Airline Friendly Bike Boxes

[Maureen Valley]

I'm trying to purchase an airline friendly bike box. I've found several that are as variable as their price tags. Has anyone had any experience in this matter. I had a bike shipped once by UPS and the spokes were broken and the box in shambles. Not gonna do that again. Yes, I know I have to check with individual airlines to check their bike 'rules'. I learned that working for NWA.

Any thoughts on this subject? Any one brand preferable over another?

Best to all,
Maureen

[Veronica]

We have a Velo Safe. Thom took his bike to Australia in it. I used it to take two bikes to Maine. I'm taking my bike to Hawaii in it. Yes, you have to buy extra. But I like knowing that my bike is in a pretty sturdy case and it's on wheels.

V.

[divingbiker]

I've got this case from Performance: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=973&subcategory_ID=4415

My friend and I shipped our bikes in these boxes this past summer when we did the ride across Nebraska. Everything arrived just fine. (And even better, Midwest Airlines only charged us $25 for an overweight item instead of $80 to ship a bike, which is what we thought we were going to have to pay.) There's some minor disassembly and reassembly to be done, but you've got to contend with that with any box.

[Grog]

I have bought a pair of Bike Travel Bags (the black soft shell bags shown here: http://www.cdisports.com/index.php?currency=USD&main_page=index&cPath=98) last Summer for flying across the country (total 3 segments per bike, two bikes).

We got better at dismantling the bike for shipping and filling the bag after the first time.

Everyone I have spoken with whose work involve dealing with passenger bags at airports told me that cardboard boxes were the worst options, and that a clear plastic bag was possibly the best option. Why? Cardboard boxes look like you can pile them up, which is not true, they're not resistant enough. Bikes in clear plastic bags are impossible to pile up, and therefore will definitely end up in a safer place.

I could never convince my DP of that so we got the soft bags. I was not going to get the hard shell ones which I find too inconvenient, especially if you're like me a small person who will be travelling without a car. (And even then: it's not so easy to fit in a small car!!) The soft shell can be rolled away, taking less space, and is definitely less bulky. It's also going to sit on top of things in the cargo space of the plane. Or so do I hope... (I have watched the airport employees put our bikes on the plane while standing in the waiting area, and they seemed more careful than I expected.)

So they were quite expensive, and a disappointing value for the price: there are not enough handles on the model we got, but the padding is good. (Although of course we added our own padding, and undid many more parts than they suggest on the web site.) But they did the job fine, and the bikes were totally unharmed...

YMMV.

[laughlaugh18]

Here's a link to a story in the Los Angeles Times a couple of months ago about bike boxes: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-bike17sep17,1,7642289.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

[Xrayted]

Hi, I'm about to embark on my first bike vacation this spring http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=11440 and have been looking for a travel case too. I like the Nashbar hard case. It's on sale right now too.http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?category=122&subcategory=1134&storetype=&init=y&pagename= But they have a softcase too in case your going in that direction. I don't like the fact that there is no padding in that one tho. They are constantly having sales too. so keep an eye out for a good deal.

If you find that you won't be travelling often with the bike, you can rent one. Many bike shops rent them out or will give you, free of charge, a sturdy cardboard one that came with a new bike. Just another option. (Denise Goldberg advice to me, BTW)

Have fun and good luck!! Let us know what you decide. I'm still not sure which one I'm gonna get yet, but I know I want a hard case. Please feel free to add your comments to my thread as well. Still not totally decided on where I'm going yet. Thanks!

X.

[IFjane]

I have varied experience shipping and traveling with my bike as I go from Virginia to Colorado every summer. I have shipped UPS (not good!) & FedEx (a little better), and finally purchased a hard case - the one from Performance. The price was right and the case has survived plane travel with no problem. However, the Performance case does not have outside straps or handles except on the end. It is awkward to pick up and load into a car or truck because of that. The rollers and handle on the end are great. If I had to do it over, I would look for a case with handles on the sides, too.

I have flown on both United and Frontier with the bike. Frontier is GREAT to work with and the charge is $50. No comment on United...:(

[Offthegrid]

I dunno about bike boxes (I plan to rent when I go to Oregon next year), but wanted to throw out there that US Airways reportedly has the worst record for lost luggage.

[chickwhorips]

what about shipping bikes using the soft covered bike bag? is that a no no?

i need a bag that is user friendly. something that doesn't require me taking my mountain bike completely apart, not sure if i would get it back together.

[~MP]

My bf and I borrowed a Trico Iron Case a few months ago from one of his buddies for our trip to Georgia for the 6 Gap/3 Gap. http://www.cyclingreviews.com/reviews/iron_case.php

It worked like a charm and we only had to take off the wheels and handlebars to fit my bike in. (Everything fit in the case) His buddy that we borrowed it from usually packs his and his wifes bike in it. That takes a bit more time though, since you have to take off more items and arrange them more carefully, etc.

The only negative thing is the weight of the case. Which is a little heavier than expected.

It costs us $80 to put it on the plane (Continental), and it only cost ~$40 to ship via FedEx from Florida to California.

[DeniseGoldberg]

what about shipping bikes using the soft covered bike bag? is that a no no?

You can check a bike as baggage in a soft case, but I wouldn't be surprised if shipping companies (like FedEx, DHL, UPS) require a hard case. If you're thinking about using a shipping company it may be worth a call to see if they'll accept a soft case.

--- Denise

[IFjane]

Definitely check with a shipping company. I have been told, but do not know for sure, that when shipping UPS or FedEx the item must be in a cardboard box or they will not cover damages. In other words, if you ship in a hard or soft case with no box around it, then it's on you if something happens. However, if you put a cardboard box around your hard case, the shipper will cover damages. Makes no sense to me, but that's what I was told. Anyone out there know about this? I would also think shipping this way would be very expensive because of the size of the box. When I shipped with both UPS & FedEx I used cardboard bike boxes from my LBS. Never had any major damage but lost a few parts here and there (skewers, etc.)

[kiwi girl]

Clearly for bike protection a hard case is best. A cardboard box generally does OK too and either woudl be a good option if you are using a shipping service. For me though, when I am taking my bike on a plane, handling is a big issue and personally I have decided to sacrifice a bit of protection in the name of handling.

Thats why I use this soft case http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-detail-BOD-BAG.htm. At a pinch I can walk short distances with this and a travel back pack. You only need to take off the front wheel and the pedals to get a bike in here.

I've taken it to Australia twice with no ill effects to the bike. BFs frame got a bit of a cosmetic (not structural) ding on our first trip but I don't know if that was from the plane, or from the cattle trucks the bikes were loaded on (not in the bags) to get to the start of the ride.

The first time we went we were waiting by the oversized luggage area, only to see our bikes coming off the normal luggage thing first.

[Aint Doody]

I have a Serfas hard case and really like it. It has wheels. I wish it did have just one more handle on it so that it would be easier to load into a car. It's been back and forth across the US several times. Sometimes I've paid extra; sometimes it's been checked as regular baggage with no additional fees.

[Maureen Valley]

Oh wow...I knew I could count on this group for tons of info on bike boxes. Thanks much, everyone. I have enough ammunition now to make some kind of decision.

Maureen;)

[IFjane]

Maureen - let us know what you decide - some of us may want to give your idea a try, too!