transporting bikes

For some time I've been collecting information on user experiences taking
bikes on planes, trains, buses, boats, etc. There's lots of stuff on
rentals, folding bikes, boxing, airlines, and railroads around the world and
how to ride in/out of about 120 airports. There's section to the site on
flying with bikes since 9-11-2001.

In general, unless the airline insists, you do not need any kind of bag --
it is not very protective and it may tempt the luggage handlers to throw
stuff on top. The best kind of bag is transparent plastic, IMHO

See it at http://www.BikeAccess.net

George

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Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a bag for the bike when travelling by plane.
The bag needs to be light and capable of being folded up so that I can
carry it on the bike whilst touring. Thanks, Dave

Quoted message said:

an anyone recommend a bag for the bike when travelling by plane.
The bag needs to be light and capable of being folded up so that I can
carry it on the bike whilst touring.

most airlines, however, require that the bike be boxed or in a
hard case.

A few years ago, a friend and I traveled to DFW. We arrived at the
airline counter and asked for a box. They had none and gave us a big
plastic bike bag. I have read that some travelers like this option
better, because the handlers know that there is a bicycle in the bag
and handle it more carefully.

Jim said:

A few years ago, a friend and I traveled to DFW. We arrived at the
airline counter and asked for a box. They had none and gave us a big
plastic bike bag. I have read that some travelers like this option
better, because the handlers know that there is a bicycle in the bag
and handle it more carefully.

Yea, right...they "handle it more carefully." Believe that if you
want.

You ever felt the plane shake while they are loading the baggage (I
certainly have, many many times). That's your "gentle" baggage
loaders. They are usually very cramped for time and don't have time
to be "gentle."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A few years ago, a friend and I traveled to DFW. We arrived at the
airline counter and asked for a box. They had none and gave us a big
plastic bike bag. I have read that some travelers like this option
better, because the handlers know that there is a bicycle in the bag
and handle it more carefully.

Yea, right...they "handle it more carefully." Believe that if you
want.

One data point.

I have flown my bicycles on commercial aircraft more than 30 times.
In the process, I've paid United Airlines more than double in fees
what I paid Cannondale for my touring bike. I've had slight damage 3
times, the common ailment being a ding in the top (aluminum) tube. I
probably should get a hard case, though many of these ride I'll fly
into one airport and out another. Typically I put them in airline
boxes a few times I've flown them in plastic bags.

While I agree with the second poster above that a bag does little on
luggage that settles/moves around... I do think it helps in one
situation. I cring but on multiple occasions I see they've put
luggage on a baggage cart by putting the bike box across the bottom
and then stacking luggage on top to fill up the cart. Having the
wheels still on with axles and having racks seems to prevent the worst
"smoosh" effect but it is disconcerting nevertheless to watch them
bring your bike to the plane in this fashion. I'm not quite sure how
they end up with dings on top tube, but I expect they do a crease the
box across a corner with bike behind it.

I've flown with bike just in a bag or entirely loose ~4-5 times of
this total. It survived fine in that small set of times.

Everything else being the same, I would prefer a clear bag since it
seems like it may get a little better handling getting to/from the
plane even though it may be a little riskier in shifting luggage
problems. Its not a strong preference.

--mev, Mike Vermeulen