Originally Posted by
Steve_sr
While this would work on the way out there is no shop for the return trip so I need to learn to do this myself. I have done this several times before with my road bike but not with a bike with hydraulic discs.
I don't understand this. All (major) U.S. carriers have removed oversize charges and restrictions for properly packed bicycles. Properly packed bikes go as a piece of checked luggage. Usually all that is required is to remove the front wheel, turn remove handlebars and remove any other protruding bits.
So are you putting your frame in one bag and wheels in another for 2 total checked bags?
Most, not all. Southwest Airlines is the worst on this. 62" combined girth or less, it gets checked free. Or if separated into two bags within that, free. They charge BIG oversize fee for anything 62-80", including bikes. Anything over 80" combined girth is a NO GO, you will need to ship the bike. I think if you separate the bike into two packages, you can get it to fit under 80", and possibly 62" each, but you'll need to try it out yourself. Again, this is not total of 2 boxes, just not over those values for each. I would think that the frame with no wheels and handlebars removed (usually with stem) and tied to frame, and both wheels in another package, might work. My guess as to SWA being like this is because they have a 100% narrow-body (6 across) plane fleet with smaller cargo holds, however other airlines that fly wide-bodies, also have some narrow-bodies.