Have Bicycle, Will Fly, Or Will I?

So, you’re planning your cycling trip and trying to work out what you need to take with you, and what it’s all going to cost you.

Whether you’re organising things yourself on an ad-hoc basis or through a tour operator, you might want to consider your bicycle more carefully.  Most organised cycling trips don’t provide bikes as part of the trip, nor indeed for hire. So, you either have to bring along your own, or find one to buy or rent in the local market. But, it isn’t always easy to find a good quality bike, especially in many Southern hemisphere countries.  So, you’ll probably need to take your own bike with you on that cycling trip! So, exactly what’s involved in flying with your bike?

Well, up to 2007 it was simple really. You just checked in your bicycle as accompanied luggage, making sure that your combined baggage was under your luggage weight allowance and number of bags, and off you went! That’s right, most airlines didn’t bother charging extra for your bike!

Now  some airlines charge up to between $300 to $600 to carry a bicycle. This can be 30-50% of your normal ticket price! Airlines who charge high fees include, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Delta.

Making this charge doesn’t really make a lot of sense financially (there aren’t too many people carrying bikes), nor indeed is it likely related to weight. But with the financial reality that many airlines find themselves in, I guess money from anywhere helps the bottom line! It is not always obvious what these charges will be, as they appear to change frequently. So definitely check before booking.

As I mentioned earlier, it is not always possible or convenient to arrange a bicycle rental at your destination, as those which may be available may not be suitable for long-distance use over unsurfaced roads.

Before you make your flight arrangements you will need to investigate your airlines bike carriage policy. Yep, they’re all different! Some airlines are still free, whilst others charge a good portion of your flight cost for the luxury of bringing your bicycle with you. There are also differences between overseas and domestic flights. Carrying a bike on most domestic flights will definitely cost you Dollars, but some international flights are still free.

General Requirements For Flying With Your Bike

Most airlines require your bike to be packed for transport. Some require special commercially available cases to carry your bike. Whilst others provide large clear plastic bike bags. You will usually have to fold your handlebars to be parallel to the body of your bike frame. Some airlines also require advance notice if you intend to travel with your bicycle.

It is also possible to just send your luggage and bicycle to yourself at your final destination. This can be done with a door-to-door shipping service with UPS, DHL The Luggage Club and other specialist carriers.

Be aware also that many airlines will no longer allow pressurised  items on board, this includes tyres, CO2 cartridges and gas-filled shock absorbers. So, you need to keep this in mind when deciding what bicycle configuration to bring with you.