Bike Box for flying.

[Somebuddy]

I am off on a tour soon. I have just read the airlines guidelines for flying with my bike. The boxed bike has to be under 50lb (23kg) ok I can manage that, BUT it also has to be under 62 liner inches or 158cm. That is
length + width + height. It is impossible to get an adult bike under that size! and then they plan to charge me
$200 each way for international travel. What is even more ridiculous is the bike box that they sell is not within that size limit. Therfor you will be charged ( ripped off) for flying with your bike. What an additional expense to add on to my journey!!! Not a happy hector. Oh the airline is united.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Hubby took his bike to Atlanta with BA a few years back.
It was packaged and went as part of his luggage, no additional charges. It's probably all changed now.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Only time I've flown with a bike I used a BIKE BOX ALAN that I rented from an LBS. I really didn't want to chance it in a cardboard box or a bag as it was one of those damned fragile carbon fibre fandangled thingies

I doubt this box would fit into their criteria either, but FWIW the tech specs of it are HERE.

I flew with Jet2 to Lanzarote, and even though the case when packed came in under the 22kg allowance I still got slapped for extra £'s on the return leg from Arrecife. Apparently though I should have been charged outbound as well due to the oversize aspect, but I wasn't, so I couldn't grumble to much I suppose.

Anyhoo, and again FWIW the Bike Box Alan is a superb piece of kit if you can make the dimensions and weight work for you.

 

[Somebuddy]

Looks great but it would be a burden cycling from West Coast America to East Coast with the bike box attached to the bike. When I booked my flight, the girl stated that if I don't take a suitcase, the bike would be my first piece of baggage and therefor free. But it has to be under the weight and size, if it's too big which it is......$400 pse !!!! Feeling robbed.

 

[Brandane]

Probably not much help, as I don't know about United; however I am looking into the possibility of flying one way to Bordeaux with BA, and cycling back to the channel coast. It works out much cheaper to fly with BA (£100 single, no extra charge for the bike), than go with the "budget" airlines and pay for all the extras (£75 for the bike, EACH LEG of the journey!).

This is what BA say about carrying cycles:

Sporting goods on British Airways
Many types of sports equipment can be carried as part of your free checked baggage allowance or as part of an additional purchased allowance if required. We'll even accept some types of equipment over our standard checked baggage size.

We will only accept sporting equipment if it is packed appropriately (to avoid damage) and meets the given size and weight restrictions. Items over 23kg may incur a heavy bag charge. See our advice on specific types of equipment below for details.

Some sporting equipment is restricted for safety and security reasons. If your equipment isn't listed below please get in touch to check if it can be carried.

Bikes
We will accept non-motorised bicycles up to 190cm (75in) in length, provided they are packed in a recognised bicycle bag.

Please ensure that you:

• pack the bike in a protective case or bag
• remove the pedals or fix them inwards
• fix the handlebars sideways
• deflate the tyres to reduce the risk of damage

 

[midliferider]

Sorry, my experience is limited to Easy jet. They have even increased the weight to 32Kg. It is of no help to you.

 

[Yellow7]

Looks great but it would be a burden cycling from West Coast America to East Coast with the bike box attached to the bike.

Just FedEx your box across the U.S., that's what I done in 2008 for my Route 66 tour, the hostel in Chicago arranged it for me and I collected it in L.A., it was about $25.00. (You'll find a FedEx depot in all major towns and cities, and they're cheap-as-chips...but not quite as tasty)

I flew from London to Chicago with Virgin, bike's were free up to 22kg, maybe there policy is now different but worth contacting.

 

[Simon_m]

Sorry, my experience is limited to Easy jet. They have even increased the weight to 32Kg. It is of no help to you.

how was EJ? I'm flying with them this weekend with a bike box for the first time. I didn't see any set size, just ad to add a bike/sporting equipment to the flight booking.

Took bike on BA to the US in 2012 in one of those clear plastic (CTC?) bags. No problems. Pics are up here under flying with BA

 

[MarkF]

OP, what United are trying to do with their sizing, is to not let you carry on a full sized adult bike as "normal" luggage, which is fair enough IMO and not a rip-off. So they are not over charging you for a bike as such, but actually giving you the opportunity of taking a (small) bike as normal luggage.

EJ, I've flown with Easyjet, Jet2 and Ryanair many times with bike in cardboard box of varying sizes with no problems so I was surprised at smokeymoos comments regarding Jet2. Last year I picked up a box in Malaga for my return flight, it was gigantic and it was too late for me to source a smaller one, it was so big that I had to go the airport basement and put it through an industrial scanner, Jet2 were very helpful and there was no extra charge.

 

[jefmcg]

Sorry, again no help to OP,but emirates is pretty good for bikes. 30kg in Economy with no restriction on size or number of bags.

 

[Leaway2]

Are you traveling from MAN? I can ask the United airline peeps what/if they will charge. They have have no more flights today and will have left for the day, but I can talk to them tomorrow.

 

[midliferider]

[QUOTE="Simon_m, post: 3053535, member: 11588"]how was EJ? I'm flying with them this weekend with a bike box for the first time. I didn't see any set size, just ad to add a bike/sporting equipment to the flight booking.

Took bike on BA to the US in 2012 in one of those clear plastic (CTC?) bags. No problems. Pics are up here under flying with BA[/QUOTE]

I flew to Lisbon, Portugal with easy jet in the last week of March. I packed the bike in a EVA hard case. Their website says that weight limit has been increased to 32Kg. There was no problem at all, my bag weighed just 23Kg anyway. They even put a Fragile lable on the bag.

But a word of caution, in very rare circumstances, they may not carry the bag on the same flight but will be delivered to your hotel/ destination within 24 hours. This has happened to those travelling to Majorca when there are so many bikes to carry. Therefore always follow simple practical advice on packing.That is, you must be prepared to carry on cycling with a rented bike till your bike arrives.

 

[Brandane]

Are you traveling from MAN? I can ask the United airline peeps what/if they will charge. They have have no more flights today and will have left for the day, but I can talk to them tomorrow.

The OP is flying EDI/YVR via ORD. I knew a few years working in air freight would come in handy one day .

 

[jefmcg]

ORD? <google> oh, Chicago O'Hare that's going to be fun!

 

[Leaway2]

The OP is flying EDI/YVR via ORD. I knew a few years working in air freight would come in handy one day .

OK, can't help with EDI, Soz.