Originally Posted by carleton

So, that brings up another topic.

If it's a one-time trip (e.g. moving across country) or hell, even traveling for a race and back, you could simply learn to properly pack your bike in a bike box and ship it via FedEx for cheaper than buying a bike box/bag and paying airline fees.

This is a common request at nicer bike shops. They will probably be able to quote you standard fee. And your stuff is easier being a track bike. No cables, derailleurs, brakes and brake levers, etc... that must be cared for when packing.

I've known athletes to FedEx their bikes ahead of them and have them delivered to a friend or the hotel front desk. Oddly, this may be more reliable in a race situation. I've heard more stories about bikes getting lost or delayed significantly by airlines than FedEx. A buddy from Atlanta had an airline lose his bike when he flew out to Masters Worlds in LA. He had to borrow a bike for his events.

So, if it's a one-time deal, maybe pack it yourself or pay a shop a couple of bucks to pack it for you. Then ship via FedEx. You'll come out a lot cheaper.