62" limit bikebox on plane

Why can't you buy a bike when you get to NZ? If it is worth $120-$150 I would just buy one there
since you are going to leave it anyway. Or maybe you could check rates on having it shipped by a
freight carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc.)

"Jim F. Kemper" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles,

not

Quoted message said:

ticketed straight through (different carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along.
Has anyone been able to meet the 62" limit for the sum of the dimensions of the box? No problem
disassembling. Thought of boxing the wheels separately or carrying them on in a garment bag.
I'll also be carrying a fullsize internal frame backpack. Just seems silly paying $60 - $75
twice on the way over for a bike that's worth about the same. Plan to leave the bike over there
for future trips.

Steve reply to group only

Jim F. Kemper said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles, not ticketed straight through (different
carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along. Has anyone been able to meet the 62"
limit for the sum of the dimensions of the box? No problem disassembling. Thought of boxing the
wheels separately or carrying them on in a garment bag. I'll also be carrying a fullsize internal
frame backpack. Just seems silly paying $60 - $75 twice on the way over for a bike that's worth
about the same. Plan to leave the bike over there for future trips.

Steve reply to group only

What airline you flying on?

Check here: ibike.orgbagregs.htmOpen ↗

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO cycletourist.comcycletourist.comOpen ↗ Integrity is obvious. The lack of it
is common.
*****************************

Quoted message said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles, not ticketed straight through (different
carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along. Has anyone been able to meet the 62"
limit for the sum of the dimensions of the box?

I have flown to/from New Zealand with a large bicycle. While not 62", I have used the airline boxes,
which allows for easy packing. For the most common US box size, this means remove pedals, turn
handlebars, remove seat. Quantas has boxes that are shorter and fatter. This means to also remove
the wheels and fenders.

The international rates keep changing. However, in the most common international flight cases I've
been able to do the following:
* Check the bike through to the destination (nice if you can somehow have them do that even with two
disjoint flights...less hassle in LA and potential cheaper fare).
* Use an "international rule", where bicycle is one piece of luggage, so as long as only have two
pieces of luggage bicycle is free.

Looking through my journal notes more specifically:

* Australia to NZ (Dec '01): bought bike box, not clear if I paid extra for the box.
* NZ to India (Jan '02): Initially were going to charge me extra per kilo. Ticket agent took pity on
my and let bike go for free.
* US to Australia (May '01): Bike flies as piece of luggage. I have 3 pieces so pay $75.
* Australia to US (Aug '01): Initially were going to charge me for Perth to Sydney leg of Perth ->
SFO trip. Agreed to let bike fly for free.
* US to Australia (Sept '01): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.
* India to USA (Feb '02): Was told of large fee but waived as "special allowance".
* US to Australia (Nov '99): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.
* Australia to US (Dec '99): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.

If you are really going to bring it down to 62", I'd probably think of trying to make it look like a
painting or golf clubs or some other thing that flies for free :-)...

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

".o0 0o." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why can't you buy a bike when you get to NZ? If it is worth $120-$150 I would just buy one there
since you are going to leave it anyway. Or maybe you could check rates on having it shipped by a
freight carrier (FedEx,

UPS,

Quoted message said:

etc.)

Buying there is a possibility. Have been looking at www.trademe.co.nz, like ebay, but I really need
a 25" frame. Will keep looking.

thanks, Steve

"Chuck Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:z6v%b.67467$4o.87380@attbi_s52...

Quoted message said:

Jim F. Kemper said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles,

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ticketed straight through (different carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along.
Has anyone been able to meet the 62" limit for

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

sum of the dimensions of the box? No problem disassembling. Thought of boxing the wheels
separately or carrying them on in a garment bag. I'll also be carrying a fullsize internal frame
backpack. Just seems silly paying $60 - $75 twice on the way over for a bike that's worth about
the same. Plan to leave the bike over there for future trips.

Steve reply to group only

What airline you flying on?

Check here: ibike.orgbagregs.htmOpen ↗

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO cycletourist.comcycletourist.comOpen ↗ Integrity is obvious. The lack of it is
common.
*****************************

Thanks for the site, Chuck. Delta to LAX, then Quantas from there, unfortunately not on the same
ticket. Called Delta who told me about the 62" limit for free checked baggage.

regards, Steve

"Mike Vermeulen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles,

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ticketed straight through (different carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along.
Has anyone been able to meet the 62" limit for

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

sum of the dimensions of the box?

I have flown to/from New Zealand with a large bicycle. While not 62", I have used the airline
boxes, which allows for easy packing. For the most common US box size, this means remove pedals,
turn handlebars, remove seat. Quantas has boxes that are shorter and fatter. This means to also
remove the wheels and fenders.

The international rates keep changing. However, in the most common international flight cases I've
been able to do the following:
* Check the bike through to the destination (nice if you can somehow have them do that even with
two disjoint flights...less hassle in LA and potential cheaper fare).
* Use an "international rule", where bicycle is one piece of luggage, so as long as only have two
pieces of luggage bicycle is free.

Looking through my journal notes more specifically:

* Australia to NZ (Dec '01): bought bike box, not clear if I paid extra for the box.
* NZ to India (Jan '02): Initially were going to charge me extra per kilo. Ticket agent took pity
on my and let bike go for free.
* US to Australia (May '01): Bike flies as piece of luggage. I have 3 pieces so pay $75.
* Australia to US (Aug '01): Initially were going to charge me for Perth to Sydney leg of Perth ->
SFO trip. Agreed to let bike fly for free.
* US to Australia (Sept '01): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.
* India to USA (Feb '02): Was told of large fee but waived as "special allowance".
* US to Australia (Nov '99): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.
* Australia to US (Dec '99): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.

If you are really going to bring it down to 62", I'd probably think of trying to make it look like
a painting or golf clubs or some other thing that flies for free :-)...

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

Bedaankt, Mike. If it's down to 62", they have to take it for free. Read about someone with a larger
package that said it contained presentation materials. Five minutes later he was paged. They xrayed
the box and asked him to come up with $75. Might just leave the bike behind for this short trip and
plan better for a longer one next year.

regards, Steve

If you do bring your bike- the agricultural airport guys here are real hot on clean. The New Zealand
Trade and Exchange is another scource of second hand bikes.

"Jim F. Kemper" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mike Vermeulen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would

appreciate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your input. I'll be flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles,

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ticketed straight through (different carriers). I'd like to take my

25"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

frame road bike along. Has anyone been able to meet the 62" limit for

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

sum of the dimensions of the box?

I have flown to/from New Zealand with a large bicycle. While not 62", I have used the airline
boxes, which allows for easy packing. For the most common US box size, this means remove pedals,
turn handlebars, remove seat. Quantas has boxes that are shorter and fatter. This means to also
remove the wheels and fenders.

The international rates keep changing. However, in the most common international flight cases
I've been able to do the following:
* Check the bike through to the destination (nice if you can somehow have them do that even with
two disjoint flights...less hassle in LA and potential cheaper fare).
* Use an "international rule", where bicycle is one piece of luggage, so as long as only have
two pieces of luggage bicycle is free.

Looking through my journal notes more specifically:

* Australia to NZ (Dec '01): bought bike box, not clear if I paid extra for the box.
* NZ to India (Jan '02): Initially were going to charge me extra per kilo. Ticket agent took
pity on my and let bike go for free.
* US to Australia (May '01): Bike flies as piece of luggage. I have 3 pieces so pay $75.
* Australia to US (Aug '01): Initially were going to charge me for Perth to Sydney leg of Perth
-> SFO trip. Agreed to let bike fly for free.
* US to Australia (Sept '01): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.
* India to USA (Feb '02): Was told of large fee but waived as "special allowance".
* US to Australia (Nov '99): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.
* Australia to US (Dec '99): Bike flies as one piece of luggage.

If you are really going to bring it down to 62", I'd probably think of trying to make it look
like a painting or golf clubs or some other thing that flies for free :-)...

--mev, Mike Vermeulen

Bedaankt, Mike. If it's down to 62", they have to take it for free. Read about someone with a
larger package that said it contained presentation materials. Five minutes later he was paged.
They xrayed the box and

asked

Quoted message said:

him to come up with $75. Might just leave the bike behind for this short trip and plan better for
a longer one next year.

regards, Steve

Jim F. Kemper said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles, not ticketed straight through (different
carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along. Has anyone been able to meet the 62"
limit for the sum of the dimensions of the box? No problem disassembling.

Thats good because I have a large frame (62cm) frame that fits into the bike box but requires
removing the crank, and the racks, and the fenders...

freeengineer.org05 BikeInBox.jpgOpen ↗.

peace

CRM

Thought of

Quoted message said:

boxing the wheels separately or carrying them on in a garment bag. I'll also be carrying a
fullsize internal frame backpack. Just seems silly paying $60 - $75 twice on the way over for a
bike that's worth about the same. Plan to leave the bike over there for future trips.

Steve reply to group only

"cashrefundman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jim F. Kemper said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would

appreciate

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your input. I'll be flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles,

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ticketed straight through (different carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along.
Has anyone been able to meet the 62" limit for

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

sum of the dimensions of the box? No problem disassembling.

Thats good because I have a large frame (62cm) frame that fits into the bike box but requires
removing the crank, and the racks, and the

fenders...

Quoted message said:

freeengineer.org05 BikeInBox.jpgOpen ↗.

peace

CRM

Thought of

Quoted message said:

boxing the wheels separately or carrying them on in a garment bag. I'll also be carrying a
fullsize internal frame backpack. Just seems silly paying $60 - $75 twice on the way over for a
bike that's worth about the same. Plan to leave the bike over there for future trips.

Steve reply to group only

Great pic! I see you removed the bottom bracket. Don't want the ends of the spindle poking through.
I was going to remove the fork also.

thanks, Steve

"Ruth & Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

If you do bring your bike- the agricultural airport guys here are real hot on clean. The New
Zealand Trade and Exchange is another scource of second hand

bikes.

Great idea! I remember buying it on a previous visit. Just found their online version. Thanks!

Steve

In article <[email hidden]>, "Jim F. Kemper"

Quoted message said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles, not ticketed straight through (different
carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along. Has anyone been able to meet the 62"
limit for the sum of the dimensions of the box? No problem disassembling. Thought of boxing the
wheels separately or carrying them on in a garment bag. I'll also be carrying a fullsize internal
frame backpack. Just seems silly paying $60 - $75 twice on the way over for a bike that's worth
about the same. Plan to leave the bike over there for future trips.

It's been my experience (several international flights) that they seem to ignore those dimensions.
If they accept a bike, then they don't measure the box. I think they are more worried about people
bringing big steamer trunks.

I flew Qantus to NZ last year (from L.A.) and there was no trouble with the box. I'd gotten a small
box that required taking off the front wheel. When coming back I managed to find a large box in
Auckland which allowed me to merely remove the pedals and turn the handlebars. Qantus accepted it
with no question, which was a relief since it made the assembly at LAX much easier.

I'll be flying to Chile in a couple of weeks. I emailed LanChile about the bike, and they said "no
problema". They were glad to accept bikes if they met some ridiculous sum-of-measurements
requirement that no bike box could ever possibly meet (except perhaps a Bike Friday). But, having
flown LanChile before, I expect no problema.

Harry

Steve said:

Great pic! I see you removed the bottom bracket. Don't want the ends of the spindle poking
through. I was going to remove the fork also.

No only the cranks.

CRM

Steve,

To meet the 62" requirement you need a folding bike or S & S couplers on your bike . Just the
couplers alone are worth more than your bike.

Occasionally an airline, expecially during the summer or if you're the last to check in, will refuse
to allow an oversize box and you will have to scramble to get your bike shipped.

For an explaination on the 62" requirement go to: sandsmachine.comregs.htmOpen ↗

Enjoy,

Perry B

"Jim F. Kemper" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Found some good info at www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/ but would appreciate your input. I'll be
flying to New Zealand from Dallas via Los Angeles,

not

Quoted message said:

ticketed straight through (different carriers). I'd like to take my 25" frame road bike along.
Has anyone been able to meet the 62" limit for the sum of the dimensions of the box? No problem
disassembling. Thought of boxing the wheels separately or carrying them on in a garment bag.
I'll also be carrying a fullsize internal frame backpack. Just seems silly paying $60 - $75
twice on the way over for a bike that's worth about the same. Plan to leave the bike over there
for future trips.

Steve reply to group only

"Perry Butler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve,

To meet the 62" requirement you need a folding bike or S & S couplers on your bike . Just the
couplers alone are worth more than your bike.

Occasionally an airline, expecially during the summer or if you're the

last

Quoted message said:

to check in, will refuse to allow an oversize box and you will have to scramble to get your bike
shipped.

For an explaination on the 62" requirement go to: sandsmachine.comregs.htmOpen ↗

Enjoy,

Perry B

I appreciate the reply and the link, Perry. I'm thinking now about two boxes, one for the wheels and
one for the frame with spindle and fork removed. Instead of a backpack I'm thinking of just bringing
a daypack which I'll carry on. Damn, they don't make it easy for you.

Steve

Look into shipping your bike via FedEx or possibly UPS. It beats the airline baggage charge.

--

alan

Anyone who believes in a liberal media has never read the "Daily Oklahoman."

"Jim F. Kemper" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Perry Butler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve,

To meet the 62" requirement you need a folding bike or S & S couplers on your bike . Just the
couplers alone are worth more than your bike.

Occasionally an airline, expecially during the summer or if you're the

last

Quoted message said:

to check in, will refuse to allow an oversize box and you will have to scramble to get your bike
shipped.

For an explaination on the 62" requirement go to: sandsmachine.comregs.htmOpen ↗

Enjoy,

Perry B

I appreciate the reply and the link, Perry. I'm thinking now about two boxes, one for the wheels
and one for the frame with spindle and fork removed. Instead of a backpack I'm thinking of just
bringing a daypack which I'll carry on. Damn, they don't make it easy for you.

Steve

Jim F. Kemper said:

"Perry Butler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve,

To meet the 62" requirement you need a folding bike or S & S couplers on your bike . Just the
couplers alone are worth more than your bike.

Occasionally an airline, expecially during the summer or if you're the

last

Quoted message said:

to check in, will refuse to allow an oversize box and you will have to scramble to get your bike
shipped.

For an explaination on the 62" requirement go to: sandsmachine.comregs.htmOpen ↗

Enjoy,

Perry B

I appreciate the reply and the link, Perry. I'm thinking now about two boxes, one for the wheels
and one for the frame with spindle and fork removed. Instead of a backpack I'm thinking of just
bringing a daypack which I'll carry on. Damn, they don't make it easy for you.

Steve

Geez. What airline is this? Have you said and I missed it? It sounds like one to avoid. I've always
put my bike in a standard bike shipping box (cardboard), or even a "self-manufactured" box, and off
we go. No problem. No one has ever measured it.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO cycletourist.comcycletourist.comOpen ↗ Integrity is obvious. The lack of it
is common.
*****************************

"Chuck Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:hep0c.147837$jk2.576953@attbi_s53...

Quoted message said:

Jim F. Kemper said:

"Perry Butler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve,

To meet the 62" requirement you need a folding bike or S & S couplers

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your bike . Just the couplers alone are worth more than your bike.

Occasionally an airline, expecially during the summer or if you're the

last

Quoted message said:

to check in, will refuse to allow an oversize box and you will have to scramble to get your
bike shipped.

For an explaination on the 62" requirement go to: sandsmachine.comregs.htmOpen ↗

Enjoy,

Perry B

I appreciate the reply and the link, Perry. I'm thinking now about two boxes, one for the wheels
and one for the frame with spindle and fork removed. Instead of a backpack I'm thinking of just
bringing a daypack which I'll carry on. Damn, they don't make it easy for you.

Steve

Geez. What airline is this? Have you said and I missed it? It sounds like one to avoid. I've
always put my bike in a standard bike shipping box (cardboard), or even a "self-manufactured" box,
and off we go. No problem. No one has ever measured it.

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO cycletourist.comcycletourist.comOpen ↗ Integrity is obvious. The lack of it is
common.
*****************************

It's Delta, Chuck. That's what they told me over the phone. In person I may get lucky. But I've been
hit with the fee before. I'll follow up early April.

Steve