Can you take a scooter on a plane? Can an electric scooter be carried on an airplane? Regular scooter in luggage

Not every person wants to check in their scooter. The reason for this is the well-known carelessness of handling luggage and the anxiety of the owner of the scooter that they will break it or cause some other harm. Going on a trip, you need to check with the airline you are flying with in advance whether it is possible to take a scooter on a plane.

For example, it is known that Aeroflot prohibits even children's scooters from being transported in the cabin. Representatives of the company comment on their refusal as follows: “Transportation of large metal objects in hand luggage strictly prohibited."

That is why, when a person is preparing for a flight, he must clarify the rules for the transportation of certain types of items from the representatives of the airline. This must be done in advance by phone or at the airport when buying tickets at the box office. The passenger is required to carefully describe the vehicle:

its dimensions;
How much does he weigh;
whether there is a cover or not;
what is its mechanism.

All of these items play an important role. It is definitely worth mentioning that the vehicle is fragile sports equipment, because in many rules of air carriers there is a clause that just concerns such cargo.

Can I take a scooter as hand luggage?

Things that are carried into the cabin of the aircraft are subject to inspection. Some carriers prohibit taking more than one item in hand luggage. It follows from this that each person can take into the cabin only a scooter packed in a case or suitcase with an acceptable size for this. In this case, it is worth considering the weight of sports equipment so that it is not more than normal.

Important! If the scooter is not disassembled or the electric scooter has a non-removable battery, then these items cannot be carried in hand luggage.

Very often the transport of metal objects big size prohibited in the aircraft cabin. Then it is impossible to carry it into the salon, even if everything is fine in terms of parameters and dimensions. The way out of this situation is as follows: the scooter is handed over as oversized, with it you can also hand over baby carriages and bicycles. This information is easier to clarify with the operator.

Is it possible to carry a scooter in luggage

When a passenger receives a refusal to transport a vehicle on board an aircraft, he checks it in as baggage. He must remember that in the luggage compartment no one treats things carefully, bags are simply thrown indiscriminately. The scooter is not designed for side loads and in such a situation it may break. In order for this not to happen, it is imperative to know the precautions:

Cover it with foam. The footrest, fork, handlebar and all protruding places on it must be in foam. Regular tape will also help with this.
Wrap the structure with a film (pimply). It is better to wrap it in 2-3 layers or you can use pipe insulation (you can buy it at any building materials store), a piece of dense fabric will also work so that scratches or dents do not form.
Remove the design in a case or in a box. The plastic case is perfect.

Important! It is better to lower the wheels in advance so as not to do this during the inspection.

There is a chance to carry a certain weight of luggage for free. It depends on the carrier and the ticket class. When, together with the scooter, the weight of things fits into the norm, then additional costs for the flight will not be required. For one ticket, the norms look like this:

economy class (20-23 kg);
business class (30-32 kg);
first class (40 kg).

Important! Budget airlines do not include luggage in the ticket price, so you need to pay extra for it.

There is a more reliable option to carry a scooter. To do this, you will have to buy a separate adult ticket. In this case, transportation is carried out as a particularly fragile cargo in the cabin in a separate place. For electrical structures that do not have a removable battery, this option does not apply.

How to transport an electric scooter

Often, passengers have a question whether it is possible to transport an electric scooter on an airplane. If it is not super-compact, then it cannot be taken in hand luggage, because it will not be allowed in due to its dimensions. There is only one way out: check in luggage, but problems arise.

Many Russian airlines prohibit the transportation of electric scooters with lithium-ion batteries. In turn, European companies have exceptions, but more often they are not against such transportation. For clarification, it is better to call the call center to resolve this issue.

Before transporting an electric scooter on an airplane, you must do the following:

if possible, remove and discharge the battery;
pack the structure in the above way;
it is necessary to have documents for the scooter.

To clarify whether vehicles are transported on a particular aircraft, you must first look at the carrier's website or call the phone for information.

transport such vehicle like a scooter, you can on an airplane, but a large number of rules various airlines and differences in their internal policies, make you constantly contact the customer support center to clarify all the necessary nuances.

Some companies allow transportation, but with a cover. You can also buy a separate ticket, although this option will cost more.

There are more problems with electric scooters than with conventional scooters. Eg, Ural Airlines it is also forbidden to carry it, and in Israel it is problematic to fly with such luggage on any air carrier.

You will have to check in your luggage, but theoretically, there may be problems with this ...

What can be the difficulties with transporting an electric scooter on an airplane?

At the end of February 2016, the International Organization civil aviation- ICAO - a curious document was published that immediately provoked a media hype. The main idea of this document is very simple: you can no longer carry lithium-ion batteries in the cargo hold passenger aircraft. At all. On April 1, 2016, this decision came into force.

It is important to note that ICAO is an organization whose requirements are compelled to comply with all air carriers of all countries that are ICAO members. Russians are included in this list. Naturally, the press began to almost panic: “You can’t fly with a camera anymore”, “Leave your laptop at home”, etc.

So, it turns out that the transportation of an electric scooter on an airplane is prohibited? Or leave the battery at home, and at the place of vacation, for example, buy a new one? Rave…

In fact, this is really nonsense. All this panic, all this hype in the press was provoked by a banal misunderstanding by journalists of the specifics of air travel and translation difficulties.

When flying on an airliner, passengers take personal items on the road, and not only. There are situations when a person needs to transport an electric scooter on board an aircraft. In the article, we will look at how to transport scooters on an airplane in hand luggage and in the luggage compartment, what are the conditions for transporting an electric scooter in some airlines.

How to carry a scooter on an airplane

A regular scooter and an electric scooter are transported in airliners under different conditions. When planning to take this technique on board, be sure to check the requirements of the airline.

A few years ago, the International Civil Aviation Organization created a document on the introduction of a ban on the transport on board aircraft of any devices that operate on lithium-ion batteries (they are classified as explosive). It is worth noting that all popular equipment works on such batteries - Cell phones, cameras, laptops, etc.

This decision was not approved by the competent authorities. Today, the transportation of an electric scooter on airliners is not regulated. regulations. All requirements for the transportation of such equipment are established by airlines on an individual basis.

The main requirements of airlines for the transportation of an electric scooter:

The passenger must first coordinate the possibility of transporting a scooter in an airliner with representatives of the selected company.
Equipment must be packed in a special case.
The owner needs to properly prepare the scooter for air transportation: disassemble the removable parts and pack them individually in a film. The protruding parts of the transport can be protected with foam and pulled with tape. Inflatable tires need to be lowered.
The battery must be discharged before flying. Some companies set a certain percentage of the charge (the maximum level, for example, no more than 30%). Be sure to comply with this condition, otherwise the carrier will refuse to transport the device on an airplane.
The transported scooter must have documents from the manufacturer (registration certificate).
The carrier is not responsible for the safety of the scooter during the flight.

In the cabin

Each airline has a certain standard for the dimensions and weight of hand luggage. A scooter operating on a lithium-ion battery does not fit into these parameters, so transport it in the cabin as free baggage will not work.

If the owner is worried about the safety of his property and does not want to send the electric scooter to the luggage compartment, he can purchase a separate ticket for a passenger seat in the cabin. On this chair it will be possible to transport a disassembled technical device as a valuable oversized cargo.

Electric scooters with a non-removable lithium-ion battery, as well as unassembled devices, are not allowed to be transported in the cabin of aircraft.

It is better to clarify the specific requirements for the transportation of such baggage in advance at the call center of the company selected for air travel.

In luggage

An electric scooter whose weight and dimensions exceed the allowable carry-on baggage allowance can be transported in the cargo hold of the aircraft. Such baggage is accepted as non-standard baggage and is paid at a separate rate.

Free baggage allowance is allowed if it is eligible. Each service class has individual limits. For example, in economy class, passengers are allowed to carry personal items weighing up to 23 kg in the luggage compartment of the aircraft, in business class - up to 32 kg. True, you need to take into account not only the weight of the scooter in the case, but also other things carried in the suitcase. If the total baggage weighs more than the carrier's allowance, the passenger will have to pay an extra charge at the excess baggage rate.

Electric scooters are transported unassembled, in a special case, with a necessarily discharged battery. The passenger must properly pack his equipment in order to eliminate the risk of damage to the products during loading and flight.

The owner of an electric scooter must understand that the airline disclaims responsibility for the integrity and safety of the cargo being transported. If the electric scooter has a certain value, transport such equipment in the cabin of the liner, purchasing a separate air ticket for such cargo.

Transportation of a scooter on airliners of popular airlines

Since today there are no regulated rules for the transportation of electric scooters on board an aircraft, each carrier has the right to establish individual requirements and conditions for the transportation of excess baggage.

Aeroflot

Electric scooters are allowed to be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold of the aircraft, provided that the lithium-ion battery is removed and discharged from the device at the time of transportation.

Transportation of equipment with lithium-ion batteries is allowed in the aircraft cabin if the battery power does not exceed 160 Wh.

UTair

Transportation of mobile vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries is allowed on the aircraft of this air carrier, subject to prior agreement. A passenger who wants to transport an electric scooter on board must obtain official permission from the carrier and fulfill all conditions regarding the packaging of equipment for the period of the flight.

Ural Airlines

This carrier has officially banned the transportation of any mobile devices powered by lithium-ion batteries on aircraft.

When planning to transport an electric scooter on an airliner, be sure to check the conditions and requirements for the transportation of such devices from representatives of the selected airline. This information can be found on official resources or clarified at the call center by calling the hotline.

Probably not a single scooter will want to be in luggage. Everyone knows how carelessly they sometimes handle luggage - there is a risk that the scooter will be tritely broken. Is it possible to carry a scooter in hand luggage in order to be completely calm for it?

The answer to this question depends on which airline you use. For example, Aeroflot prohibits the transportation of even the smallest - children's - scooters in the cabin. Employees of the company simply motivate the refusal: “It is forbidden to transport large metal objects in hand luggage.” But in Transaero, you could easily take a folding scooter with you, in hand luggage.

If you want to carry a scooter on an airplane and do not plan to check it in as baggage, be sure to check the transportation rules with the airline representatives. This is done in advance, by phone or at the airport. Carefully describe the scooter: dimensions, weight, the presence of a cover, a folding mechanism - all this can play a role. Be sure to mention that this is fragile sports equipment: many air carriers have a clause in the rules that applies to such cargo.

What to do if you cannot take a scooter on board an airplane?

In this case, take your two-wheeled friend to oversized baggage- to the same place where they rent baby carriages, skis, etc. This is done either on a special baggage belt, or directly in front of the ladder (again, check with an airline employee). Be sure to specify where to pick up the scooter after landing: sometimes this is done in a special area for issuing oversized baggage, and sometimes right at the gangway.

How much does it cost to transport a scooter on an airplane?

And again: check with the airline representatives. Folding scooters, as a rule, refer to sports equipment that is carried free of charge and does not count towards the baggage allowance. It is more difficult with clumsy models: they can be taken into account, and then you will either have to squeeze in ordinary luggage or pay extra for overweight. And, of course, a clumsy scooter will not be allowed to be taken in hand luggage in any airline.

We take a scooter on board the plane ... with a separate ticket

If you have a really expensive scooter, the fate of which you are very worried about, you can register it as a special cargo: fragile and expensive. In this case, you simply buy another ticket and carry your scooter in the cabin, in a separate passenger seat. The option is expensive, but perhaps the most reliable.

If you can’t take a scooter on board an airplane, check it in as luggage, but remember: bags in the luggage compartment are simply thrown. The scooter is not designed for side loads and in such a situation it can simply break down. To prevent this from happening, take the following precautions:

Cover the scooter with styrofoam. Deca in the footboard area, fork, handlebars - in all protruding places there should be foam. Can be fixed using ordinary adhesive tape;
Wrap the scooter with bubble wrap. After protecting the protruding parts, we recommend wrapping the scooter in 2-3 layers with a film, thermal insulation for pipes (sold at any building materials store) or some piece of dense fabric so that there are no dents and scratches that disfigure your two-wheeled horse;
Remove the resulting design in a box or case. A special plastic case is best suited (for example, from a music store - it works well for keys), but a regular case will do.

IMPORTANT: They may ask you to lower the wheels, do it in advance.

Keep one more thing in mind: sometimes it happens that luggage flies to another city. We recommend that you take a special tag from the airport staff when checking in your luggage, write on it (in English!) your full name, address and Contact phone numbers- if problems arise, this will greatly facilitate their solution.

Have a good trip!

It’s getting warmer, which means it’s time to open the cycling season. And it is not necessary to open it in your city: many airlines allow you to take a two-wheeled friend with you on a trip. Agree, spinning on your bike is much easier and more pleasant than spending time and effort on mastering city junk rental systems or paying big money for bike rental at a hotel. We will tell you, firstly, how to bring a bike, and secondly, how to do it for free.

In any case, the bike is checked in as oversized baggage. The easiest way to transport a bike is as is, in the sense of "as is". It is convenient because in this situation you can even get to the airport on a bicycle. The rules of most airlines only require you to unscrew the pedals, turn the handlebars along the frame and tie down the front wheel. This method is suitable if you have a fairly simple bike - for example, an ordinary road single speed, in which there is nothing to break even when falling from a ten-kilometer height to the ground. Although it is better to wrap such a bike with at least garbage bags and packing tape on the outside so as not to scratch the frame during loading.

For a simple bike, plain polyethylene is enough

If the bike has speeds, then the first method is complicated by the need to remove the rear derailleur, and together with the “rooster” (who doesn’t know, this is such a part for attaching the derailleur to the frame), otherwise it is likely to break, and you will not go to your destination ride, and look for a bike shop. Therefore, it is better to transport such equipment in a box. Yes, a bicycle box. No, no, we understand that you have carefully kept it under your bed for all these years. Experienced cyclists simply go to the nearest bike shop and ask for a box that would otherwise be thrown away anyway. After that, it remains to disassemble the bike to a "shop" state (remove the pedals, front wheel, derailleur, steering wheel, sometimes a saddle with a seatpost), put it in a box and think about how you will load it in a taxi - so order a station wagon or minivan.

The bike in the box looks something like this

How to ride with a box public transport, science is not known. In addition, there is one more nuance: if the bike is large enough, then the box can exceed the notorious 203 cm in the sum of three dimensions. And if the standards for dimensions do not apply to “just bicycles”, then at some airports they can find fault with a box with a bicycle inside - they say, this is a box, and what’s inside doesn’t matter. You will lose time and nerves in an attempt to prove that it is wrong to pay extra for exceeding the dimensions in this case.

This table will help you estimate the dimensions of the box:

Another way is a soft bike cover. When using it, you need to disassemble the bike to about the same extent as when transporting in a box. A bicycle in a case takes up much less space than in a box, you can pack it there directly at the airport, and you do not need to look for a box either on the way there or on your way back, so you will be more autonomous. There are a great variety of covers for all models and sizes of bicycles, they are equipped with handles and often wheels like suitcases, there is only one minus: if you don’t fly anywhere with a bike very often, then for the sake of one or two trips, buy a cover, the cost of which is comparable with the cost of not the worst bike - so-so idea. Cheap covers for a couple of thousand rubles are intended more for storing bicycles or transporting them on the train.

A good bag for transporting a bicycle is, to put it mildly, not cheap.

And it is impossible not to mention, at least for general development, hard plastic cases. Professional cyclists usually travel with these cases, because the weight and dimensions of these cases are a sure way to pay extra for excess baggage. But on the other hand, the expensive carbon frame will not crack, and the brake discs will not bend.

Hardcore cyclist going to flight

Now let's move on to organizational issues. Thanks to Aviasales, we were able to find out that there are not many airlines in the world that allow you to carry a bike for free. Here are these guys: (maybe the list is incomplete - add in the comments)

Airline	IATA code	Conditions for transporting a bicycle
british airways	BA
Delta	DL	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage
Air Canada	AC	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage, upon prior agreement with the carrier
Czech Airlines	OK	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage
Ural Airlines	U6
Utair	UT	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage (except for fares without baggage)
S7 Airlines	S7	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage, "Economy basic" - 2000 rubles for a direct flight, 4000 - transfer
Aeroflot	SU	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage
Emirates	EK	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage
Iberia	IB	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage
Frontier Airlines	F9	Free for Classic or Classic Plus tickets
WestJet	WS	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage
Singapore Airlines	SQ	Accepted for carriage as checked baggage, subject to prior agreement with the carrier
Thai Airways	TG	Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage
Alaska Air	AS	Free if the bike is packed in a special bag

“Free of charge within the limits of the weight of one piece of baggage” means that the bicycle is considered one piece of baggage. That is, in most cases, when one piece of luggage is included in the tariff, you will have to choose: either a suitcase with things, or a bicycle - and, accordingly, put everything in hand luggage. Another thing is if you are a frequent flyer. Even a silver card in most airlines makes it possible to carry one piece of baggage in addition - this can be a bicycle. Also, don't forget about special rates: for example, many airlines return "economy" includes two pieces of baggage, while Asian carriers have baggage allowances so generous that two pieces are given to everyone.

However, you should not cheat and hang on the bike everything that did not fit in your suitcase and hand luggage: helmets and other equipment, as a rule, will be asked to be carried separately from the bike. And remember about the weight limit: everything together should not be heavier (most often 23 kg).
And the rules for bicycles also apply to more modest equipment - for example, balance bikes, scooters (we are not talking about electric scooters, but ordinary ones), etc. Moreover, in some cases they are even allowed to be taken into the cabin in addition to hand luggage, but you should not count on this: here, rather, it all depends on the specific person at the airport. Always consider that the scooter will have to be checked in as luggage. By the way, many folded scooters fit perfectly in full-size suitcases: just unscrew the steering column, and your hipster scooter will go in diagonally.