Read this site: Airline Baggage Regulations For Bicycles


Then, if you are planning to fly somewhere ...

1) Check the baggage regulations of the airline(s) of your choice. Note that airlines change their regulations all the time, and if the last time you flew was a year or two or five ago ... things have changed. And if you book a flight and then 2 months later, you're getting ready to go ... check the baggage regulations again. They may have changed in that 2 months.

2) Be sure to look at the bicycle-specific baggage information. There once was a time when it was cheaper to claim that the bicycle was "art" or "miscellaneous sports equipment" or something. Now it is cheaper to claim it is what it is ... a bicycle.

3) Your full-sized bicycle will be oversized. There's no way around it. So you've got a choice ... pay the bicycle fee or pay the oversized fee. The oversized fee is usually more.

4) If you get to the airport early, if you're the first person in line, if you are super friendly to the check-in person .... you may possibly get a break on the price.

But if you're really rude and obnoxious about it, the check-in person may possibly charge you the bicycle fee, the oversized fee, and if possible the overweight fee. You could end up paying a fortune.

5) Also note that many airlines are starting to charge for the first piece of luggage, and even more for a second piece. They are also lowering their weight limits. It's getting harder and more expensive to bring any luggage on a trip.