Author Topic: Bikes into Newport News Airport  (Read 8093 times)

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Offline Rabbit

Bikes into Newport News Airport
« on: September 28, 2016, 02:18:54 pm »
Hi all, I'm planning to fly into Newport News airport from London Heathrow in May to start the Trans Am route. I've looked at several posts about getting to Yorktown to start the trip - and Newport looks very close. My question is this - has anyone had experience of using that airport either from the UK or US and will the bike be ok on the connecting flight? American Airlines provide the flight in from the UK - and then I switch to either Air Wisconsin or PSA depending on which connecting flight I take. I'm assuming the bike will be ok all the way through but not sure. Also is there much accommodation - motels etc - close to Newport News that I can use to overnight and get the bike and gear together for the start of the ride. Any help appreciated! Thanks,

David

Offline hon_cho

Re: Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2016, 08:45:56 pm »
Which airport will you be entering the USA?   Dulles (IAD) or Baltimore-Washington (BWI) are the closest international airports to Norfolk and the tidewater region.  According to Google maps,  the cycling route(s)between the airport and Yorktown are 75-90 miles.  It's only about 40 miles by car but that's because you can't bicycle through the tunnels.   It's likely that there are other cyclists who have landed at Norfolk and will share their experience and suggestion but you may send me a message via ACA and I'll try to help you sort through the specifics of the area even though I'm in Virginia much closer to Washington DC.   


Offline John Nelson

Re: Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2016, 11:45:46 pm »
I flew into Newport News, but I shipped my bike via FedEx to a church in Yorktown. The pastor's wife picked me up and took me to the church. If you fly with your bike, it's a quick ride into Yorktown. Flights to Newport News use fairly small planes with limited cargo room, so they can't guarantee they'll have room for your bike.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2016, 11:47:19 pm by John Nelson »

Offline BrianW

Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2016, 11:59:11 pm »
I assume David is flying into Philadelphia if he's coming from England on American Airlines. There is an airport in Norfolk (ORF) and also in Newport News (PHF). If flying into ORF, which is a (somewhat) bigger airport, you will have to get yourself across a long bridge-tunnel that doesn't allow bikes. You could hire a cab or Uber. PHF is easier because it's on the "correct" side of the water and you don't have to worry about the bridge. I've flown in-out of ORF in the past when I lived in Virginia Beach, and at the time they flew small regional jets. You can check what planes they are flying in the various routes pretty easily online and then check to see what their cargo hold sizes are. They should be able to fit your bike.

Offline Rabbit

Re: Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2016, 04:51:24 am »
Thanks all, the airports at which I would be entering the US are either Charlotte Douglas or Philadelphia International, both on American Airlines. The timings look best for the Philadelphia link - as it's a 1005 flight from Heathrow, arriving Newport News at 1709. As someone said most flights from London go to Washington Dulles but then there is a three hour drive to Yorktown which I don't fancy very much. I did look at the Wisconsin Airlines website but there was nothing there about taking a bike to Newport News. I may have to ring them.

Offline BobG

Re: Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2016, 06:55:26 am »
I flew from Eugene OR > Portland > Atlanta > Newport News once via Alaska/Delta. No problems with my accompanying bike on the smaller connection flights.

Offline hon_cho

Re: Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2016, 05:04:14 pm »
I realize you don't fancy the drive but a one-way car rental is probably the most time, and likely cost, efficient way to get from your airport of entry to Yorktown.   Looking at two different rental companies, Avis & Enterprise,  a one-way rental for one day (24 hrs) from Dulles to Williamsburg / Newport News area were less than $150 plus whatever fuel you use,  probably less than $20 at current prices.   

Don't know how much money, if any, you'll save by not flying closer to Yorktown but one thing's for certain.  If you rent a car you'll be much more in control of your schedule.

We recently flew with our tandem from the DC area to Portland with Astoria as our destination.  Renting a car from Portland to Astoria cost about $150 and was more expensive than taking the bus but it just made so much more sense for our schedule.  Of course,  your own preferences are most important but you shouldn't rule out the car rental option just yet. 

In any case, be flexible! 

Offline Rabbit

Re: Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2016, 02:48:22 pm »
Thanks, I did think about driving, and you are right about the rental costs being cheap but it's a four hour drive from Dulles to Newport News (according to the route planner I'm looking at) plus time spent getting out of the airport, organising the car etc and that's assuming there's no hold ups and I don't get lost on the way! That's a 13 hour journey all the way from London. With a connecting flight it's a 12 hour journey Heathrow to Newport News which I thought might be easier. That said, I don't really have much experience of internal flights in the US. I've been to America many times (we have family there) but I've not often had to take inter city flights on smaller airlines.

Offline BrianW

Re: Bikes into Newport News Airport
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2016, 06:26:27 pm »
Here's another option I forgot to mention: fly into Philadelphia (PHL) and take the AMTRAK train from there to Williamsburg or Newport News. It's about a 5-6 hour trip, and at least one train a day has roll-on bike service (you have to reserve it, though). That way you wouldn't need a connecting flight. Depending when you come in, I might be able to host you overnight, or at least help you out with logistics.