Touring - How to ship bikes on plane

I'm getting ready to do some touring and was wondering what do I do with the shipping box/case I put my bike into when I get to my destination airports? I have to store it somewhere, right.

If you use a hardshell case, yes, you would have to store it somewhere ... and most airports won't let you store stuff in them anymore.

However, if you go with a cardboard box, you can either toss it when you get to your destination, and find another one for your return trip (some, but not all, airlines will sell them to you - you can call the airline to check in advance) ... or fold it up and carry it with you. I've done both.

This seems to be a common questions. You can search bike forums for other threads.

It seems to come down to three separate camps. Those who MUST have a hard case, the folks who disassemble and ship in a box and wierdos like me who bike to the airport, deflate the tires, turn the bars and roll the bike into a plastic bag.

The latter is the only method you can use if you want to bike to the airport and its very handy if you are not doing a circular trip (starting in one centre and returning from the other).

Five camps, actually:
there are those who tour on packable bikes - like S&S or bike friday who can use the case as a trailer upon arrival.

I have also shipped a boxed bike via ups to a hotel prior to my arrival and discarded the box. at my destination, I just got another bike box and did the same thing.

I have tried every method except stokell's, but if I ever toured with a non-packable bike again, I would use that method. simple and easy and airlines are equipped to handle it.

It seems to come down to three separate camps. Those who MUST have a hard case, the folks who disassemble and ship in a box and wierdos like me who bike to the airport, deflate the tires, turn the bars and roll the bike into a plastic bag.


I'm another one of the weirdos. But I try to avoid the plastic bags, too. Best ship the bike naked as the day it was born :)

The latter is the only method you can use if you want to bike to the airport and its very handy if you are not doing a circular trip (starting in one centre and returning from the other).


Actually, it is not the ONLY method ...

When I went to Australia, I boxed my bicycle in a box acquired from a LBS. I discarded the box upon my arrival in Sydney and proceeded to cycle down to the Melbourne area. From there I was to fly to Tasmania ... so when I was ready to fly to Tasmania, I rolled up to the airport, inquired about boxes, and Virgin Blue gave me a box, and tape, and everything, for my bicycle (Virgin Blue is wonderful!). I discarded that box when I arrived in Launceston, Tasmania ... cycled around Tasmania ... and then made plans to fly out of Hobart to Queensland (northern Australia). That time I got a bicycle box from a LBS in Hobart, and used a taxi to get to the airport.

In Queensland, I discarded that box ... cycled around Queensland ... and made my way down to Sydney again, so I could fly home. Again, I rolled up to the airport, and inquired about boxes. United Airlines sold me a box for $15, and I used that to get my bicycle home.

Just a note though ... United sells HUGE boxes, and while they may seem to be perfect at first (I just slid my bicycle in without taking anything off) they are cumbersome and hard to manouver. They also fall apart more easily.

Another note ... not all airlines sell boxes. I know West Jet does not, and I don't think Air Canada does either ... that's something you might not want to leave to chance.

Another note ... not all airlines sell boxes. I know West Jet does not, and I don't think Air Canada does either ... that's something you might not want to leave to chance.

If the airline of your choice doesn't sell boxes at the airport counters, it's worth checking with the personnel at counters of other airlines, who will often be happy to sell you one.

One thing to keep in mind, if you're not going to actually ride your bike to the airport, make sure you have a way to get the box there. (At the last minute I discovered my box was too big to fit in my friend's car--we tried a zillion different ways) and I wound up paying $60 for a taxi van. :(

I didn't know you could get a box at the airport. Good tip, Machka.

Most airlines I've dealt with have a bike box or at least wrapping to put around the box... but that's when I dealt with international flights (except AA- they had shipping for domestic too). Other times, I've made contact with people at my destination- either through bikeforums or host websites and left my luggage with them. Now that I have my Bike Friday, I can convert the suitcase to a trailer, so I'm all good now.

Koffee

I'm getting ready to do some touring and was wondering what do I do with the shipping box/case I put my bike into when I get to my destination airports? I have to store it somewhere, right.
Back to the original question.

Although I own a Bike Friday (folding bike) which packs into a regular suitcase which can be converted to a trailer, I prefer to leave the empty suitcase somewhere except if I'm flying home from a different airport. This has not been a problem thus far. Once I left it in a Thai guesthouse for 10 baht (US 25 cents) per day. Another time I stored it (and my friend stored his much larger hardcase) for free in a hotel in Tunis which we stayed in at both the beginning and end of a trip. Once in Guadalajara, the hotel which had promised on the phone to store my suitcase and my friend's box reneged, but they suggested a "Mailbox Etc."-type shipping storefront nearby, and that shop readily agreed to store both my empty suitcase and my friend's box. They wouldn't accept any payment when we reclaimed them later. And finally, a friend in Paris stored my suitcase in her home while I went off touring. The other times I flew with the bike I wasn't touring and I just kept the suitcase in my hotel/motel room or friend's home. On one occasion with an open-jaw ticket, I did convert the suitcase to a trailer which worked out well.

In most third-world destinations which receive a lot of backpackers, it's common for inexpensive accommodations to allow people to store luggage for a small fee or for free. Guidebooks often mention this. If you plan on biking away from an airport and camping the whole time, you may have problems if you insist on using a hardcase versus an airline or LBS box. One possibility, especially in North America, would be to contact a cyclist from a "hospitality" list, and ask him/her if she'd store your bikecase while you go touring. A friend & I did that when we were touring in southwestern Utah. A group of 4 cyclists once contacted me and asked me if they could park their van at my home while they went off touring. I said sure.

Just some ideas.

I didn't know you could get a box at the airport. Good tip, Machka.


Sometimes!! Not every time. Just remember to check the airline websites or give them a call to make sure.

If the airline of your choice doesn't sell boxes at the airport counters, it's worth checking with the personnel at counters of other airlines, who will often be happy to sell you one.


It is worth checking ... but don't hold your breath, and don't count on it.

When my friend and I were in Sydney, getting ready to fly out ... I was flying with United to LA, and he was flying with Quantas to New Zealand. I inquired with United first about getting a box, and found out that they did sell them. Great! So then I asked about getting two, one for me and one for my friend. They asked for our boarding passes/flight information, and when they found out that my friend was flying Quantas, they wouldn't sell him a box. They told him to go ask at Quantas ... which he did, and he had to pay $20 for his box.

So from all of this i guess i can pretty much be assured of a box at the airports from "one" of the airlines being available. and if by some chance i don't encounter a box at the ariport, i could ship the bike as is since most (all?) airlines know how to handle bikes? hey, if they know how to handle bikes, why are we using bike boxes???

i'm cool with going to the airports and finding a box. and at least calling ahead or preparing somehow prior to getting there to assure i have a box.

thanks everyone! ciao

So from all of this i guess i can pretty much be assured of a box at the airports from "one" of the airlines being available. and if by some chance i don't encounter a box at the ariport, i could ship the bike as is since most (all?) airlines know how to handle bikes? hey, if they know how to handle bikes, why are we using bike boxes???

i'm cool with going to the airports and finding a box. and at least calling ahead or preparing somehow prior to getting there to assure i have a box.

thanks everyone! ciao


If they knew how to handle bicycles, we wouldn't have to use bicycle boxes ... and even when we do, we are never assured that they won't lose the bicycle or damage it in some way. I've had boxes that looked like they had been through a war by the time I retrieved them from off the plane.


However, just a few points so that you are prepared when you get to the airport:

1. Check with the airline you will be travelling with BEFORE you go to the airport to see if they sell boxes, and to see how much they will charge you for the bicycle. You can get most of that info from websites.
http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm


2. Arrive at the airport with your bicycle and all your stuff about 4 hours early. That way you'll have time:

a) To locate a box, if one is indeed available. You may need to sweet talk the security guards for your airline for this.

b) To stand in line waiting to pay for the box while 17 people ahead of you try to change their non-refundable flights from England to Germany before the Germany flight leaves in 20 minutes time.

c) To pack the bicycle with about 250 onlookers (I felt like I was doing a demonstration on bicycle packing!)

d) To stand in line waiting to check in.

e) To quietly argue with the check in people about the size and weight of the bicycle in the box and the amount of luggage you are carrying. Some airlines, like Air Canada, only allow you to check 2 pieces of luggage. If you've got the bicycle and two panniers, that's 3 pieces of luggage. I bring a large laundry bag and put both my panniers and anything else I've got into it so that I only check 2 pieces).

f) To stand in line waiting for the checked luggage X-ray machine.

g) To quietly argue with the X-ray people about the size and weight of the bicycle in the box and the amount of luggage you are carrying.

h) To stand in line waiting to go through the personal/carry-on X-ray machines.

i) To patiently follow any instructions they give you and answer any questions they've got about things like your cleats, any tools you've inadvertently put in your checked luggage (OOPS! Bye-bye tool!), and what is in your waterbottle (be prepared to take a drink).

And if you're going international, there will be more standing in line as you go through that process as well.


3. Bring money or a credit card. Chances are you will be charged for the bicycle or oversized luggage or something. If they can find a way to charge you, they will.


Also, when you go to pick your bicycle up when you arrive at your destination, it is like a treasure hunt ... it could be anywhere! You may have to search the entire baggage claim area ... or maybe it will come out on the carrousel ... who knows! Each time will be different. :D

If you're going international, I always HIGHLY recommend Swiss Air (www.swiss.com). There's no need for anything except a tarp or something around the bike. I carried my bike in a soft-shelled case, and all they required is that I take off the seat and the wheels. There was absolutely no damage to the bike. They were so proud of the fact that they handled many teams' bikes and told me so, and they reassured me my bike would be ok. I just cannot see myself travelling international with any other airline with my bike... well, except maybe Icelandair, but that's only because I haven't been to that area of the world with my bike yet. We'll see.

Koffee

So from all of this i guess i can pretty much be assured of a box at the airports from "one" of the airlines being available. and if by some chance i don't encounter a box at the ariport, i could ship the bike as is since most (all?) airlines know how to handle bikes? hey, if they know how to handle bikes, why are we using bike boxes???

i'm cool with going to the airports and finding a box. and at least calling ahead or preparing somehow prior to getting there to assure i have a box.


As Machka says, don't depend on boxes being available. In my limited experience, they have been available , but airlines have no responsibility to ensure availability. At the least, call ahead and verify with the relevant service counter (and not just the customer support line). And be aware of the specific airline policy regarding bike transport.

Some airlines will insist that you use a box, or make you sign a waiver of responsibility if you refuse to use a box. I'm happier signing the waiver than putting my bike in a flimsy cardboard box that will end up under a pile of luggage, but many people feel differently.

As a P.S.- Swiss Air doesn't ever make you sign a waiver to take your bike on their planes. :)

Koffee