Shipping or flying with bike

[mimitabby]

$25!! that's really cheap. We paid $50 each way per bike box.
and that was within the US. We heard horror stories about what people paid to get their bikes to France last summer for the Paris Brest Paris ride.

[aka_kim]

I have (well, actually it's borrowed) a Trico Iron Case to hold my bike. I've flown with it several times, mostly without incident (once TSA apparently opened it but didn't close it too well). I think I paid $50 to $80 each way, but bike fees are really capriciously applied, so in the past you could occasionally find an agent or curbside guy who would waive the fee.

I'm taking my bike to a tour this summer, but after seeing some of the current bike fees ($100 on United, $80 UsAir) decided to try shipping it. I'd heard good and bad about UPS and Fedex shipping, and finally decided to try http://www.sportsexpress.com - they provide door-to-door service, a guarantee of some sort, and deal with the actual carrier for you.

There's an active thread on this subject over at Bike Journal now too.

[uk elephant]

$25 was with Virgin Atlantic. From my impression a very good airline all around, but I've only flown with them on that one trip yet. They charge $25 as a standard fee for any outsized/overweight bag regardless of what you put in it.

I don't know what the name/brand of the case was unfortunately. Just whatever the bike store was renting out. Very large which was cumbersome on crowded London trains, but easy for packing the bike.