Airplane travel with bicycles - Page 5 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-12-2005, 11:12 PM

On 12 Jan 2005 06:40:12 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>Given the cost to take your bike on the airplane, and the troubles it
>causes; perhaps renting bikes would be easier. My bet would be to
>Google bike rentals in Bonaire and invest in a phonecall to answer
>specific questions.
>
>Just a thought. Have a fun trip !

Rentals can be OK, but they are rarely better than mediocre if they
are available. I've done rentals, but now I always carry my own. No
problems, yet.

And, IATA tariff rules apply on international flights; bikes fly as
part of your luggage, no extra cost. If the airlines require a box
and you do not have one you may have to pay for a box, but no extra
luggage charges as long as you are within the standard allowance.

- rick

01-12-2005, 11:12 PM

On 12 Jan 2005 06:40:12 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>Given the cost to take your bike on the airplane, and the troubles it
>causes; perhaps renting bikes would be easier. My bet would be to
>Google bike rentals in Bonaire and invest in a phonecall to answer
>specific questions.
>
>Just a thought. Have a fun trip !

Rentals can be OK, but they are rarely better than mediocre if they
are available. I've done rentals, but now I always carry my own. No
problems, yet.

And, IATA tariff rules apply on international flights; bikes fly as
part of your luggage, no extra cost. If the airlines require a box
and you do not have one you may have to pay for a box, but no extra
luggage charges as long as you are within the standard allowance.

- rick

01-12-2005, 11:12 PM

On 12 Jan 2005 06:40:12 -0800, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

>Given the cost to take your bike on the airplane, and the troubles it
>causes; perhaps renting bikes would be easier. My bet would be to
>Google bike rentals in Bonaire and invest in a phonecall to answer
>specific questions.
>
>Just a thought. Have a fun trip !

Rentals can be OK, but they are rarely better than mediocre if they
are available. I've done rentals, but now I always carry my own. No
problems, yet.

And, IATA tariff rules apply on international flights; bikes fly as
part of your luggage, no extra cost. If the airlines require a box
and you do not have one you may have to pay for a box, but no extra
luggage charges as long as you are within the standard allowance.

- rick

01-12-2005, 11:24 PM

<< and the troubles it
> causes >>

Security personnel in Tahiti's airport required two German tourists with
bicycles to dismantle their machines completely. The tourists had plenty to say
about that......under their breaths.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-12-2005, 11:24 PM

<< and the troubles it
> causes >>

Security personnel in Tahiti's airport required two German tourists with
bicycles to dismantle their machines completely. The tourists had plenty to say
about that......under their breaths.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-12-2005, 11:24 PM

<< and the troubles it
> causes >>

Security personnel in Tahiti's airport required two German tourists with
bicycles to dismantle their machines completely. The tourists had plenty to say
about that......under their breaths.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-13-2005, 04:27 AM

I have had problems with airline travel in another area of my life, model
airplanes. Whats the connection, you ask? I used to be able to pack my
gliders in a large wooden box specially designed for them, and check it as
baggage. Once in 10 times I might be charged oversize baggage by an
overzealous clerk. No more. It is now oversize, overweight, just about
anything you imagine the airlines can add to make a few more $$. The answer
was simple. Ship the box to myself at the destination. It just takes a
little extra planning to send it a few days in advance to assure that it
arrives when I do. Net cost: $30 each way; savings: at least $50 each way.

So, why not apply this same idea to our bikes? Get a travel carrier (one of
the commercial ones or even a discarded bike box from the LBS), take off
your handlebars, front wheel and pedals, pack it securely with the few tools
you will need to put back in riding shape, and FedEx Ground ship to yourself
at you destination.

Jim Thomas

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:yZdFd.10664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.co m...
> > Given the cost to take your bike on the airplane, and the troubles it
> > causes; perhaps renting bikes would be easier. My bet would be to
> > Google bike rentals in Bonaire and invest in a phonecall to answer
> > specific questions.
> >
> > Just a thought. Have a fun trip !
>
> But there's something special about having your own bike with you, and
> remembering all the places it's taken you when you're out riding.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>

01-13-2005, 04:27 AM

I have had problems with airline travel in another area of my life, model
airplanes. Whats the connection, you ask? I used to be able to pack my
gliders in a large wooden box specially designed for them, and check it as
baggage. Once in 10 times I might be charged oversize baggage by an
overzealous clerk. No more. It is now oversize, overweight, just about
anything you imagine the airlines can add to make a few more $$. The answer
was simple. Ship the box to myself at the destination. It just takes a
little extra planning to send it a few days in advance to assure that it
arrives when I do. Net cost: $30 each way; savings: at least $50 each way.

So, why not apply this same idea to our bikes? Get a travel carrier (one of
the commercial ones or even a discarded bike box from the LBS), take off
your handlebars, front wheel and pedals, pack it securely with the few tools
you will need to put back in riding shape, and FedEx Ground ship to yourself
at you destination.

Jim Thomas

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:yZdFd.10664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.co m...
> > Given the cost to take your bike on the airplane, and the troubles it
> > causes; perhaps renting bikes would be easier. My bet would be to
> > Google bike rentals in Bonaire and invest in a phonecall to answer
> > specific questions.
> >
> > Just a thought. Have a fun trip !
>
> But there's something special about having your own bike with you, and
> remembering all the places it's taken you when you're out riding.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>

01-13-2005, 04:27 AM

I have had problems with airline travel in another area of my life, model
airplanes. Whats the connection, you ask? I used to be able to pack my
gliders in a large wooden box specially designed for them, and check it as
baggage. Once in 10 times I might be charged oversize baggage by an
overzealous clerk. No more. It is now oversize, overweight, just about
anything you imagine the airlines can add to make a few more $$. The answer
was simple. Ship the box to myself at the destination. It just takes a
little extra planning to send it a few days in advance to assure that it
arrives when I do. Net cost: $30 each way; savings: at least $50 each way.

So, why not apply this same idea to our bikes? Get a travel carrier (one of
the commercial ones or even a discarded bike box from the LBS), take off
your handlebars, front wheel and pedals, pack it securely with the few tools
you will need to put back in riding shape, and FedEx Ground ship to yourself
at you destination.

Jim Thomas

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:yZdFd.10664$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.co m...
> > Given the cost to take your bike on the airplane, and the troubles it
> > causes; perhaps renting bikes would be easier. My bet would be to
> > Google bike rentals in Bonaire and invest in a phonecall to answer
> > specific questions.
> >
> > Just a thought. Have a fun trip !
>
> But there's something special about having your own bike with you, and
> remembering all the places it's taken you when you're out riding.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>

01-13-2005, 08:04 AM

Jim Thomas wrote:

> So, why not apply this same idea to our bikes? Get a travel carrier (one of
> the commercial ones or even a discarded bike box from the LBS), take off
> your handlebars, front wheel and pedals, pack it securely with the few tools
> you will need to put back in riding shape, and FedEx Ground ship to yourself
> at you destination.

For decades, the airlines did not charge for bicycles on overseas trips,
not sure if this is still the case, last time I brought a bike on an
overseas flight was about three years ago, and there was no charge.

The airlines are now even charging for individual suitcases that are
over the 50 pound limit, even if your total baggage weight is under the
limit. On a recent trip I was careful to keep each suitcase under 50
pounds by juggling items between the two (this was two suitcases for
four people, not two for me).