It is nor a secret that having to fly with a bike on the plane is quite stressful. Bike flights are one of the most annoying and painful experiences we all can have during our adventure, and sometimes we really juggle things to try to avoid it.
Unfortunately, sometimes we just don’t have the time, or the logistics to do alternative arrangements are more complex, so we take a deep breath, hold it, pack our bikes, go to the airport, send the bikes through a massive oversized luggage counter praying to all the gods that they will take them and they will actually care, hold our breath again, board the plane having a million questions in our heads about our bikes, land, get off the plane go to the oversized luggage claim…and breath. Christmas is here. Now it’s time to open the box, assemble our metal horse, and make sure everything is there how it should be.
Fun, right?
What to do when you consider bike flight?
When you consider flying you have to consider some thinking before. Your first decision will be if you will travel with your bicycle or you will outsource the service to a company.
If you want your bike to fly with you on the plane
If you consider flying with your bike, the first thing to consider is to read the airline policy regarding bikes and sports equipment booking on their flights. They will indicate the preferred method of transportation for the bike. The most commonly accepted method will be a cardboard box, but there are also other methods, like a CTC plastic bag (heavy duty) or a hard bike box. All of these three methods have their advantages and disadvantages.
Also some people favour one over the others depending on circumstances and experiences. Make sure to double check with the airline policy if they would accept an alternative method of transportation apart from the standard cardboard box if it’s not very clear on the website. Make sure you have an email to confirm that conversation. You will be surprised how many employees contradict policy, or are not fully aware of it.
For example, If you would like to use a CTC bag, a preferred method by many people as usually don’t need to go through the process of looking for a big box, transport it to the airport, etc. , make sure the company accepts it and you have written confirmation before going to the airport. The alternative is to bargain, but you risk not being able to fly at all!
Bike flights. Choosing the container
| Container Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Bicycle Cardboard box | Bikes have some level of protection from damage in transit with less risk of them being damaged. Although is advised to take some extra precautions to protect some sensitive parts, like the derailleur, brakes or fork. You can put everything together in the box to save in baggage carrying You can usually get a box for free in any bike shop. If you can´t find any, sometimes the airline can provide you with one, although this is rarely free. | More likely to be stacked or mishandled which could incur damage. It is recommended to bubble wrap derailleurs and sensitive parts of your bike. I recommend protecting the chan ring and also brake calipers and put a little stick at the bottom part of the fork, just where your wheel would be Need to get a replacement on your return journey unless you have it stored somewhere. Sometimes this can be a bit of a pain, and storage can be expensive if you decide to go for that option |
| CTC plastic bag | Baggage handlers can see it is a bike and are more likely to take more care. It is cheap. The bags are small enough to carry with you on tour and could also be used as groundsheet protection. More likely to be placed straight on a trolley rather than being sent down a conveyor belt. | Greatest risk of damage if the bike is indeed dropped or mishandled. Every time more companies don´t allow CTC bags due to a raising number of misshandling claims as a result of broken bike parts when travelling, so make sure you check on that |
| Soft Bike Bag | Bikes are protected from rubbing against other baggage in transit. Less risk of them being damaged. Everything is in the bag together, extras such as bottles & pumps etc.. can be left on the bike. | Baggage handlers cannot see it is a bike and are less likely to take care of it.More likely to be sent down a conveyor belt which can cause damage. With the wheels removed the front chain ring and dérailleur are liable to be bent unless protected in some way. What do you do with the bike bags whilst you are touring? Initial cost of bag can be quite expensive. Bike has to be dismantled to get it into the bag. |
| Hard Bike case | Virtually bomb proof protection for your bike in transit. Minimal risk of them being damaged. Everything in the case together, extras such as bottles & pumps et. can be left on the bike. | What do you do with the bike case whilst you are touring? High initial cost of a hard case. Hard cases are heavy and depending on the airline you are flying with could possibly eat into your baggage allowance if they are not booked on separately as extra baggage. The Bike has to be dismantled to a varying degree to get it into the case. You then have to reassemble the bike on arrival at your destination and then disassemble again when you depart. |
| Bikeflights cardboard box | The design requires no additional fiddly protective packaging to be added to the bike; rather it uses a cardboard divider to keep the removed handlebars and front wheel separate from the rest of the bike. The company even includes a plastic bag for the removed pedals, a few front fork axle spacers, foam padding for the fork dropouts, and bungee cords to secure the items in place The box meets Amazon’s ISTA 6A standard and can withstand multiple drops and substantial compression forces. They can be disambled and reused several times and packed flat, so is not difficult to store or even carry when you get to your destination. You would be able to store | They are not cheap. The medium and large boxes sell for US$120 and US$150 respectively. You use this box as part of a delivery service |
Once you choose your option, you just need to follow certain steps in order to comply with the airline bicycle´s transport policy:
- Remove the pedals
Your right pedal has a regular thread (counter-clockwise to loosen), while your left pedal is reverse threaded (clockwise to loosen).
Or another way to see it, both pedals come off applying force towards the back part of the bike, and to put them on, screw them towards the front.
- Remove the front wheel
It’s in most parts of the airline´s requirements, but if you want to fit your bike inside the box, you would have to remove the front wheel. You have space to put it inside the bike box alongside the tour bike. Just be mindful of protecting the spokes with how you position it and avoid the QR skewer from breaking out from the box.
- Unscrew the handlebar and put it parallel to the frame´s top tube
This is a requirement of most of the airlines you will travel with, and also the only way to fit a bicycle in a box.
- Deflate the tyres
This is a more controversial measure, as many people will not see the sense in it, as nowadays the place where the bike will go is pressurized.
Just do it. It is one of the requirements of the airline policy to deflate the tyres partially.
- Don´t leave any element loose inside the box
Loose elements, such as bolts, plates, cages, water bottles, saddles, pedals… will move around and potentially hit other parts of your bike. They can either dent or scratch the frame, hit a delicate part, like a derailleur, or gears, etc.
We don´t know how people at the airport will handle the box, so try to tidy the moving parts and tape them either to the frame, box, or somewhere else so they don’t move anymore.
- Protect the moving and delicate parts of the bike
Either if your bike travels in a box or in a CTC plastic bag, protect the bike´s moving parts, as they can be easily damaged. With the wheels removed the front chain ring and derailleur are liable to be bent unless protected in some way.Also the derailleur hanger can bend if enough pressure is applied to it. In some bike shops they will happily give you some items to protect the moving parts of your bike, as they always have some laying around.
How to transport your paniers
When you have your bike sorted, it’s the turn to think how would be the best way to transport your 4 or 5 pannier bags without really having to break the bank.
We normally use a big checkered storage laundry bag or a nylon tote bag. They normally have them in all the markets, it’s really light and in some of them you can fit 3 or 4 panniers.
The goal is to group all of your panniers in a couple of groups, so is easier to manage.
Airline Bike Policies
The following airlines have their own policies about flying with a bicycle. Click to find the latest information before you book flights. Some charge, others don’t.
What to do if you want to mail your bike?
Another option is to mail your bike. This option is quite more pricey normally, but sometimes the logistics are quite complex and it’s easier to send the bikes via mail.
There are different services
Bikeflight
BikeFlights.com is a bicycle shipping service and a supplier of bike shipping boxes. You get fast delivery, low costs and excellent service with every shipment as part of their “Best Way Guarantee”. Since 2009 they work with individuals, bike shops, events and cycling industry businesses to ship bikes, wheels and gear with confidence. They have an advanced online platform which enables e-commerce and near real-time monitoring of shipments from pickup to delivery.
Bikeflight offers up to a $500 refund if the bike is late. To ship your bike through BikeFlights, you simply enter your point A and point B city on its website, then get a quote for the shipping cost (for example, sending a road bike in a bike box from New York City to San Francisco runs you about $76 plus fees for five-day shipping).
If you want your bike to arrive on a specific date, select “Deliver By” in the drop-down menu on BikeFlights. If your arrival date is more flexible, you can choose “Ship By” instead, and enter the date you’d like your bike to ship.
Once you select your quote, you can either schedule a pick up or drop your packed bike off at an affiliated UPS and let the shipping crew take it from there. For an alternative to BikeFlights, Shipbikes.com offers a similar service.
Shipbikes.com
This is a convenient way to ship your bicycle anywhere in the world. They ship to any destination at a quite competent price!All you need is a credit card, phone or computer, and a roll of packing tape.
This is the way they work:
1. Purchase your AIRCADDY or XBike Shipper from us, or use your own bike box or hard case.
2. Pack your bicycle using the manufacturer’s instructions. Maximum weight allowed for ground shipping (including the box) is 60 pounds.
3. Go to Shipbikes.com, click on “Ship a Box” and enter your shipping and billing information (one-way shipping rates begin at $39.95). Within minutes you will receive your instruction sheet and shipping label via e-mail as a PDF attachment. Print and attach the shipping label to your packed bicycle box. Our shipping system can be used from that moment forward. If for any reason you can not ship your bicycle we will gladly give you a full refund.
4. To find drop-off locations call (800)GoFedEx (800-463-3339) or go to Shipbikes.com and select “Find a Drop-off Location.” Most FedEx Office/Kinko’s stores are open 24/7. To schedule a pick-up call (800)GoFedEx and press 0; give the agent the shipper number (1355168150); and they will schedule a pick up the next business day. For security upon delivery someone must sign for your bicycle. If you are not able to receive your bicycle at home or work, we can send the bicycle to any FedEx Office/Kinko’s store where they can hold it free for up to five business days. Shipping from one FedEx Office/Kinko’s store to another or a business is the cheapest, safest and fastest way to ship your bicycle.
5. To track your shipment go to Shipbikes.com and select “Track a Shipment.” Enter your FedEx tracking number (starts with 1355168150-) for the most current information.
Non bike specialist carriers
If you rather not use a biking specific service, you can wheel straight away to UPS or FEDEX and ask them for a quote to transport your bike. Usually FEDEX offers a better service for the bike from the two.
What´s next?
Now it´s up to you to take the decision, but don´t overcomplicate things. If you decide to pack your bike and take it on a flight with you, just be aware of the little steps we have mentioned before.
Take it one step at a time, otherwise it can be overwhelming
Since you are here, have a look for ways to fit your bike in order to avoid pain.
Enjoy!
