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transport tandem with BMI *LINK*
Hi there!
We are tandem's addicted from Belgium who just discovered this website when preparing our trip to Scotland for September.
We would consider flying with BMI from Brussels to Inverness. We have been calling them to check if we can transport our tandem; the answer is yes, but we also had the info that we needed to pack it into a cardboard and that it couldn't exceed 62 inches... Our tandem without the wheels is aboce 71 inches...
So I call back and the other guy told me that size doesn't matter, but so does the weight...
Has anyone experience flying with BMI?
Thanks so much!
Brigitte & Mike
: We are tandem's addicted from Belgium who just discovered this website when
preparing our trip We would consider flying with BMI from Brussels to Inverness. Has anyone experience flying with BMI?
Did not fly with BMI; investigated BA.
The credibility of people purporting to tell you about airline baggage (including this writer) is suspect. The 62" dimension is airline speak for the sum of the length, width, and height of a piece; only S&S coupled tandems can be reducted to that. A typical single bike box is 115" (75" x 30" x 10"). When we investigated flying to Inverness in 2004 we surfed to the bowels of BA's website and found the baggage compartment doors of the aircraft on that route were too small to accomodate our tandem. Also, be aware that airlines are becoming increasingly rapacious in collecting extra monies. They may charge a "special" rate for bicycles, an exhorbitant charge for excess weight above a small allowance (20kg/44lbs?), and an absolute limit you may not exceed. I suggest you delve into the fine print with a skeptical mind. Murphy (If something can go wrong, it will) works for all airlines.
Alternatively, you could investigate other modes of transport (forwarding the tandem as freight, going by bus, rail, or ferry). Ferries are the most attractive to me because I am the most ignorant about them.
Phil Shute
Flybe told me their little jets flying SOuthampton to Brest can take a surfoard up to five foot long, subject to space availability. As I don't have a tandem yet, how long is it tandem without wheels, racks and bars? Thanks.
: Flybe told me their little jets flying SOuthampton to Brest can take a
: surfoard up to five foot long, subject to space availability. As I don't
: have a tandem yet, how long is it tandem without wheels, racks and bars?
: Thanks.
The wheelbase varies with the model of tandem. A typical tandem measures about 66" from forktip to dropouts; 5' would be an exceptionally short tandem. Turning the handlebars 90° would increase the length. The height of the tandem from chainring bottom to saddle top is greater than the width of a surfboard. The width of a tandem would likely be greater than the depth of a surfboard including its curvature.
Note the qualifier "subject to space availability" and check again when you have a tandem.
Phil Shute
: Flybe told me their little jets flying SOuthampton to Brest can take a
: surfoard up to five foot long, subject to space availability. As I don't
: have a tandem yet, how long is it tandem without wheels, racks and bars?
: Thanks.
Our tandem is about 71 inches long. I asked for this size at the cargo department, we'll be flying with Airbus 319 and Embraer (dont remember the number) and they said there wouldn't be any trouble to put that in. It's quite long but not very high (31,5 inches). For them it was definitely a problem... we'll see...