Shipping Bike Fed Ex or take it on the plan

[OakLeaf]

Holy сrap. Gotta love TSA -.-

I can't even fathom something ridiculous like this travelling across Europe.

Like I said, it was Paris airport security that cut the expensive brass locks off DH's camera case and failed to close the latches. (Though something in the back of my head says that they weren't TSA friendly locks, so it might've been his own fault. Still, even back then they could probably open any padlocks without cutting them off.) European countries' security don't typically engage in as much theater as the USA's, but they're just as attentive IME. If you're talking about trains, then that's apples to oranges (though I do know that security went through the roof on Spanish trains post 3/11, don't know if they've kept that all in place the way the USA did after 9/11).

I still maintain the worst part of flying with a bike is the physical part of it. Security isn't a big deal at all.

Even if you've got a very light bike and you don't put anything but the bike in the case, you're still talking a VERY bulky 45# that will only go through a door in one direction and is a huge PITA getting through a crowd. Some cases are probably easier to maneuver than my Thule case (with its non-rotating wheels on the wide edge), but none of them are going to be easy. Then how many other pieces of luggage are you bringing? Even if it's only one checked bag besides the bike and one rolling carry-on, that's a heck of a lot of sh*t to shove, drag and kick where you're trying to get it.

Aside from my very first car, I've only owned hatchbacks/wagons, so getting the bike to the airport isn't too hard, but many vehicles don't have enough cargo space for a bike case, especially not if you're bringing other luggage. That goes for the taxi on the other end, too ... IME *especially* in Europe where taxis are smaller - on our first trip we had to stand around waiting for a van, because even without a bike, our regular luggage plus DH's camera case wouldn't fit in any of the normal taxis.

Then there's dragging the thing along with your other luggage from the parking lot into the shuttle, from the shuttle to the check-in desk, and then on the other end from baggage claim into the shuttle, into your taxi or rental VAN because you can't count on a rental car having enough room for a bike case, and good luck finding enough room for it in a European hotel elevator or hotel room.

Compare all that to calling FedEx, having them pick it up at your house, and having it waiting for you at your hotel when you arrive. Or even, as I normally do, dropping it off at the FedEx depot and picking it up at the depot at the other end....