segment a read. A lot of these tips and thoughts can sound very fundamental and simple while reading but even a small mistake can cost a lot mentally and financially.
Travelling has always been something I love. Triathlons have given me a deeper purpose to travel while experiencing some beautiful cultures and food. I cannot wait to explore more and share learnings that can make your journey more pleasurable. It is time to put all the focus on the race. Let us make the country shine.
LOVE ALL.
AJ
Links to a few Airline policies:
AIR INDIA EXPRESS: POLICIES - FEES AND CHARGES
SPICEJET - Check the FAQ - Can I bring my Sports Equipment
Comments