It wasn't there a couple of weeks ago. I checked about 2 weeks ago when I purchased the air tickets and it wasn't there.
So please check carefully if you are going to Vietnam. According to the new rules, for my flight from HK to Hanoi, the bike will be charged USD175 for each flight, i.e. total USD350 for 2 ways.
I will probably rent a bicycle, it's way too expensive to take a bike with me on the plane.
Edited by: artichoke
I was concerned when I saw this as this airline is a good option for VN for me. I am in Australia mostly. When I checked the detail for cabin baggage I saw that economy passengers to and from Australia on international tickets are allowed 30kg.
Same for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
So they seem to be good for packed bikes under 30kg from those regions.
i'm not so sure as they have a page specifying so clearly for bicycles. it seems that most airlines are not encouraging bike baggage except Richard Branson.
What a b*mmer!
Boagy posted here a little while ago that he got stuffed by Vn Airlines . First on an internal NhaTrang to Saigon, then Saigon to Bangkok. I think it was about $50 and $150. Shame you missed that one, it might have warned you off.
Yours is bad news, but I am not sure about your costing.
I had a look at the VN website and it seems to say that over 20 KGS is excess, but doesn't say how many pieces you are allowed. It then goes on to say that bikes are allowed if boxed, doesn't mention cost if within the 20kg limit. I wouldn't want to bank on it, but maybe no bike charges if you are within your weight. Maybe take bike and buy clothes there.
I know a lot of people like to knock AirAsia . I love them. Clear policy on bikes, they charge about $20 for a 20 kg bike box. Just done KL > Taipei, will be going back soon, then straight on to Penang. I know the bike is paid for and have no worries.
I just sent a mail to VN airlines to confirm the transportation fee. Here is their reply:
For the check-in baggage allowance does not include special equipments i.e:bicycle.
For the enquiry of special charge for bicycle:
From Hong Kong to Vietnam i.e:
Bike(include container) weights up to 15kg will charge USD125.
From over 15kg up to 23kg will charge USD150.
From Vietnam To Vietnam i.e:
Bike(include container) weights up to 15kg will charge USD75.
From over 15kg up to 23kg will charge USD100.
From Vietnam to Hong Kong i.e:
Bike(include container) weights up to 15kg will charge USD125.
From over 15kg up to 23kg will charge USD150.
And they insist that the bike must be boxed, I cannot use a bike bag to carry it.
Well, I think I will skip HCMC this time, to buy the time for train trip.. I'll take train from Hanoi to Nha Trang, and ride from South to North back to Hue. Does anyone know if the ride from South to North is possible? Will there be difficulties such as wind direction, etc?
Not a good time for going north as you will be against the wind.
The ride from BMT to Nha Trang via Dalaat is good. A few big hills and one of the most spectacular descents in the world. It took me 5 days cos I stopped at lake. You could probably do in less. The shorter direct ride from N T to BMT is nothing special, nice enough, but the Dalaat route is much, much better.
You could train it to Hanoi from N T. NT nice town to chill in. There is a great micro brewery there.
VN Airlines are now pretty near the top of sh* t airlines for flying with a bike.
Edited by: SimonHill
Simon, thanks for introducing Dalat to me. I search for images and the LP book and it seems like an interesting town. I definitely want to visit it, riding southward as you suggested. Now that I've taken HCMC out from this trip, I'm planning to do Hoi An to Nha Trang in 8 - 9 days. Should be enough to visit Dalat as well.
Simon, I suggest you write your comment on AirAsia in a separate post, so that it will be available to everyone who missed reading this thread.
Simon, you should be able to get your money back for the ticket if that's the situation. If you buy a ticket in good faith and then they change the conditions of carriage, they have broken the contract. They either need to allow you to use the old rules or to refund your money.
Try asking your credit card company or travel agent (wherever you bought the ticket) to cancel the payment.
It's me, not Simon :-)
For the case of VN air, when I purchased the ticket, the rules for carrying bikes was TBD (I don't remember the exact wordings) when I purchase the ticket, so for this case, it's not really a change. My previous experience of rules changing happened in Air France (KLM).
For VN air this time, this is the cheapest airline that I can get a flight from HK to HN, so I don't really have a lot of choices. Anyway, I found a bicycle shop in HN that have bike rentals. I will report their service once I get back from the trip.