No one likes traveling light! Americans brought more than 218.5 million bags with them on flights in 2020. This statistic may make you believe that flying with a bike is easy. It’s true that thousands of bicyclists bring their bikes with them on flights every year. But it’s also true that bikes get damaged or mishandled. If you are going to fly with your bike, you need to be smart. How should you prepare for flying with your bike? How can you pack and store your bike so it won’t get damaged? How can you get through a layover? Answer these questions and you can make flying with a bike simple. Here is your quick guide.
Plan a Biking Vacation
Flying with a bike is a lot easier when you have a plan for your bike vacation. You can go on a bike tour while you are at your destination, or you can take your bike on personal trips through cities or the countryside.
If bringing a bike on a plane would be inconvenient for you, you should not bring a bike. You can rent one at your destination, or you can get your exercise by walking or lifting weights.
Be strategic with the flights you book. Try to avoid a layover or connections so your items do not get misplaced.
You should also be selective with the bike you plan on bringing. You can pack an electric bike like a GB Low Step 500, but the parts may break due to turbulence. You should try bringing a non-electric one that is easy to disassemble.
Read the Airline’s Regulations
If you choose to go on a vacation with your bike, you need to be mindful of airline regulations. Most airlines allow you to bring your bike as part of your checked luggage. However, they limit the weight and dimensions of bikes, and they may charge fees.
Google your airline’s regulations and read them carefully. If you book a first-class or business-class ticket, you may be able to bring a larger bike or avoid fees.
Regardless of the regulations, you should tell your airline that you are bringing a bike. This can help them prepare for storing and managing your items.
Disassemble Your Bike
You cannot bring a fully assembled bicycle onto an airplane. It will take too much space in the cargo hold, and it may break.
Talk to a bicycle repair shop about how you can disassemble your bike without breaking anything. You can also look at guides online or your operator’s manual.
At a minimum, you should remove the pedals, handlebars, and wheels. You can pack the tires, but you should deflate them and wrap them in insulation so they don’t burst. If you have accessories like a water bottle holder, you should remove them and pack them separately.
You can also remove the rotors, derailleur, and seat post. Though removing these parts is not required, it makes your bike box smaller and easier to travel with.
Disassembling your bike can take a couple of hours, so don’t do it the night before your flight. You may need a few wrenches to disassemble your bike, so buy them ahead of time or borrow them from a friend.
Pack Your Bike
Some airlines provide bike boxes or bags to people who are traveling with their bikes. Once you have your bike disassembled, you can put the parts in the box or bag.
You should try getting your own box because carrying parts outside of a box can be tricky. You can buy a cardboard box at low expense, or you can get a plastic case. A case is more expensive, but it offers better protection for your bike.
Make sure the sharp parts of your bike can’t cut through your box. You may want to tape some foam to the inside of your box to avoid this.
Once your bike is packed, you can go to the airport. Bring it to your airline representative and stay with it while it is being weighed. You may need to pay an additional fee or adjust the packaging so it doesn’t get damaged.
Navigate a Layover
You don’t have to worry about your bike if you have a direct flight to your destination. If you have a layover, you may need to do a few different things.
Some countries or airlines require you to pick up your checked luggage, go back through customs, and recheck your bags. This is often the case when you are flying into an international hub and need to take a regional flight to your destination.
You need plenty of time in order to pull this off. As soon as you get off the plane, head directly to baggage claim and grab your bike.
Your airline may not transfer your bags between flights if you are using different terminals in a large airport. You will need to grab your bags and check them again, though you may not need to go through customs. You should head to the claim and get your bags checked again as soon as possible.
Start Flying With a Bike
Flying with a bike doesn’t have to be difficult. You need to do your research, examining the regulations for using a bike at your destination and flying with it.
You should disassemble your bike and pack it in a sturdy container. Put insulation in the container to keep your parts from breaking.
Book a direct flight to your destination whenever you can. If you must do a layover, act quickly and get your bike on your second plane right away.
Flying is always a challenge, with or without a bike. Read more air travel guides by following our coverage.