Starting point logistics - advice please!

[shootingstar]

Air Canada does charge for non-folding bikes that are boxed up cardboard bike box. I believe the provide bike box. Ask if they have a used one, just in case. One takes off pedals and turns the handlebars sideways to slide in whole bike. Bring your own tools.

With folding bike, it would be in your bike carry bag or plastic bag that they can provide. Best to check online for their latest policy, re charges/non-charges. Their policy has changed over the last few years.

Please realize that if you plan to bike from Vancouver airport to the B.C. ferry terminal at Tswassen, that bikes are forbidden in the George Massey Road Tunnel. There is a bike shuttle in Richmond that will take you out of the tunnel. Then one would have to get off and bike out. There is a map at the B.C. Ministry of Transportation website which is the party that provides this free service.
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/popular-topi...sey/massey.htm

Of course a high top taxi will short circuit all that.

[Grog]

Air Canada does charge for non-folding bikes that are boxed up cardboard bike box. I believe the provide bike box. Ask if they have a used one, just in case. One takes off pedals and turns the handlebars sideways to slide in whole bike. Bring your own tools.

Flying with a full-size bike is a PITA I will now do everything I can to avoid.

Shootingstar is right about the pedals and handlebars (I also like to undo the derailer but it's not required) but not about the box. You can get a box from your bike shop, though. If you do use a box you'll need to take off the wheels, in which case I recommend wheel spacers (that will protect your fork and rear triangle against squishing). I've always been wanting to try the "clear plastic bag" version. An AC baggage handler (who's a cyclist) told me he thinks it's the safest way to carry a bike within Canada, because baggage handlers just can't pile it up with other stuff.

The quality of the welcome for bikes on Air Canada entirely depends on who you're talking to. They definitely do not offer boxes but you might score a big, clear plastic bag. Don't count on it though. I have a friend who got a big bag marked "AIR CANADA BIKE BAG" from one AC staff and then the next AC staff she saw emphatically denied that bikes were allowed on AC planes. (My friend won, eventually, but not without a fight.) In any case there's no more evading the $50 fee in my experience. However I believe WestJet still doesn't charge for bikes.

And just be aware you can't take bike tools in your carry-on. The warehouse where they sell the items that are seized at the security control is full of them!!

Seriously, if I was only 15 hours away as you are, I'd consider driving. Your environmental footprint will also be smaller that way, if it matters to you. Now I can't give advice about the dog aspect.

Good luck! It looks like the trip is worth it.

[shootingstar]

Apologies for bike box..that is what certain rail companies provide..only at certain city points and for certain scheduled train times.

My partner has flown several times with his bike via Air Canada over the past 10 yrs. In terms of AC staff, they were quite good and well informed about the bike policy.

I was with him on several occasions when he and I were flying together, but I didn't take my bike along because I had a bike to borrow from someone at destination or due to my work schedule at time, not enough time to bike to justify shipping my bike.

[Grog]

My partner has flown several times with his bike via Air Canada over the past 10 yrs. In terms of AC staff, they were quite good and well informed about the bike policy.

I'm happy it's worked well for him. My experience has been rather mixed myself, but never better than "passable." We never had mechanical damage from carrying a bike on AC but my husband had an expensive wheel ruined on a trip to Australia transiting through the USA.

Recently, in both France and Hawai'i we've had conversations with bike shops that say the bike rental business is booming. Their fleets are booming as well, so I think on my next trip I'll rent-a-bike.

Let us know how it turns out!!

[NbyNW]

Thanks for sharing your experiences -- very helpful, I'll let you know what we decide.

[Veronica]

We've flown with our bikes to Maine (3 times), Hawaii (twice) and Thom took his to Australia when he was there for a month on business. All with various airlines. We bought a Velo safe case and have been happy with it. Yes, it costs extra, yes you have to really disassemble your bike...

For me, it's about how much time do I plan to ride. We've also rented bikes in Hawaii when we only had one day to ride.

Veronica

[NadiaMac]

For such a short tour, you may want to try and rent bikes. It's a pretty big hassle to travel by plane with a bike, plus lots of added charges at various points for oversized luggage. But, it is always nice to have your own equipment..

I did a point to point loaded tour a few years ago in the Canadian Rockies, and here's how I handled the logistics:
1) flew air canada, with my bike packed into a cardboard bike box that I got from my bike shop (free). No problems with Air Canada either way, as an aside, and the bike was fine. $50 fee each way.

2) I packed the bike, and put soft luggage (sleeping bag, clothes) into the bike box (making certain to stay below luggage weight limit, 50 pounds I think but might have been 40). I carried my rear panniers & helmet onto the flight (see note above about not putting tools/lubes, etc in your carry-on) and packed surplus gear in a cardboard box, which I checked as checked luggage. Heavy gear (tools) and anything that could damage the bike went into my cardboard box "suitcase".

3) I took a cab to hotel at the other end (as we had further travel by bus to our start in Jasper). You could consider cabbing or taking a shuttle (if there is one) to a hotel or to the ferry building, then building bikes there rather than building bikes in the airport. Warning, there can be a surcharge for oversized luggage in cabs/shuttles. I paid about 15 bucks for the bike for this type of transit.

4) do you have somewhere to store the bike boxes? (in a friend's car?) If so, store the boxes. If not, recycle the boxes (you then need to figure out where to get new boxes)

5) On the return, procure boxes if necessary (I had prearranged with a bike shop at my terminating town to get a bike box, and I grabbed a cardboard box for my "suitcase" at a supermarket). You will also need packing tape, of course. You could also arrange to have the shop pack your bike.

6) re packing and rebuilding the bikes: I had never done this before, but it was very easy to learn. My BF supervised my packing of the bike and I rebuilt it myself at the starting city. the handlebars and pedals are very easy. The derailleuer was a bit trickier to reinstall for me (i removed it for shipping, which I think is a good idea). Note that when you box up the bike, your rack(s), if any, generally need to be removed, so you have to be set up with the appropriate tools to reinstall them.

have fun!