The simplest approach to getting your bike abroad is to take advantage of the
baggage service offered by the airlines. Major US and European airlines stock
specially designed boxes for the purpose of transporting bikes in the cargo
hold. The cost per box ranges from nothing to $20. In addition to the charge for
the box, the airline may charge an extra baggage-handling fee.
Policies and pricing vary between carriers, but we’ve discovered that
European carriers typically accept your bicycle as your second piece of checked
luggage and will thus transport it at no additional charge. On the other hand,
US carriers tend to charge an extra baggage handling fee; in fact, you can
expect a charges as high as $150 round-trip. Beware, US carriers seem to have
difficulty articulating and administering a consistent policy regarding the
handling of bikes. Our recommendations are to (1) verify and re-verify the
airline's charges for bike shipment and (2) include the cost of shipping your
bike when comparing airfares.
To prepare your bike for shipment in the box provided by the airline, you
will first need to remove the front wheel and the pedals. To fit your bike into
the box, turn the front fork so that it’s parallel to your bike and if
necessary, lower your seat. Before sliding your bike into the box, remove
accessories that may be damaged in transport, like your rear-view mirror.
In anticipation of the bike-packing process we have several recommendations.
First, practice removing your pedals. Secondly, pack into your carry-on bag the
items you'll need for packing your bike into the airline-provided box. These
items include your pedal wrench, Allen wrenches, a roll of packing tape, a fat
black marker, and a plastic bag for your pedals and any accessories you may wish
to remove. Most airlines DO NOT have the packing tape necessary to assemble
their own boxes or the appropriate writing instruments to label the box; so,
bring your own and have them readily available for use. Also, we highly
recommend carrying the plastic bag containing your pedals and any accessories
you have removed from your bike with you onto the plane. The airline-provided
bike box has holes for use as handles through which any loose contents could
fall out. If you’re concerned about your front wheel possibly scratching the
paint on your bike frame, you may wish to consider carrying bubble wrap with you
to the airport as well.
Though our bikes have never been damaged in transport using the airlines'
boxes, we cannot guarantee your bike's safe arrival. Should your airline fail to
transport your bike safely, seek assistance from airline personnel immediately.
Another option for getting your bike abroad is to have it professionally
boxed by the folks at your local bike shop. Because the box your local bike shop
will use to pack your bike is much smaller than the box provided by the airline,
however, considerable disassembly of the bike is required. Of course, that means
you have a whole lot of re-assembly to do upon your arrival. Another downside is
that you’ll have to figure out a way to transport your bikes to the airport in
these boxes, which can be a major logistical challenge unless you own a large
SUV.
Finally, there is the option of purchasing a hard case in which to transport
your bike. Depending on the type of case, however, considerable disassembly may
be required for packing your bike into the case. Should you decide to purchase a
hard case for transporting your bike, you may leave your bike case with Diverse
Directions for the duration of your tour for a nominal charge.
