Checking bikes on planes without paying big bucks?
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jpearce
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« on: April 23, 2008, 12:05:53 PM »
I have a couple of bike trips coming up this year and I'd like to take my own bike rather than renting, but the exorbitant fees that the airlines charge have kept me from checking the bike as baggage.  I have a Sette bike bag which looks like a big suitcase, but I'm concerned that the skycaps will still gig me the $90 bike fee.  Has anyone had experience with this?  Can you sneak a bike by them with a decent tip, or will you get stuck paying the fee?  I think that IMBA used to have an arrangement with one of the airlines, but I can't find anything about it.  Or does everyone ship their bikes out in advance?

Thanks

Jon
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Durb
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« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2008, 01:01:01 PM »
I just got back from Moab and dealt with this a little.  I have the same Sette bag and according to US air the bag would have fit in their regulations but that was if you flew by May 5th or some date.  Now they are decreasing the sizes and the I think you have to pay for the second bag you check etc....I ended up taking my snowboard and renting a bike because it just seemed easier.  I rented an 08 Fuel for $35 a day which isn't all that bad.  My cousin took his bike to Salt Lake in March and it was $100 on the airline.  To bring it home the other day they already increased the price to $150.  Shipping it would be about $135 also.  There's just no easy or cheap way to get the bike there.  I'd rent unless you're staying for more than 4-5 days because it is less hassle and pretty much the same cost. 
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fishnchips
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« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2008, 01:20:01 PM »
I hear to use the Bikes Fly Free program you have to go through a special booking agent and you can't get an airline ticket deal, so that is a bit of a waste.

I'd call ahead and ask what the airline's fee is just in case it is too prohibitive. But you may as well just show up and pay and try and negotiate. (looked shocked, play dumb, ((comes easy for me!))

But I'd also consider shipping because it will be at the hotel waiting for you, no hassle. If you can take the time to send ground (just make sure you properly insure and have it arrive a couple days early) that is cheapest, though it looks like USP can fly it reasonably too. Here is two more pages with various info.

http://www.ipmba.org/newsletter-0301-traveling.htm

http://www.bikeleague.org/members/bikesflyfree.php#do-it   (check out their DIY ship info)

Interestingly I read that most international flights allow bikes for free! I wish I had known; right now I have a MTB in London collecting dust just waiting for me!
« Last Edit: April 23, 2008, 01:22:43 PM by fishnchips » Logged
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« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2008, 04:15:35 PM »
Yeah, it's a huge PITA flying with a bike. I think if you have a semi-decent bike that is suitable for the trails you will be riding, and you will be riding for more that 4-5 days, taking your own bike is worth the stress and hassle. For domestic destinations, I would consider shipping to a hotel or bike shop.

When I flew into Calgary last year with NWA, I paid $90 (from memory) when I checked in at Philly. Of course, I had the TSA dudes open up the box and swab everything down - thank God my fork says "Pike" and not "Bomber"!

On the return trip, when I checked in at Calgary, the woman at the counter asked "Is that a bike in the box?", to which I said "yep". Her reply was "cool", and she checked it through to Philly, free of charge.

FWIW, I used a Crateworks bike box. Nice and sturdy, but a little fiddly. I think the Dakine bike suitcase looks like a great idea for the frequent flier.


 
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dieselkarl
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« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2008, 11:00:49 PM »
I took my bike with me to CO 2 weekends ago.  Frontier charged me $50 on the way out and US Air got me for $80 on the way back.  Because my buddy talked me into bringing my tele boots (so worth it), my gear bag topped 50 lbs so I got smacked with another $50 on top of the bike fee on the way out.  I shipped a bunch of crap back.   
Shipping bikes is akin to russian roulette - except with more rounds in the revolver.  As a mechanic, I've seen so much carnage that the only way I would ship a personal bike is to the next owner.  You have no control over how it'll be treated in transit and cardboard can't compare to a hard plastic or burly nylon/foam bag.

If you aren't married to riding your bike in distant lands, call around - if you're riding in an epic area, someone'll be renting/demoing some nice steeds - Boulder area shops demo'd Titus moto lites for $60/day. 

Karl
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« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2008, 10:15:42 AM »
All 7 of us had to pay $100 each to Frontier yesterday. Oh well, our ticket was only $200 round trip so even if it's $400 total, it's ok. They are in Chapter 11 now so hopefully we can help... I bet our $700 didnt even aford the jet fuel!
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« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2008, 04:34:13 PM »
ive tried it all and have never been satisfied.  either lost bike...next day arrival or pay over 100 with sports express (shipping service that uses fedex).

i think in dirt rag, or another pub, there was a cool article (mountain bike action maybe) where they had tips for flying.  Break bike up and put the frame and fork in one suitcase and the wheels in another.  both are underweight but you may need to pay for the +2 checked bags with the new fees.  either way it ges checked, they dont know its a bike, and your able to either ride when you get off the plane or eat a better meal....
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bonkers
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« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2008, 07:57:30 PM »
Quote from: jomissa on April 24, 2008, 04:34:13 PM
ive tried it all and have never been satisfied.  either lost bike...next day arrival or pay over 100 with sports express (shipping service that uses fedex).

i think in dirt rag, or another pub, there was a cool article (mountain bike action maybe) where they had tips for flying.  Break bike up and put the frame and fork in one suitcase and the wheels in another.  both are underweight but you may need to pay for the +2 checked bags with the new fees.  either way it ges checked, they dont know its a bike, and your able to either ride when you get off the plane or eat a better meal....



I read that same article. I believe it's in Mountain Bike Action. I remember reading another trick from the article (although prob not a good idea) was from Adam Craig's riding partner where she would slip her foot between the scale & bike case to "lighten" the load to avoid the overweight fees.
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fishnchips
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« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2008, 12:02:43 AM »
Ha! that's funny. I used to play a trick on my friend... when she'd get on the scale to weigh herself I'd step behind looking over her shoulder and add about 10 pounds with my tip-toe. got her at least 3 times with that one..  Grin

I personally don't think shipping it is any less safe than taking it with you on the plane. I've seen tons of stuff destroyed by the baggage system and having had bags lost twice myself over the years I don't have much faith.

Sending FedEx or UPS may not be ideal, but at least you don't have to lug it everywhere with you and you can insure the hell out of it.

My cousins a big time travel writer and often overnights bags to hotels. They are in the room waiting for him when he arrives. Overnighting though is beyond expensive, so give yourself some time to ship it slower.
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« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2008, 05:14:19 PM »
None of this sounds very promising.  I'm only going to be in Asheville and Moab for 4 days each, so it looks like I'll rent down there.  Looks like most mountain biking destinations have pretty decent rental shops.
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Durb
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« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2008, 12:12:31 PM »
Jon, I rented from Poison Spider and was very satisfied.  They have a decent selection of bikes at $35/day.  No hassles in and out in 5 mins picking up and dropping off the bike.  When I checked, they seemed to have the best rental bikes at the best cost.
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jpearce
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« Reply #11 on: April 28, 2008, 05:00:56 PM »
Durb - thanks for the tip.  Lots of people have said that Poison Spider is the way to go.  I'll get set up with them when the trip date gets closer.
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« Reply #12 on: April 29, 2008, 09:38:29 AM »
While checking in at the Las Vegas airport on my  way home from a Western Spirit bike trip, there was a guy in line next to me who had a 16" wheel kids bike that he bought brand new, fully built including training wheels and really cool purple streamers, and he was trying to check it as baggage. When he was told that it had to be broken down and boxed, he just couldn't understand why. THEN when they told him it was going to cost him $80 to put it on the plane, he freaked! The bike cost him $50 and now he was going to have to pay $80 more. He argued but the airline wouldn't back down.  I offered to help him pack it up since I had done it a number of times but there was no box to be found and no tools. I'm not sure what happened but I just thought "man, how clueless can you be?"
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #13 on: April 29, 2008, 09:47:19 AM »
We paid $100 to Denver, and $50 to get them back to Philly.

Ok this is not really relative to cost, but I wanted to say the that the Iron Case made by Trico is a great way to ship your bike. It is heavy so you're not getting away with the overweight charge, but your bike will be so secure you will have no worries whether you ship it or check it on the plane. A good investment if you travel with your bike alot.
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« Reply #14 on: April 29, 2008, 03:54:05 PM »
The Poison spider is a great shop, they fixed my fork for me on he spot years ago on my first trip to Moab,-- try riding porcupine ridge with no suspension, and my only mt.bike experience was being lost in the wissahickon looking for the Harris brothers.The shop had the bike fixed in about an hour.
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jpearce
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« Reply #15 on: July 31, 2008, 11:27:08 AM »
Has anyone tried shipping a bike to a vacation destination?  A friend has one of those big bike shipping cases, but UPS is telling him that it's too big (60x48x18) to ship.  Anyone have any ideas?
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stymie
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« Reply #16 on: July 31, 2008, 11:32:16 AM »
Hey John,

I have a Crateworks box that is definitely FedEx compliant, so it should be cool for UPS as well. You are more than welcome to borrow it - let me know.

Cheers,

David
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jpearce
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« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2008, 12:01:58 PM »
Thanks - he's got the box but the person who's calling UPS and FedEx is getting outlandish shipping costs.  I think she's describing the size in feet rather than in inches, though.  Any idea what you've paid to ship it?
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stymie
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« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2008, 12:07:36 PM »
Good question - I cannot remember off-hand.

I think it was about $100 for a 3-day service, but that was using the FedEx account of the bike shop in Montana who sent it to me, so the rates were much better than what you would get just walking in off the street.

FWIW, the outer dimensions are listed as 45.5” X 30" X 11”
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« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2008, 04:14:02 PM »
Go to UPS website and they have a nice shipping calculator to get a price.   Last time I checked it was $150 with insurance (Which I recommend).    I would go UPS vs FEDEX.  it takes usually 5 business days to get to Colorado.     It was only a $20 difference vs. taking on plane when I went so I just took it on the plane and paid the $80 each way on United.

But baggage fees have since changed so I would check w/the airline.
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jpearce
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« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2008, 09:13:10 PM »
Thanks a lot.  Not sure what he'll decide to do, but at least he has the right info.
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