Cheaper to ship the bike or take it on a plane?
08-15-18, 11:53 AM
#26
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Use bike flights. If you are staying at a motel, you can ship it there if the motel allows. Often bike shops can accept your bike and for a fee assemble it for you.
A big advantage of shipping bike separate from your flight is that you do not have to deal with getting a full size bike box to and from an airport. Taxis in my community can't carry a bike box in a Prius.
A big advantage of shipping bike separate from your flight is that you do not have to deal with getting a full size bike box to and from an airport. Taxis in my community can't carry a bike box in a Prius.
I have not done so because I took my S&S coupled bike or my folder on the plane without an oversize fee.
08-15-18, 05:41 PM
#27
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My daughter flew with her bike in cargo a few years ago. Her bike got many more frequent flyer miles plus arrived 3 days later. Fortunately for her, it was at the end of a trip.
08-16-18, 06:55 AM
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Alaskas Website says packing requirement is "soft or hard sided case designed specifically for the sporting equipment piece."
So a bike box counts?
So a bike box counts?
Alaska Airlines will take a boxed bicycle as checked baggage for $25. Downside is that TSA will maul your box. I used them roundtrip in July. On way out they checked the bike and all my panniers and didn’t charge me anything. On the way back they wanted to charge me excess weight fee of $50 because my box was over 50 lbs and goodies besides the bike were in it. She waived it “this time” but did charge the $25. Rear derailleur hanger was tweaked on the return flight.
08-16-18, 07:02 AM
#29
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Checking a bicycle as airline luggage is 10 times cheaper than Fedex.
Not to mention, outside of North America many airlines carry bicycles completely for free.
Not to mention, outside of North America many airlines carry bicycles completely for free.
08-16-18, 09:50 AM
#30
Every day a winding road
That is a rather broad statement. Inside the US it is usually much cheaper to ship. as yes it can be Fedex as long as it is ground. Fedex usually has better rates and is also what bikeflights uses.
08-16-18, 04:03 PM
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Thanks very much all my good experienced felow cyclists, all very good replies here, I'd be dropping the bike at the bike shop this weekend and have it fedexed to my accommodations
08-16-18, 06:35 PM
#32
Every day a winding road
You might be able to do better with bike flights as far as price. Their site is very easy to use. Not going to hurt to get a quote. Nothing says you can't drop off the bike with a shipping label.
08-16-18, 08:15 PM
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08-17-18, 04:17 AM
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My best riding bud Cheryl is going to be the Katy Trail with you. She is riding a grey Trek single speed belt drive. Her and her mother are doing it together.
08-17-18, 08:48 AM
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Don't tell the bike shop to use fed ex, instead tell the bike shop to check the price on bike flights first, then if they can find a cheaper option, to let you know first. If you really want to use fed ex (maybe you get a discount from work?) if it was me, I would check other prices too.
08-17-18, 09:00 AM
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Don't tell the bike shop to use fed ex, instead tell the bike shop to check the price on bike flights first, then if they can find a cheaper option, to let you know first. If you really want to use fed ex (maybe you get a discount from work?) if it was me, I would check other prices too.
That said, when I ordered my fat bike, someone's LBS shipped it via Bike Flights, I'd imagine most know of it.
08-17-18, 01:03 PM
#37
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08-18-18, 01:10 AM
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08-18-18, 02:56 AM
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As another has noted, it cannot hurt to use their web site to get a quote.
08-18-18, 03:10 AM
#40
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Just did some research shipping from Pa. to Northern Italy for next spring. Bikeflights was $173. out and about 260.00 back. Rates vary with dates. Have air miles with American and I believe as a carry on it would be $250.00? BTY I had the local FedEX shop quote me on for 40lbs. Bike Box Allan. Came back at $606.00 one way......
08-18-18, 08:03 AM
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It'd be nice to see those prices come down, so I could bring back some C&V souvenirs
08-19-18, 12:17 AM
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Having had a LBS ship my bike and having purchased FedEx shipping through Bikeflights.com several times, I am confident you will get a lower rate through the latter. Possibly much lower. And probably faster delivery. (Have sent my bike to Montana from the east coast in 4 days on three occasions.) So you know, Bikeflights is a discount broker for bike shipping using FedEx. It's not its own shipping company. When you purchase shipping through them, you are emailed a FedEx label. You can then take drop off the boxed bike at any FedEx location, including FedEx/Kinko's stores. I am fortunate that the LBS that boxes my bike is around the corner from a FedEx/Kinko's. Once the bike is boxed, the shop drops it off for me.
As another has noted, it cannot hurt to use their web site to get a quote.
As another has noted, it cannot hurt to use their web site to get a quote.
Yes, had my LBS pack the bike while I was grocery shopping today and now it's ready to be dropped off at FedEx down the street from me after work on Monday, 4 day delivery time for less than $50 (through bikeflights) to a bike shop less than 1/2 mile walking distance to my accommodation which would be one hour public transportation ride from the airport, So, so far do good, great
Now I wish I knew what kind of gopro like camera for documenting the trip I should get, off topic I know,
Last edited by Eds0123; 08-19-18 at 12:21 AM. Reason: spelling punctuation errors
08-19-18, 04:25 AM
#43
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Well........ I got the low price by using, it looks like smaller measurements. When I input bike box allen (the box I'd probably get) the price shot up to over $700 one way! So my apologies as it appears the advice of checking it in at the airport for international flights so VERY GOOD advise!!!!
08-19-18, 06:15 AM
#44
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Ok Got this from American Airlines site. Don't know if this is for domestic flights only. Anyone with experience with this? Sounds too good to be true?
08-19-18, 08:56 AM
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It was a far more ambitious goal than I cared to undertake though, I still have hours of raw video from two tours sitting around waiting to do anything with. Didn't bother with it this last trip, and dont feel i missed out on documenting anything.
$150 each way sounds right for American. Definitely not too good to be true.
08-19-18, 11:07 AM
#46
Every day a winding road
$150 is "too good to be true"??? Since when? Fee used to be $50 and free on international flights.
And the last line is a lie. If anything they will abuse your bike.
08-19-18, 06:39 PM
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I just scrapped 2 trips on jetBlue because they recently changed their bike policy limiting maximum size to 80 inches. So my Crateworks, at 87 inches, is a no go on jetBlue. I think Trico and Thule are about the same. A great company to fly, loved the $50 bike charge, and never abuse of the bike box, but had to find other options. What's quoted above seems pretty standard for domestic travel American, Delta and United, only the sizes vary a bit, but that should not be an issue to most of the commercially available cases.
08-19-18, 06:40 PM
#48
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Well $150.00 is a whole lot better than bikeflights at $700.00 and me taking it to a FedEx center myself for $606.00. Don't you agree? Lots of things "use to be"........
08-19-18, 07:22 PM
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Bikeflights is not the service to use for international shipping. $150 to take in on the plane with you could be worse. When I flew to Venice in 2013 U.S. Airways hit me for $200 each way. I think that has come down to $150.
08-20-18, 11:03 AM
#50
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Check to see if upgrading your seat will allow you free checked bags. In April '18 I flew from San Diego to Vancouver. IIRC Bikeflights was >$400 plus a customs tax based on the value of the bike. When I was making the reservation I upgraded my seat to get more legroom and that extra $50 got me two free checked bags. My bike was one and the other was a 2'x2' square box with my rear panniers, shoes and helmet. my front panniers were my carry-on. My buddy dropped me off at the curb and a porter loaded the boxes onto a cart. I got to Vancouver and they were sitting off to the side. They'd been opened by Homeland Security but not unpacked. Everything was good. Except for the old Dura Ace front skewer that I left on a table at the bike shop back home when I was talking instead of concentrating on packing..