On this page we attempt to make available the experience of individual bicycle tourists who have travelled with Virgin Blue (you can share your experiences here).
Table of Contents
Virgin Blue
Sports equipment represents 5kgs of your total free baggage allowance, regardless of the actual weight of the equipment.
For example, a bike that weighs 10kg will represent 5kg of your free baggage allowance. If your allowance is 20kg, you will have 15kg left for other items. These items include bikes.
Virgin Blue
For internal flights in Australia Virgin Blue offers the best service to cyclists. They require you to box your bike (if you haven't already boxed it yourself they can generally supply you with a box at the airport for $15)and your box can weigh up to 30kgs. This item then counts as 5 kgs of your total two piece luggage allowance of 20kgs. For more information check out the Virgin Blue website.
Margy Crisp, March 29, 2006Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Christchurch Airport
As a family we have just flown domestically within Australia with Virgin Blue then to NZ with Pacific Blue. They are basically the same airline. We had two single bikes and a tandem all boxed and had no problems. Even though they weighed all the boxes the airline has policy that irrespective of the actual weight of the bike it only counts as 5kg of your luggage allowance. Very bike friendly.
So too was Christchurch Airport with its Bicycle Assembly area, which includes two workstands such as you see in bike shops. Extremely bike friendly and welcoming.
Tim
Jetstar vs Virgin Blue (Australia) Excess Baggage for Bikes
Having just participated in the Great Tasmanian Bike Ride, we've been able to compare the airline policies and charges for carrying bicycles. Jetstar charges AUD$5 per kilo for EVERY kg of excess over 20kg, with no special allowance for bikes; and no negotiation.
By contrast, Virgin Blue will only count a bike as 5kg of the total allowance, regardless of what it weights, and their excess baggage charges are less, and they were known to waive it for some people. Based on that I know who I will be flying with next time!
Virgin Blue
Wanted to include here our experience in taking bicycles on virgin Blue.
We took two flights in Australia during our holiday: one in the middle of august from Brisbane to Cairns and another one from Cairns to Sydney at the end of august. For both flights:All we had to do was at check in to release air from the tyres, turn handle bars, and remove pedals, That was all. On both flights there was no objection and they were EXTREMELY bicycle friendly. 10/10 as a bicycle friendly airline. Highly recommended
Virgin Blue (Australia)
I recieved the following email from Virgin Blue when I asked about their bike policy:
Dear Jonathan,
Thanks for your email.
You can by all means take your bike with you but you do need to pack it as we take no resposability for damage to the bike. The bike will represent 5kg of your 20kg baggage allowance and you must ensure the tyres are deflated and loosen the chain and handle bars so the bike can be manipulated. I hope this answers your questions.
Kind regards
Virgin Blue
Virgin Blue (Australia)
2 of us with bikes had no problems flying between Melbourne and Canberra, even though the plane (737) was fully booked.
All we had to do was let the tyres down, no disassembly or packing of any kind was required. We were not charged and there were no problems at check in, no damage to the bikes.
Compare this with Qantas who wanted us to disassemble them, pack them in boxes and charge us for the privilige. Needless to say we always fly Virgin, even when we are not taking our bikes!