No comment on trains or buses, as my fully folded Brompton has never had a problem. I've travelled three years now, by air, with my Brompton. FIrst two years with the bike in a 29" soft case, one year with a Brompton Travel case which I modified to be able to seal and lock it. I always buy a fare with two checked bags included in order to avoid oversize&additional bag charges. With the 29"bag, just over the linear measurement by 2", the bag was never measured, only the weight was the deciding factor. Be careful jamming other stuff in and check the specific airline's weight limit. That soft bag was worn out after four plane trips even with a cardboard liner. The Brompton bag, because of it's odd shape, has automatically been 'spotted' as oversize but still within my two bag limit and weight. I have also lined the bag with a cardboard shield and put foam on the pedals and frame hinge. An oversize bag is submitted to a different desk/location, and is xrayed on the spot. Deloading may be different; in Canada it does not show up on the carousel, but in Europe it did (!?!?). DO NOT kid yourself that a Brompton is a carry-on. It exceeds all linear measurement and weight limits for carry-on! Airlines are now even pressuring passengers to give up larger carry-ons at the boarding bridge, for loading into baggage, in order to save space in overloaded on-board overhead bins. Seems that travellers are doing their best to try and avoid checking bags.
I got my brompton for 3 days now :-) Just out of curiosity I checked the web page of my home airline (swiss), and the weight limit already sorts any folding bike out (8 kg). But as I travel with my camera and lenses, I use my carry-on for them anyway since I don't see how to get delicate electronics and mechanics through checked baggage unharmed...
Tough to make that happen because the folded size of the bike is constrained by the wheel size, and generally for a better ride you want bigger wheels. I think there are some options that fold smaller than a Brompton, but with smaller wheels as well. As for electric, the batteries are a problem as lithium polymer batteries are a potential fire hazard, and so you tend to be a bit limited in the battery size you're allowed to bring, and for an e-bike you want some fairly beefy batteries. It would be interesting to see how someone could get around those problems. Folding wheels maybe?
No comment on trains or buses, as my fully folded Brompton has never had a problem.
I've travelled three years now, by air, with my Brompton. FIrst two years with the bike in a 29" soft case, one year with a Brompton Travel case which I modified to be able to seal and lock it.
I always buy a fare with two checked bags included in order to avoid oversize&additional bag charges. With the 29"bag, just over the linear measurement by 2", the bag was never measured, only the weight was the deciding factor. Be careful jamming other stuff in and check the specific airline's weight limit. That soft bag was worn out after four plane trips even with a cardboard liner. The Brompton bag, because of it's odd shape, has automatically been 'spotted' as oversize but still within my two bag limit and weight. I have also lined the bag with a cardboard shield and put foam on the pedals and frame hinge.
An oversize bag is submitted to a different desk/location, and is xrayed on the spot. Deloading may be different; in Canada it does not show up on the carousel, but in Europe it did (!?!?).
DO NOT kid yourself that a Brompton is a carry-on. It exceeds all linear measurement and weight limits for carry-on! Airlines are now even pressuring passengers to give up larger carry-ons at the boarding bridge, for loading into baggage, in order to save space in overloaded on-board overhead bins. Seems that travellers are doing their best to try and avoid checking bags.
Thank you for posting your experience. I'll take note👍
I got my brompton for 3 days now :-) Just out of curiosity I checked the web page of my home airline (swiss), and the weight limit already sorts any folding bike out (8 kg).
But as I travel with my camera and lenses, I use my carry-on for them anyway since I don't see how to get delicate electronics and mechanics through checked baggage unharmed...
Thanks, Curbside crew. Helpful, always helpful. Cheers, and happy trails 🐾🙏🏼
Brompton for the win.
I invested in one for the ease of taking it everywhere ❤
Great information.
Oversized baggage fee sometimes apply to the brompton luggage’s too as the size is off the regular luggages. This depends on airline
Good info if you have a Brompton.
I wish someone would make one that was comfortable to ride, electric assist and would fold to fit in a carry on.
Tough to make that happen because the folded size of the bike is constrained by the wheel size, and generally for a better ride you want bigger wheels. I think there are some options that fold smaller than a Brompton, but with smaller wheels as well. As for electric, the batteries are a problem as lithium polymer batteries are a potential fire hazard, and so you tend to be a bit limited in the battery size you're allowed to bring, and for an e-bike you want some fairly beefy batteries.
It would be interesting to see how someone could get around those problems. Folding wheels maybe?
Boxing a bike for a plane I can understand, but for a TRAIN?! That's ridiculous!
that's funny moving your bike with a car? only in stupid north america