Flying wth bike... in a hockey bag?
 

I'm flying to San Diego for work in a few months for a week. Want to bring at least some kind of bike, so I'll probably bring my beater fixie.

Seeing how it is my steel, clunker, beater, and I don't want to buy a hard case for it and pay $50-100 fee, anyone every pack their bike in a hockey bag (which incidentally doesn't seem to get a fee if its under weight)?

Any other way to fly with a bike for free or next to nothing?

A hockey bag is a good idea...never would have thought of that.

My brother has flown with his bag full of hockey gear several times and I don't think he's ever been charged extra fees.

I've actually contemplated something along these lines for when I go back to Tampa to visit my parents.

I would worry about it being damaged. If they assume that there is hockey equipment or clothes in it, that thing will be tossed around like crazy. You can always use a free cardboard box from a bike shop, but you may get charged a fee with the airline.

The Frame should be ok in a bag,not so sure about the wheels though.Depending on the airline they might charge you anyway,even if it's under the weightlimit.That happened to the owner of my Lbs when he went to a Tradeshow.The airline insisted that a disassembled bike is still a bike and bikes require a surcharge.

Don't fly on Delta! They charge 300.00 for a bicycle. Not sure if that's just international....but check.

How big is the bag? I'd be surprised if you can fit a bike in there.

Hockey bags are big, as you can you fit a body in there.

Well, I'd pack things good, like box the wheels and such, or do something so the spokes are protected, but its my beater bike with beater wheels.

Yeah, screw delta. I looked up every airline that flies from here to San Diego and Delta was like $175 for a bike. WTF is that?? Frontier was only $50, which isnt' bad at all, but at $100 round trip, I'm still too cheap. And a hockey bag?? Free mofo's, f'in free.

I was flying back from Mexico and decided to look up the cost of bringing a bike at the last minute. Saw that it was 300.00 and just left my frame and took all of the components. It's was an older carbon fiber mountain bike with a cracked frame. Still pissed me off.

You can fit a set of wheels into a hockey bag?
Besides that, the baggage guys will completely ruin your bike.
Sorry to be a pessimist. I hope it works out!

dude
just mail it.

your frame will be dented to all hell in just a hockey bag. and if there's any damage, they will be off the hook because you didnt follow the cargo protocol.

Might actually be a time when aerospokes would be good.

How To Fly Cheaper With Your Bike
Jul 22, 2010
How To Fly Cheaper With Your Bike - Pinkbike

Note that a lot of hockey bags are not as big as this one. You have to get one at least 22" wide.

Something like this for example is 36" X 18" X 16":
Bauer Premium Hockey Equipment Wheeled Bag - 36 Inch

"Hockey bags are big, as you can you fit a body in there. "-Posted by Jerseybeast
Think he be another "good fellow" from Jersey!

The last (and only) time I flew with a bike, I used this. No extra fee. I was flying Virgin America and they just treated it like regular checked baggage.

Who are ya'll flying with where checked baggage is still free?

****, most places even charge for a carry on.

Mine was Virgin America, PHL to LAX. This was in 2012, so I'm not sure if they've changed their policies since then. For subsequent cross-country transport I just shipped the bikes because it was more convenient.

I fly southwest whenever I can because they have 2 free checked bags and I have a soft case for my bike that I have to tear down almost completely but I've never paid for a bike.

I just tell them it's camera equipment and they don't question it. Just make sure to wrap your bike up nicely were it won't clank back and forth a lot and it's usually fine.