On a more serious note. Could you ship it to a local bike shop in the town you are going? The do the same thing when you return? When I shipped my bike back last summer from the East Coast I just stopped into the first bike shop I came to and had them box it and ship it for me. Worked pretty well.

Airlines are charging stupid money these days depending on the carrier to bring your bike.

This is just one idea and I'm sure others will chime in.