We are thinking of taking our tandem to Spain has anyone had any experience of taking a stripped down tandem by air to spain? In particular with Jet-2 to malaga? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks Ade
Our first venture abroad was to Mallorca with Jet2 and we had a Dawes Galaxy at the time. We went with 6 other friends and had 3 tandems and 2 solos.
We packed them all in cardboard boxes, I can let you have some if you can pop into the shop. And had no problems at all. The were well packed with spacers between the fork dropouts and rear axle, and pipe lagging to prevent scatches.
We then also went to Malaga with Jet2, again no problem.
We now have a coupled Santana tandem which fits into a hard case, which for flying makes it very easy. This year we have been to the States and to Switzerland tandeming, all without a hitch.
Hi Ade
Last year we flew with RyanAir from Blackpool to Stansted, then Stansted to Pescara.
Returned from Bari to Stansted and ... hang on - where’s the tandem?
Well Stansted and Stuttgart both begin with ST - it’s an easy mistake for an Italian baggage handler to make
It turned up a few days later, not too worse for wear thankfully.
We didn’t do too much re packing the tandem at all. Turned bars, bit of pipe lagging and that was it.
I think they appreciated being able to wheel it out to the plane.
Not what you want to hear, but I think it really is a lottery as to whether your bike gets there in one piece or not.
I’m a believer in the argument that if it looks like a bike (as opposed to a nice flat box they can pile a ton of luggage on), then there’s nothing for it - it has to go on top of the pile.
I guess the only other thing I’d say is - ring the airline and get chapter and verse from them what they want you to do. Some insist on a bag or box, some don’t.
