I've flown with my bike 3 times, to France, and chosen my airline based on their taking my bike with no extra charge. My bike shop saves me a (free) cardboard box that bikes are shipped in and they taught me how to pack it. Also some carriers sell boxes at the airport very inexpensively. So the cost has been right, happily I haven't had any damage in cardboard boxes. But moving a bike packed in a box is really awkward. A lot of complete strangers have offered me help, unasked, for which I have been incredibly grateful. Anything with little wheels would help. But the good thing about cardboard is that I can throw it out upon arrival. So I have no need to store it when there.