Motorbike Helmets and airlines

[Major_Grooves]

I'm flying from Birmingham to Edinburgh with bmibaby this weekend. Normally I'd get the train there and back - Oxford to Birmingham International - but this time I've booked a return flight that gets in after the last train.

I've always been meaning to try riding the bike to Birmingham airport instead of all the hassle of attempting to use the $hitty trains, so I don't mind being forced in to it this time.

However, I'm not sure what to do with my helmet. I opted not to take hand luggage on to the flight as A) it costs and extra £10 and B) I resent the extra 20min at each end that it adds on having to wait for luggage to appear. I'm only there for the weekend so hand luggage will do.

Unfortunately, Birmingham/Edinburgh/bmibaby - (one or more of them) won't allow 2 pieces of hand luggage on the plane. I phoned bmibaby to ask, and a helmet would count as 1 piece of hand luggage - which means I can't bring anything else.

What do you reckon I should do? Leave helmet attached to bike over weekend? I'm loathe to do that in case it gets damp (or bashed).

Try and fit it in a bag and take it on the plane? My hand luggage would probably be too large then.

Wear helmet and take bag. Hmmm not sure I'd get away with that!

Does anyone here ever use their bike to get to the airport? Any good bag options that would be good for attaching the helmet to the bike?
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[MattHirst]

You can get rucksakcs designed for holding a helmet can't you?

I'm sure i saw a bag in heine gericke that held the same amount as a normal rucksack you see in normal shops but it had a 'holder' for a helmet in the front (or back if you are wearing)
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It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[iooi]

I know this is more aimed at push bikes, but maybe the secure storage could be used.

Link

[Major_Grooves]

[Mr Nice Guy]

When I bought my bike, I had to fly down to London to pick her up.
They have a "crate" at the enterance to the lounge that your hand luggage must be smaller than, or rather, be able to fit into, certain width, length and depth. The lid was a couple of inches too deep, but I sob storied the guard and luckily replied with "I'm a biker too, on you go pal"

It will fit in the overhead compartment no sweat, but you might have drama getting it passed the check in.

I certainly wouldnt put it in the hold, or let it out of my site.
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Suzuki GSX-R750K4 ~ Mivv GP

[McGee]

Bah I brought a lid back to the UK as hand luggage, was the easiest way.
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[CaNsA]

If you have a big head u can use the lid as a bag

[Major_Grooves]

It's amazing what you can find out just by phoning up and asking...

...motorbike helmets can be left in the left luggage for £1.50 a day, which suits me fine.
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[Dave McCool]

Wear it.
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McGee - "When I go to the mall and see all the high school girls, I have to have DO NOT TOUCH THE GIRLS written on my hand. Every time I go to grope I see it and stop."
K7 GSXR750

[Kal]

These are people afraid of a nail file...
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Type_Mo]

hand luggage, put it in something liek this...

[Phoenix]

I took a helmet out to Cyprus as hand luggage, along with a bag too, I have Petronas backpack with a helmet holder underneath. However using a different airline there was a problem, and I could either take the bag or the helmet as hand luggage, not both, and the helmet was too big to go in the hand luggage measuring thing, so it went in oversize baggage (as not to get crushed...too much). I'd just try my luck as hand luggage.

[trevoriv]

I used my lid as a bag and just put stuff inside it using the chin strap as a handle
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Past: '96 Thundercat, '02 ZX636R (A1P), '58 KTM 690 SM LC4 Current: '06 ZX636R (C6F)
Mudskipper wrote: Someone just has to sig that...

[damz]

it wont count as hand luggage if your wearing it.....

[rovens]

Just wear a veil over the top of it, as they wont make you take the veil off you wont have to take the helmet off.

[Walloper]

[rovens]

That was more of a tounge in cheek comment than sound advice.

[Walloper]