Airplane travel with bicycles - Page 6 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

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).

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).

01-13-2005, 09:41 AM

Jim Thomas wrote:

> 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.

In fact I've been doing that. It's a good way to go, and Fedex Ground is cheap.
But it takes up to a week (each way) to go coast to coast, and I don't want to
be without my bike for that long.

What bugs me is how cyclists are treated vs. other sports enthusiasts. Golfers
can get their clubs on the plane for free. The travel industry assumes golfers
are people with money and influence, that they don't want to offend. Apparently
they don't see any value in treating cyclists well.

Matt O.

01-13-2005, 09:41 AM

Jim Thomas wrote:

> 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.

In fact I've been doing that. It's a good way to go, and Fedex Ground is cheap.
But it takes up to a week (each way) to go coast to coast, and I don't want to
be without my bike for that long.

What bugs me is how cyclists are treated vs. other sports enthusiasts. Golfers
can get their clubs on the plane for free. The travel industry assumes golfers
are people with money and influence, that they don't want to offend. Apparently
they don't see any value in treating cyclists well.

Matt O.

01-13-2005, 09:41 AM

Jim Thomas wrote:

> 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.

In fact I've been doing that. It's a good way to go, and Fedex Ground is cheap.
But it takes up to a week (each way) to go coast to coast, and I don't want to
be without my bike for that long.

What bugs me is how cyclists are treated vs. other sports enthusiasts. Golfers
can get their clubs on the plane for free. The travel industry assumes golfers
are people with money and influence, that they don't want to offend. Apparently
they don't see any value in treating cyclists well.

Matt O.

01-13-2005, 09:44 AM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:

> 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).

I think this depends on the airline, and/or which airports you're flying in and
out of. Union rules may have something to do with it.

My sister flies back and forth from the UK all the time. I'm amazed at the pile
of stuff she's able to bring, without extra fees. Some of her bags are
definately over 50 LB!

Matt O.

01-13-2005, 09:44 AM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:

> 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).

I think this depends on the airline, and/or which airports you're flying in and
out of. Union rules may have something to do with it.

My sister flies back and forth from the UK all the time. I'm amazed at the pile
of stuff she's able to bring, without extra fees. Some of her bags are
definately over 50 LB!

Matt O.

01-13-2005, 09:44 AM

Steven M. Scharf wrote:

> 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).

I think this depends on the airline, and/or which airports you're flying in and
out of. Union rules may have something to do with it.

My sister flies back and forth from the UK all the time. I'm amazed at the pile
of stuff she's able to bring, without extra fees. Some of her bags are
definately over 50 LB!

Matt O.

01-13-2005, 02:08 PM

Matt,

It is not that the airlines see golfers as wealthy, though the greens
fees at a lot of courses keep out the riff-raff. A fair number of
business travelers carry golf clubs, and airlines are all about
catering to the business traveler. Not wanting to hurt their bread and
butter passengers, airlines allow golf clubs for free for domestic
travel. If a lot of business travelers starting taking bicycles with
them then you would see airlines getting friendlier towards bikes.

That said, I think you will see a lot of additional fees, and I would
not be surprised to see golf clubs get hit with a tariff. In 2003 only
one major US airline showed a profit (Southwest). United, America, US
Air, and Delta are all teetering on the brink of closing shop
permanently. They need to bring in more cash to survive. Part of it
is poaching on their competitors by lowering prices hoping to make it
up in volume, Has not worked so far. They have tried to emulate
Southwest to a small degree, but too small to make a difference. All
the tricks to do better volume are not working, so at some point they
will need to cut costs more and bring in more revenue. And on the
latter front, some have changed the rules for excess baggage to include
bags heavier than 50 lbs. I think additional fees will crop up, and I
see no hope in additional grace for bicycles in this atmosphere.
- rick

01-13-2005, 02:08 PM

Matt,

It is not that the airlines see golfers as wealthy, though the greens
fees at a lot of courses keep out the riff-raff. A fair number of
business travelers carry golf clubs, and airlines are all about
catering to the business traveler. Not wanting to hurt their bread and
butter passengers, airlines allow golf clubs for free for domestic
travel. If a lot of business travelers starting taking bicycles with
them then you would see airlines getting friendlier towards bikes.

That said, I think you will see a lot of additional fees, and I would
not be surprised to see golf clubs get hit with a tariff. In 2003 only
one major US airline showed a profit (Southwest). United, America, US
Air, and Delta are all teetering on the brink of closing shop
permanently. They need to bring in more cash to survive. Part of it
is poaching on their competitors by lowering prices hoping to make it
up in volume, Has not worked so far. They have tried to emulate
Southwest to a small degree, but too small to make a difference. All
the tricks to do better volume are not working, so at some point they
will need to cut costs more and bring in more revenue. And on the
latter front, some have changed the rules for excess baggage to include
bags heavier than 50 lbs. I think additional fees will crop up, and I
see no hope in additional grace for bicycles in this atmosphere.
- rick