Tarheel Trailblazers Message Board - Flying with a bike

05/09/25 at 10:17am

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Flying with a bike (Read 1177 times)

DursRemote Coaster Bike Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 189 Location: Charlotte Joined: 09/05/12	Flying with a bike 08/26/13 at 4:50pm	Print Post
	I bet this has been discussed before, but the forum search didn't yield anything for me. Do people have advice on bringing a mountain bike on a plane? Delta charges $150 each way if you tell them it's a bike, so I'd rather not do that. I found an article below where a guy uses an old suitcase reinforced with duct tape, but he uses it for a road bike, which I bet takes up less space than a mountain bike. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) If I could figure something out, work trips might get a lot more fun.

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Its Teh Patrick Little Ring Offline Work & Ride with THTB! Posts: 516 Location: Cambridge, MA Joined: 02/24/09	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #1 - 08/26/13 at 5:03pm	Print Post
	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links); Done this several times, I use bubble wrap plus towels. I've fit a bigger downhill bike in it. Worked beautifully.

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (Attachment deleted) Simian Casual Monkey Apparel \| MTB Parts \| Graphic Design \| Part Design
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KitJ BBQman Big Ring Offline This is gonna hurt! Posts: 2525 Location: Matthews, NC Joined: 01/20/09	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #2 - 08/26/13 at 8:18pm	Print Post
	I wonder if that would work for a 29er?

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (Attachment deleted) I used to ride; now I just drink and cry about not riding.
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DursRemote Coaster Bike Offline Work Ride Tarheel Trailblazers Posts: 189 Location: Charlotte Joined: 09/05/12	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #3 - 08/26/13 at 10:54pm	Print Post
	Cool, thanks for the video. Seems much easier to find a hockey bag than an old suitcase of the exact right dimensions. I'll hit Dick's and see if they have one that'll fit my bike (it's a 29er). I wonder if the extra bike fee really gets you anything, like special handling instructions when they load the cargo. I'd guess either way it could get damaged if you don't pad it real well.

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ctweaver Coaster Bike Offline Posts: 51 Location: Rock Hill Joined: 01/31/11	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #4 - 08/26/13 at 11:05pm	Print Post
	I highly recommend bike flights ( (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) ). It cost me $110 round trip last time I shipped my DH bike to VT with a couple of extra tubes, and my tools in rolls (75lbs total). I wrapped the fork in a towel and used some pipe insulation on some other parts. I had a couple feet of 2" wide velcro to secure things in place. The box I used was a CRATEWORKS Pro XL-C. If you're bringing an XC bike you can definitely get away with a smaller box. If you're traveling and know your schedule, you could have it shipped to your hotel in advance. The bike handling fee is just a way for them to get more money for handling a large bag. If you go over ~50lbs they just might slap you with an overweight fee as well. Then there is the lack of insurance in case they do break it.
	« Last Edit: 08/26/13 at 11:08pm by ctweaver »
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853stolen Little Ring Offline Work & Ride with THTB! Posts: 609 Location: Charlotte, NC Joined: 02/27/09	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #5 - 08/26/13 at 11:18pm	Print Post
	You can ship through Performance bikes for $50 each way (you'll need to provide your own bike box). They can ship to your designation or to other Performance locations around your designated area. I have a bike box you're welcome to borrow if needed.

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (Attachment deleted) "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving" Albert Einstein
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hudsontp Big Ring Offline Posts: 2671 Joined: 08/16/08	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #6 - 08/26/13 at 11:40pm	Print Post
	A few years ago I took a bike in a duffle bag and took it as checked baggage each way... I took evrrything apart and all the tool...including taking off the rear triangle (super easy as it was a single pivot)... pre shopped a d had a spare wheelset lined up from craigslist... if you have a good place to leave wheels its much easier to take a bike in a bag (for me I have in laws that I can stash stuff at)

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Tom F In The Loop Offline I'm ready. Get the bike. Posts: 2028 Location: Can-of-pooless, NC Joined: 08/06/10	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #7 - 08/27/13 at 12:14am	Print Post
	Flew Southwest Sept 2010 out of Raleigh-Durham. Stayed at the La Quinta in Raleigh for $54 the night before. The motel let me leave my car there for 14 days no charge, and shuttled me to and from the airport. Had a carry on, and my gear bag. No charge with SWA. Could not get the bike boxed under the deminsion, so it was $50 each way to Texas. Good flight, actually made to feel like a passenger rather than livestock going to market. Only hitch was a gate change in Denver sent my Bike and gear bag to San Diego and I went to TX. They had my stuff to me the next day and a $100 voucher. TSA went through my gear though and removed my CO2 cartridges. Would fly SWA again.

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (Attachment deleted) 2011 (frame) Santa Cruz Superlight & Stumpy Comp (1999), 2017 Tallboy C RX2 22Levo
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JimShoe Big Ring Offline Posts: 1147 Location: Charlotte Joined: 12/17/06	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #8 - 08/27/13 at 12:25am	Print Post
	Ok, I have to put a plug in for my employer. Depending on where you are going check on Amtrak. The bike box is $15 and if you are traveling with your bike it's $10 to check it. You can take them for free to any station between Charlotte and Raleigh but have to have a reservation for your bike. The down side is a lot of our bikes will not fit in the Amtrak bike box. Some of us are working on making Amtrak more bike friendly but it is such a slow process. If you are not traveling with your bike the charge is higher for shipping it.

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (Attachment deleted) When the government takes responsibility for the people, the people will no longer take responsibility for themselves
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Its Teh Patrick Little Ring Offline Work & Ride with THTB! Posts: 516 Location: Cambridge, MA Joined: 02/24/09	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #9 - 08/27/13 at 12:49am	Print Post
	DursRemote wrote on 08/26/13 at 10:54pm: Cool, thanks for the video. Seems much easier to find a hockey bag than an old suitcase of the exact right dimensions. I'll hit Dick's and see if they have one that'll fit my bike (it's a 29er). I wonder if the extra bike fee really gets you anything, like special handling instructions when they load the cargo. I'd guess either way it could get damaged if you don't pad it real well. I've seen them chuck bike boxes into the plane. Every time I have done this, they add it as an extra bag, usually like $25

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) (Attachment deleted) Simian Casual Monkey Apparel \| MTB Parts \| Graphic Design \| Part Design
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49erRider Ex Member	Re: Flying with a bike Reply #10 - 08/27/13 at 1:06am	Print Post
	I've used this for my BMX bike before, not sure if it will fit a MTB wheel. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) Funny story my buddy phil was flying to Chicago and told them it was hockey equipment and there was a hole in the bag with the tire showing. They called him out pretty quick haha.

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