any experiences? Good, Bad or Indifferent? Good idea or simple insanity? Gorillas jumping all over that nicely packed box with a carbon frame inside?
all feedback appreciated.
cheers
S.
any experiences? Good, Bad or Indifferent? Good idea or simple insanity? Gorillas jumping all over that nicely packed box with a carbon frame inside?
A few points:
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I don’t think that airline baggage handlers purposfully beat up on bike boxes, although it’s been known to happen.
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Check directly with the airline in question as to what their extra baggage and in particularly their policy regarding bikes is. Check the website first and then follow up by phone or email.
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Know that whatever policy that you do find out in #2 and firmed in writing and sworn all-over that they *will *apply, will be very inconsistantly applied at check-in. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t!!
if you know where are going, there is no reason to fly with a bike anymore.
Ship ahead of time. I just shipped my bike to CA for training camp and fedex ground (delivery date guaranteed) was 2 days and $42, insured for the full amount of the bike.
The airlines will not insure. The airlines will charge 50-100 each way.
Just my nickle…
g
I would recommend Jetblue. I flew with my bike from NYC to Austin for the Longhorn this past October and had no problem at all. I debated shipping it to a local shop but it came out to be much cheaper through JetBlue, they charged $60 each way. If you have a good case and pack it right you should be fine.
April 2008, flew Syracuse to Tampa for St A’s, packed in a soft case, arrived no probs, charge…$0.
One week later flew the reverse, same deal…$0. Awesome.
Don’t know if you’d get the same deal with a hard case.
As per Fleck, read and bring a copy of their policy. Good luck.
**As per Fleck, read and bring a copy of their policy. Good luck. **
Having the policy with you may work counter to you. Strangely, many check-in counter people are clueless to the policy( Hence the inconsistancy). So playing dumb - “Their is a charge for bikes. No way?” - some-times works. If you show them the policy, I am guessing they may charge you. Having the policy with you in writing would only be helpful in my view if they were trying to over-charge you for the bike - which is not unheard of as well.
We travel with bikes frequently and almost every time we go it’s a different story and circumstance. You kinda have to make up your strategy as you go along.
For example, when we went to IMH, we tried to check my wife’s bike in at curbside check in. This created some confusion. So a manager was sent out from the main check in counter. He said, “come with me”. It was bedlam inside at the main check in counter, so he whisked us to the dedicated First/Business class check-in counter, where their was no line. We approached the counter, the woman was about to get all the paperwork out for the Bike Charge( $150!!!), when another manager told her to start taking economy class tickets as well. She smartly looked at the massive line, and just charged us $25 for the second bag - a standard charge on Delta now - because she wanted to deal with us quickly and get to other customers. As I said, it’s inconsistent and a different story almost every time.
My little brother went to london with his band using jetblue from charlotte to NY. There was damage to some instruments due to poor handling of them
if you know where are going, there is no reason to fly with a bike anymore.
Ship ahead of time. I just shipped my bike to CA for training camp and fedex ground (delivery date guaranteed) was 2 days and $42, insured for the full amount of the bike.
The airlines will not insure. The airlines will charge 50-100 each way.
Except it is not so easy if you do not have a person to ship your bike to.
Ship ahead of time. I just shipped my bike to CA for training camp and fedex ground (delivery date guaranteed) was 2 days and $42, insured for the full amount of the bike.
I will not deny that this works - but it seems to be very limited. I have heard some horror stories about bikes being shipped this way.
Another issue - crossing boarders. This would be hard crossing the US/Canadian boarder either way. Niether US or Canada Customs officers understand that the bike is yours and it’s “Free” - they’ll want to charge you customs and duty on it. To head this off you’ll need to get a customs broker involver which will jack up the costs quite a bit.
Most hotels will accept a package for you.
G
I guess that would be nice but I am not sure I would feel comfortable letting a hotel accept and hold on to a very expensive bike. I don’t think it is insured there. Not trying to shoot down your suggestion as I have only traveled with a bike once and it was not an expensive one. I just think I would need someone I trust to ship my bike to.
Thanks all. Sounds like shipping is the safest way to go, although with more prep time.
cheers
S.
Sorry, should have clarified, you want the policy for those instances where they want to overcharge you.
I had good luck with Jet Blue last summer traveling up to the New York area with my bike. I had it boxed myself and when it arrived it was in good shape.
Captdav1
‘‘My little brother went to london with his band using jetblue from charlotte to NY. There was damage to some instruments due to poor handling of them’’
Yes, but was his bike OK?
LOL - funny
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Whether you ship it or take it on the plane, pack it well (hard case is best - trust me as I was a baggage room go-rilla in a previous life) AND read the fine print regarding liability for damages. The airlines liability in terms of $$$ is no where near the value of most tri bikes. Consider excess value.
DO NOT SHIP YOUR BIKE!
I packed mine well, in a rock solid bike box, sent it UPS and what a mess! I had to use pliers just to get the box open.
My frame is at Hot Tubes as we speak getting fixed and repainted. The longer your bike is out of your sight the more danger it is in.
shit happens stop worriying. get the insurance, check in and rest. Once you land open the box immediately to see if there is any damage, if there is do NOT lose your temper! be calm and fill all the paper work and work with the person handling your claim.
A little update here. Due to multiple curve balls being thrown at me having to move my trip up. OVERNIGHT shipping will cost over 400.00. So I have to take the risk and check the bike in thats been pro-packed for shipping.
Man I am hoping this is not a foolish decision.
cheers
S.