I just flew to the UK to do a credit card tour and carried my bike in a Tardis bike bag from Ground Effect.
It couldn't have been easier. The Tardis is a big Cordura bag and I used my gear as extra padding around the bike. The bag folds down to a telephone book sized package that can easily be carried, stored or shipped
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/p..._id=97930&v=E4