Taking a recumbent trike on a plane?

In this vlog I take my Scorpion recumbent trike through London Gatwick Airport and with the help of staff from the airport and Royal Air Maroc I travel to Casablanca, Morocco where I'm (hopefully) reunited with an undamaged trike.
This is my attempt to show you all how the concerns and perceived difficulties of travelling with a recumbent trike can be overcome. I hadn't informed the airline that I was bringing "Trinny" the trike with me. Although I had told them beforehand that I was a disabled passenger when I booked the flight.
My hope is that this video helps others in the future to have the confidence to travel with recumbents. This was a first for me and, yes, I was nervous too. Dont be. Its easy. 😉
Don't forget to like, share... and subscribe for notifications of any new content.
Thanks for supporting me with all your positive views and comments. I really do read & appreciate them all.

[@DavidMac-yv5wk]

Thank you so much for this video. I have an ICE folding trike that I want to take to Prague and have been scared stiff about flying with it. I'm also disabled so my trike is my mobility aid, so much more useful the my wheelchair.

[@gaz--b]

After watching this one, I subbed and started watching the rest of your videos, especially the trip round the Netherlands, I quite fancy trying it, probably a week, staying at campsites.

[@roberttengler6519]

Sylvia Halpern takes her trike on flights all over the world. She says to cover the drivetrain so oil doesn’t get on other cargo. You do good work and present very well.

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

Thanks Robert. Yes, I'm subbed to Sylvia's channel too. Good advice on the drive train. One for the return journey for sure. 👍

[@ordacious8130]

Another great video. Very informative for fellow trikers. Enjoy your holiday.

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

Thanks Ord. I hope someone gets something out of it. There really isn't any need to be worried at all apparently. 👍

[@w8aq]

Wow. Nice work Tim. I was expecting you’d run into some problems. You really nailed it. My congrats! Being foldable is a good selling point for the HP Scorpion. Now I’m feeling bad for poor Tice battling to box his bike for Australia. LOL

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

You weren't the only one expecting 'problems' 😉 Thanks mate. Poor Tice. I didn't do anything to the trike other than fold it like normal. I figured that if she was too big then no amount of boxing would have made her look any smaller ha ha.

[@WadersInAlaska]

Great videos Tim! I really enjoy them. I would like to suggest that you consider lowering the volume of your music as it doesn't match up with the volume of the other sounds such as your voice. I am constantly adjusting the volume to not damage my ears when the music starts. Other that than, you do a great job! Thanks! Keep on trikking and enjoying your rides!

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

I'll bare that sound issue in mind. Thanks for raising it 👍 Glad you're enjoying the videos

[@jamesbarker213]

Another great video Tim! Folding trikes are the best. My Catrike 559 folds. Requirement when I purchased it. Enjoy your holiday and visit with your wife.

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

I live in an apartment so folding was also a requirement for me so that it would fit in the lift. Cheers James.

[@bonilla2022]

Good for you ! I always wondered about super low air pressure in cargo bays' effect on the tires... Looks like you faired just fine . :-)

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

😱 It never even occurred to me! oops. Well like you said, it all worked out fine anyway. Thanks for watching Frank.

[@fernandomagalhaes2957]

Some years ago a MTB tire exploded like a bomb inside my car, in the summer sun south Portugal ,while i was lunching in a road restaurant . The increase of interior pressure ( or decrease of external pressure in the case of airplains) made his effects. It depends on the elastic tensions the tires are are able to support, I think.

[@ON8EI]

My wife's Moroccan too. Enjoy your hols. JD in Belgium.

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

Nice one JD. Thanks for watching.

[@TravelingTice]

Tomorrow I'll be going with my bike 😬😬 but it does say something you didn't need a box or anything, and people are scaring me for needing spacers otherwise my fork will bend, wheels will bend, everything will go down 😂😂 thanks for the vid Tim!

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

Contrary to.popular belief I don't think airport baggage handlers go out of their way to damage your stuff. You'll be fine buddy.

[@joew717]

I guess having the folding version really works in favor of flying! I'd love to bring my wife's trike on a trip to the Netherlands from the USA but not sure how well that would go with a fixed frame trike? Maybe pop the wheels and seat off and ship it in a crate?

[@marybachmann]

To protect the crank on my trike, I have slipped on a pair of boots, one boot over each pedal. Then I lace them up and it actually works quite well to hold the crank in place. One boot is over the pedal and that bar on the boom, so the crank is in line with it and it positions the other end of the crank like a kick stand. Maybe that one boot needs a roller skate so I can push it around... lol OK, back to the drawing board!

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

Genius! ... but how do you put your foot in and pedal?? (Joke 😉)

[@andrevanderwalt69]

Because of the dimensions, I'm really confused that they allow the trike on: Most airlines have a maximum total dimensions (LxBxH) of, eg. 158cm or 210cm. Do they make an exception for "mobility aids"?

[@The-GreenHornet]

I have a Catrike Expedition recumbent trike. It doesn't fold up. Just wondering what you think would be the best way for me to ship my trike on the airlines...a oversize box ,but I don't know what the limitations are for a box dimensions. I live in the States, only looking to fly 1,400 mile distance.

[@KeithAVass]

What about the Battery???

[@jamieherrera98]

I missed what kind of trike you have. What is it? I traveled domestically with my Catrike Pocket a couple times. Definitely padding was necessary and the short boom almost cleared the conveyor belt but it did break the conveyor belt in Philadelphia

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

Its a Scorpion FS26 from HP Velotechnik.

[@andrevanderwalt69]

Because of the dimensions, I'm really confused that they allow the trike on: Most airlines have a maximum total dimensions (LxBxH) of, eg. 158cm or 210cm. Do they make an exception for "mobility aids"?

[@fernandomagalhaes2957]

Did they made you show any medical document in the airport? I have seen submited to a cirurgy to the back this year; I dont bealive that they could let me fly for free whith the trike just showing my beautiful scar in the lombar region. (my trike is not foldable, ihihih)

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

I'm not an expert Fernando. This was my first with the trike but I have been told that airlines accept people with disabilities with the need to provide documents. Of course if they were to ask then I can always get a letter from my doctor.

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

I should also say this wasn't about getting a free ride for the trike. I fully expected to have to pay. I was only worried about the size of the trike being too big.

[@vanderingrose7079]

They aren’t allowed to ask.

[@CaptnJackHammer]

You lucky bugger, when put you trike in at the airport you called her (The trike) a wheelchair. was that just a pun or deliberate.

[@TimsTrikeTrips]

Something for me to explain better in my return video perhaps, but as I can no longer ride a two wheeled cycle I consider Trinny to be my "mobility device" but saying "mobility device" at the check in just sounds pompous. Thanks for watching Brian.