Machka -

The key is to send your bike business to business. Unfortunately - UPS, FedEx and others give business rates that are far cheaper than individual rates. So it's cheaper to have the bike shop box and ship, Plus that's less you have to do. Also, if you fil out a customs tag, business to business shipping seems easier to clear thru customs.
Fair? No. But that's the way things are.

Also - those "UPS Stores" are like Mailboxes Etc. - subcontractors and VERY expensive.

Here's all I do at the start of my trip.
1. Find a bike shop online where I'll be starting my trip and call them to let them know.
2. Take my bike to my local bike shop and give them the address and phone number of the destination.
3. When I get to my destination, I take a bus to the bike shop and my bike is waiting for me.

Here's what I do at the end of my trip.
1. Take my bike to a bike shop at in a town with public transportation to the airport.
2. Have them box and ship to my home.
(If international, have them box and ship to my bike shop.)
3. Take the bus to the airport and hop on a plane.

Sounds pretty easy to me. Compared to - - -
Hey - I've been there - dragging bike box & gear to the check-in counter or from the baggage claim area - trying to bike into or out of an airport with zillions of cars flying by - trying to find a place to disassemble my bike.

If you can get free shipping - then maybe it's worth it. But if you are going to have to pay an oversize equipment charge - then why not just ship the bicycle??

Best - J

PS - Shipping gets pricey to Australia and Europe. But if you are going on a long tour and have a two-item limit, then you may have to ship something.