I am flying to IM Florida from the Northeast and I have never flown with my bike.
(Details I have a TT bike with Hed 6 on front and disc on back and I don’t own any bike container/storage box or whatever you call it.)
I got this information (Thx Rappstar)
THE BEST
Southwest: $50/bike & two checked bags free
WestJet: $40/bike & two checked bags free
AirCanada: $50/bike & two checked bags free
VERY GOOD
Alaska: $50/bike & $15 first checked bag fee. The $50 bike fee includes the $25 second bag fee
JetBlue: $50/bike & $20 second bag fee
Frontier: $50/bike & $15 first bag & $25 second bag fee (optional $25 ticket upgrade gives you two checked bags free & directtv access - which is normally $6)
Virgin: $50/bike (VirginAmerica) or FREE (VirginAtlantic)
British Airways: Free internationally
Mexicana: Free with Mexican Athletic Federation membership ($40)
My questions:
(1) How do I pack the bike?
(2) Is it “safe?”
(3) Should I just go with one of the bike shipping companies?
(4) If I bring the bike on the plane do i need to purchase a protective container for it?
Any of input is appreciated.
thx
You can rent travel boxes from some bike/tri shops.
I would suggest supporting with your purchase of an airline ticket those airlines that have reasonable bike fees - you may end up paying a bit more for your ticket up front, but will save on the back-end with the lower bike fees as some of the bigger carriers are charging $150 or more each way!!
Learn how to break-down and build back up your bike. It’s not that complicated - if it’s not one of the newer super TT bikes. If concerned about this, you can build it up and have it checked at the other end by the shop associated with the race - they’ll have mechanics on site.
I agree with all the other points, but one big thing to bring up is the size of your bike.
I’m 6’5" and with my 60+cm bikes, they don’t fit in the standard, flat, hard travel cases. I got a triall3 case, which is awesome and you don’t have to take your bike apart very much. The drawback is that is hardly fits in my SUV its so big. Airlines will take it, but then on the other end you need to rent an SUV to get it to your hotel.
For this reason I end up using Tri Bike Transport.
As of a few months ago, Frontier Airlines flies your bike for free (although you may need to pay $20 for the checked bag unless you get one of their Plus fare tickets). It’s a welcome relief to tell the Frontier agent, “There is a bike in that case” rather than trying to bluff your way through not paying the oversized surcharge that most airlines charge.
I have an XL bike with an integrated seatpost. It fits just fine in the Aerus Biospeed (soft)case so long as I take off the fork. I also travel with race wheels and I’ve had no problems even after a dozen or so trips.
I just went through this for the first time a couple weeks ago, when I was flying back to college with my tri bike.
I flew Southwest. I absolutely suck with anything bike-related, but it was straightforward. I used a generic plastic hard case (looks like the trico) I got for cheap off craigslist.
Take off seatpost. Take off both wheels.Take off rear derailleur. Bubble-wrap and zip-tie to chainstay.Take off cock-pit and zip-tie base bar to top-tube and fork. I took off the aerobars to allow the base bar to overlap more since the shifter cables were restrictive… this took me way too long to figure out.Insert drop-out protectors in front and rear.Use foam pipe insulation on everything, use one on each side if your downtube is aero/thick. Tape them together. Bubble/paper wrap everything again for extra cushion.Tie it down to the case (should have straps at the bottom going through holes on the bottom foam layer).Make sure to put some random thick foam bits between the bike and the side of the case. Zip tie them to the bike if you have to.Cover with bike case foam.Sort of sketchy. I wouldn’t do it with race wheels. Put wheels overlapping with cardboard in between on that piece of foam. Cassette-side UP. Front wheel on top. Make sure hubs don’t contact the bike.Cover with bike case foam.Write a note explaining it’s a bike to TSA.Put top half on.Push down firmly to squeeze the case. Secure the straps.
I brought my training wheels so i didn’t mind putting it in the case, but both the bike and wheels would be infinitely safer in separate cases.
Drop off the bike at the xray machine. Hover around and watch them unpack it. For me, the person only removed the top bike case half, and took residue swabs. Then put it back on and secured the straps.
They’ll pick your bike up at a local LBS, transport it to the event site (fully assembled) and you pick it up steps away from transition.
Repeat in reverse for the trip home and they’ll take a gear bag too.
Also, I’m not sure it is all that much more expensive to use TBT anymore. When airlines were taking bike boxes for free (albeit with some deceit on the part of travelers) then TBT seemed like a luxury. Now with baggage fees pushing into the hundreds when you add in the cost of a bike box (even a rented one) then TBT starts to make even more sense.
I don’t think I’ll ever pack my bike on a plane again if I have the choice.
I agree - in the end, TriBike Transport may not be much more expensive. FedEx would probably be cheaper, but that requires a lot of time (packing and unpacking the bike) and finger crossing. To the OP: you made it this far in training…treat yourself to some peace of mind on race week.