Flying with a bike....

[OakLeaf]

When people I know have rented bikes, they bring their own saddle, cleated shoes and pedals. That would at least eliminate those variables, if you're thinking about it.

[kenyonchris]

Yeah, DH was home for our lunchtime spin (10 mile quick ride) and I shot the idea of renting a bike past him...he looked at me like I had grown a second head. But of course he is a racer, so everything has to be perfect.

[michelem]

Here's some more info on airline travel w/bikes (from RoadBikeRider.com 2/25/10 newsletter):

United We Grumble

Now that some airlines are making passengers pay for using a pillow or blanket, maybe it's not surprising that the fee for flying with a bike has risen too.

A protest page on Facebook is taking United Airlines to task for charging $175(one way) to check a bike as luggage on a U.S. domestic flight.

That sky-high fee has been in effect for more than a year. United's regulations require the bike to "be contained in a durable, protective case, bag or box" and the whole shebang can't weigh more than 50 lbs. (23 kg).

Protests or boycotts notwithstanding, in these hard times for airlines it's unlikely United is going to lower the fee. It's not just picking on cyclists, either.

United charges the same $175 to check a surfboard, vaulting pole or set of antlers (no kidding).

If you're flying with your kayak or caged pooch or kitty, it's $250 -- each way.

If you don't like United's bike fee, you could fly Southwest. America's No. 1 airline charges $0 for a bike that weighs 50 lbs. or less and fits in a hard case no larger than 62 in. (length + width + height).

Says the Southwest website, "A $50 each-way charge applies to bicycles that don't meet the above criteria. Bicycles packaged in a cardboard box or soft-sided case will be transported as a conditionally accepted item."

Southwest specifically mentions Bike Friday and Co-Motion Co-Pilot travel bikes as qualifying for the $0 fee when checked as one of 2 free pieces of baggage. Other airlines might waive charges for them too.

Tip: When checking in, if you're asked what's in your hefty travel-bike suitcase, say "exercise equipment" rather than "a bicycle." You're not lying and maybe it'll save you a hassle as well as significant coin.

Tip 2: How to Travel with Your Bicycle, an eBook by world traveler Alan Bragman, has loads of information about packing bikes and how to transport them on planes, trains or automobiles.

http://www.roadbikerider.com/431.htm#DISPATCH

[OakLeaf]

Just so you know, my Thule case is right around 30#. So technically I could put my bike in it and come under 50#, but I'd have to carry my re-assembly tools, shoes, seat pack, etc. in separate luggage to beat the airlines' overweight charge. Shipping it means I can put all kinds of cr*p in the box with it, use clothing as extra padding for the frame and wheels, and only pay incrementally for the extra weight... and have that much more stuff that I don't have to schlep around the airport.

As far as the 62" size limitation, it's smaller than it sounds like. Measure and add. I don't even know if a bare unboxed frame would meet that. I know we don't fly with our large suitcases any more, and when we went to buy new hardshell luggage soon after they started enforcing the size limits, even a lot of the "medium-large" suitcases were 64" or 65".

Plus, depending on how many bags you're already checking, I think most airlines sock you quite a bit for bringing more than two - even if you pay a small fee for those first two.


Also, whether you're shipping or schlepping, CO2 canisters don't fly. Buy new when you get there. A simpatico LBS might even let you borrow a couple and return them if you don't need them.

[ny biker]

FWIW, the bike club I belong to has several hard-shell bike boxes available for club members to rent when they're traveling. If any clubs near you offer something similar, it might be worth the cost of membership to take advantage of the rental.

[IFjane]

This topic has been around several times before. My DH & I both have hard cases and both fly with our bikes. Lots.

In the early days I shipped my bike & did not have any damage to the bike itself, but one time the box (cardboard) had a huge hole in it and the bottle cages & one skewer had fallen out somewhere along the line. That is when I decided to invest in a hard case. DH did the same.

We have never - NEVER - had problems flying with our bikes. We fly Frontier and as far as I am concerned, they are a stellar airline when it comes to handling our bikes. They still "only" charge $50 each way - much cheaper than trying to ship.

One advantage to traveling with the bikes is that you would have them available to ride right up until you pack to leave. Packing, once you get the hang of it, takes about 30 minutes tops.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do, and most of all have fun!