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Please share this very urgent warning to all South African athletes, especially cyclists. After the trauma I have experienced in the past 24hrs, I hope no one else falls into this trap. If you intend to travel overseas with your bicycle, or any other sporting equipment of a similar size (surfing, wind surfing, paragliding etc). Please please PLEASE don't book your flights with Emirates!!!!! You will regret it as much as I am doing now when you pitch up at the airport with your bike bag/box and get slapped with a $500 US (R7500) charge to have your bike on the plane. Emirates advertises a new baggage policy (effective April 2016), with an impressive 2x 23kg pieces of luggage per traveller when flying from/to Africa. What is hidden in the fine-print however, is that they limit the size of these pieces to nothing bigger than a medium sized suitcase. You try fitting a bike, kit, clothes and everything else you need to compete overseas with, into 2 suitcase....in fact, just try fitting a bicycle into that space. Emirates has effectively banned all athletes from travelling overseas on their airline and I am sure there are a lot of people who's travels and plans are going to be horribly ruined in the near future. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SHARE!!!

So, I recently had the incredible opportunity to ride London to Paris. That's a story for another day as it is just full of happiness. However, on my return, when I unpacked my BMC from its Evoc bag, I saw that the airline, Emirates, had broken the rear right-hand seat stay. I've been around long enough to know that sh*t happens. I call my insurance company and put in a claim. That part of this tale is proceeding.. I contact Emirates. On making the phone call, I am told to fill in the online form. I duly do so. I get an email response from a "Do Not Reply" address, so find the online chat function. The gist of our two conversations is in this line: 00:07:20 Tamara : Our team does get back to you within 30 days maximum after reviewing the case Basically saying - ****you. We don't care that we destroyed your 80k bike. We're not interested in moving any faster than sloths. We will ignore you for a month and then hope that you go away. My wife and I have done two return flights to Europe this year. The second one in business class. You'd think this would get someone to respond with a little more interest than a chat bot... apparently not. I'm fortunate that I'm insured. I'm even more fortunate that I've got mates that are able to lend me a bike while this issue gets resolved. My complaint is not that my bike got damaged. I understand that this could happen to anyone. My frustration is with an airline that really doesn't give a damn. So. If you're thinking of flying with your bike, check that it's insured for it's replacement value. Plus, DON'T FLY EMIRATES - you might "Fly Better", your bike certainly won't!!