Qatar Air is not so cycle friendly any more

For my latest several cycle trips I have travelled with Qatar Air. They have a 30 kg baggage allowance and used to allow another 10 kg for 'sporting equipment', that includes a bicycle.

Yesterday when I went to buy another ticket with them they tell me that they no longer give any 10 kg allowance for 'sporting equipment'. Too bad!

I have been advocating for Qatar Air among all cyclists I have met and in my journals. I feel I have to tell you that I will no longer do that.

PS Turkish Air gives me a 46 kg baggage allowance. That is flying from Europe to Nepal. Don't know about elsewhere.

Still pretty good to be fair, 30kg including free bicycle if inside the weight limit and another 10kg or thereabouts for hand baggage will see most cycletourist under the weight limit even with a tent. I would be quite happy if all airlines were like that.

Thanks for info - I was considering Quatar a few times but was not sure (there was also thread about it here) how they treat the additional 10 kg - bike altoghether in a box is twice then that), so I never tried.

What do you mean Turkish gives you 46 kg? I know you pay separately for bike there, each leg (to and from Istanbul).

My travel bureau told me that Turkish allows me 46 kg luggage and don't mind if some of that is a bike, as long as it is in a box.

Yep, it can be 23 kg checked luggage plus 23 kg bike. Since I was just researching this subject and these airlines and my friend is flying with them next week I would just suggest checking their website, looks like charges apply for the bike:
http://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/travel-information/baggage/sports-equipment
But I would consider Turkish as well.

my friend is flying with them next week

I find the info on their website a bit unclear.
Please come back here with how it actually turned out.

Sure. The thing is interpretation is sometimes up to the person at check-in, but definitely not up to travel agent :(
I'll update info how it went with my friend, he is flying from Asia to Europe.

An update on JAL. Two of us flew JAL recently Sydney-Narita and had to pay an extra USD100 per bike. The bikes weighed about 24kg but the problem was the total measurement. So add JAL to your list of airlines that will screw us if they can.

To me JAL just kept in line with their regulations, that are stated on their website. Maybe not cycle-friendly airline but would not call that screwing.

I guess you are right. A better way to put it. Perhaps "stuck in the past".

Update on Turkish Airlines, Kuala Lumpur - Istanbul: my friend was flying with his bike, with very little luggage, he packed his bike small and put some stuff inside, the rest hand luggage. He was asked to pay 60 EUR for sports equipment as it is stated on TA website, but after some discussion did not pay it.

Some discussion?
What exactly your friend said to them to quit the charges?

He had just one bag/package with his bike and things and took it as check-in luggage that was included int the price of a ticket. That is al lI know. But decision is always made by the person at check -in.

For me it would not work as I have more things to carry, so I would pay for sporting equipment. Moreover, he was flying only to Istanbul, if you just change there and go to any other destination in Europe you are supposed to pay more - they charge for each leg separately.

SriLankan Airlines is good, and accepts a boxed bike as part of checked luggage. Flights connect Europe with India, SE Asia and East Asia as well as Sri Lanka. I've flown with them 3 times this year, taking a bicycle without a problem. They were also OK with three pieces of checked luggage, the bicycle and 2 rear panniers. Checked weight limit is 30kg total. Staff may allow a few kilograms over that, but excess baggage fees are very high!

The title is that Quatar is not so good anymore - maybe, but they are still up there with the good guys. 30 kgs and happy to take a bike is nearly as good as it gets. This is becoming standard for a few airlines, Mainly Gulf State ones. Quantas code shares with Emirates so they are in the club.

I was surprised by the original earlier post about Turkis and its 40+ kgs, I thought it wrong. As someone said, its not up to the travel agent.

I fly Emirates which give the 30kgs plus excellent service ( booze, food, films, etc). I won't mention the numerous upgrades I have had. I have also flown Virgin who give 1 piece of 20 kgs, plus free bike.

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