Bike arrived sunday. I went to pick it up but the cargo terminal was not open. This morning we went back. Had to go to to Transaero on the 2nd floor and pay my warehouse handling fee( 221.000peso or ~90$CAD) then I had to got to DIAN(customs) on the 3rd floor of another builing for the temporary import permit. They asked to see: waybill from air canada, proof of whatehouse fee(think they call it GIA) paid and stamped, passport, plate paper(cdn bike has no title, and last but not least THEY WANTED TO HAVE A CARBON TRACING ON A BLANK SHEET OF THE STAMPED VIN AND THE MOTOR SERIAL NUMBER. This prove to be a real pain in the ass because my bike was stuck in the warehouse. I had to go to the warehouse they did not want me to see the bike. A manager went with the carbon paper and did it himself. It was somewhat poorly done and took over an hour. We then went back to DIAN and they accepted it. There was no fee for the Temporary import permit.

Then we were able to go back to the warehouse and get the bike. The are only loading docks and no ramps so I had to push the bike thru the office doors and roll it down the stairs to get it out of the warehouse.

This whole process lasted 6 hours

So here is my breakdown of costs to ship the bike from Montreal to Bogota

Air Canada Cargo (1700,63CAD) dealt with Giosi from sales dept to get this price
Dangerous goods form(160CAD)
Warehouse/ground handling service from transaero(221.000peso)~90CAD
Photocopy of docs(10.000peso)~5CAD
temporary importation permit(free)

Total cost of ~1950CAD

Cheers!

Does anyone know if they will run the service again in 2018.

I am looking to ship my bike from Brussels to Toronto beginning of June 2018. I can't get a reply from the email adress on the site for brussels, and all the info seems to be a bit out dated on the AC website...

Best bet would be to send the email directly to the main office or call them and let us know if you find out any news :thumbup:

cheers
Dooby

Same every year: Information is only made available as we get closer to the date. Patience needed.

I don’t know why you plan to ship to Toronto. With time ahead waiting for AC to put-up next year’s offer, I’d suggest considering shipping to either East or West side, to Halifax by roro/sea and enjoy part of the country. So many options...


Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Tapatalk

I, too, haven't had any luck in securing 2018 pricing from AC.

I'm going London - Toronto it looks like. Anyone have any idea roughly for bike + rider?

AC won't confirm until the end of March if they are running the fly your bike scheme.


"Yes, you can purchase your ticket now but unfortunally we will not know until end of March if we are offering the Fly Your Bike Scheme for the summer of 2018.

Sorry we cannot be of more of an assistance at this time."

I've asked the Frankfurt Cargo Sales of Air Canada. They don't have informations about the Fly your bike program for this year yet.
I've planned to go to Canada and Alaska this year with my bike for a 7-8 weeks trip. If the Fly your bike program of Air Canada will not be continued, I probably have to cancel my plans. Hope they will announce some informations soon!

@Oli Dear:
For Frankfurt - Toronto last year rates for the bike transport were:
with Air Canada ticket: Euro 900.00 + CAD 90.00 additional fees in Canada
without Air Canada ticket: Euro 1200.00 + CAD 90.00 additional fees in Canada
Hope they will not be much more expensive this year!

AC Transport
 

Air Canada told me last night that hey expect the program will be continued this year, with the limited European destinations. But until "someone upstairs" their comment, sends them the details they can do nothing. His advise keep checking back, they expect to get info early April and start the service may 1st as in previous years.
Michael

Michael, thanks for sharing your information. Early April is very late when you have to book flights too. Hope the rates for the flights will not increase much in the meantime! Planning for me/us is not easy because my wife will meet me at the end of my trip to Canada/Alaska and we have to book additional flights for her.
I don't really understand this policy of Air Canada.

Wolle

Hi all :thumbup1: ,

Things are like this, we have worked for Lufthansa last year sorting the restructuring and placement of their myAirCargo product on the market for 2017/2018.

Being close to the scene because we provide green card insurances, bike storage, paperwork in Africa, Europe and asia and cater for global over landers on 2 and 4x4 wheels we know what the vibe is and where the market is heading to.

Our services can be found here:

Lobagola - Green card insurance

Lobagola - Motorcycle services

Motorcycle air freight lacks volume, volume is needed and that's the key issue. Both of the two biggest providers are lacking volume, to dedicate their space in the cargo plains in time, meaning much in advance so people can plan their journey etc etc. Community needs to kick in and show openly their interest.

So what I am keen to push here is that people send their emails of interest as early as possible, this will show potential to the airliners and will for sure bring earlier details of their flight scheme.

That's all, and you can't blame them for their approach, just sayin bier

Let me know if we can provide any additional value to thread or if you have any specific questions on our services.

Cheers
Dooby

Hi Dooby,

thanks for your comment.

As you can read from the previous few posts, people don't hesitate to contact the providers, namely Air Canada, early. I can't imagine people start planning such trips much later in the year or even spontaneusly.

As far as I did understand, Air Canada's "Fly your bike" is a bit different to the offer you mentioned. The bikes will be shipped in the same airplane (or better one the previous day) as you and not in dedicated cargo planes. So the reason, why they don't confirm the "Fly your bike" program earlier than end of March/early April might be different to the reason you mentioned.
For me/us it makes planning a bit difficult.

myAirCargo doesn't offer air transport to Canada, only to USA (to Orlando, Chicago and LA). Nevertheless I now asked them to call back to me for an offer from Germany to LA and back. Not really a good option for me, since it would mean additional 5-6000 kms/8-10 days.

For myself I can say, I'm very thankful to any reasonable offer for shipping.

Wolle

Hi WoK,

I agree on everything you've said, and here is the link for others as PDF from Air Canada's website, which has all the main info in one document:

https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/shar...ENG_062015.pdf

On Air Canada you're usually travelling on the same flight, but what the company itself and what community is advising is to prep the bike couple of days earlier. Meaning bike will fly on it's own flight and you will fly a day or two later.

This above and your statement is just cementing the issue here and that is volume. They're not earning a fortune with this, but for sure are looking into direction of baby boomers and their fleet of usually 3+ motorcycles. So for them it's better to keep passengers flying with their own luggage (no matter how big it is), is more important that couple of guys/gals having interest to fly themselves and their bikes to Europe or vice versa. I am sure you're getting my point here. Cargo plane volume calculations are how to say complicated (fuel wise etc), this is the reason that Lufthansa last year, has hired an expert in this field just to be behind the helm of the new and improved myAircargo project and to cover this highly rising niche in the best possible way.

So once again just to repeat, send as much inquiries as possible, as early as possible, because this is what they want.

If the volume gets up, I am sure Air Canada will also tap more into the market and offer dedicated cargo flights in the future.

Demand and offer, that's all.

Have a great week all,

Cheers
Dooby

Hi Dooby,

now, myAirCargo just answered my request. They have cancelled motorbike transport completely because there's a lot of request for international cargo between Europe and USA and Lufthansa cargo doesn't have capacities on their freight liners anymore.

Hopefully Air Canada's Fly your bike program will not be cancelled for the same reason.

Wolle

Hi WoK,

Honestly do not know where this information is coming from and what's the purpose of it ?

myAirCargo is still operating and providing service, anyone who want's to check can send them an email with their inquiry.

We need to be serious here, and provide exact and precise info for the benefit of the community, and I do not see where are you taking this conversation and thread with the misinformation provided above?

Waiting kindly for the facts from your side to support your previous post ...

Cheers
Dooby

I agree, they are still operating. I actually obtained a quote from myAircargo (Lufthansa) 10 days ago -- not competitive in my opinion.

They seem to be working with an experienced intermediary (SKS Bikeshuttle) -- to be verified. Hence myAircargo only offered a "transport package" supposed to take the hassle out of the process.

So waiting a few months for Air Canada.