How to ship your bike by plane!

1. When you buy a plane ticket, ask the airline how much it will cost to ship your bike and what the rules and regulations are for shipping. Do you need to ship it in a hard case or can you use a cardboard box? Ask if there maximum sizes that can be shipped. If you decide to go this route, tell them you will be shipping your bike as one of your pieces of baggage.

2. Measure your bike and see how big it is, because you are going to need a box or hard case to pack it in to get it on the airplane. For boxes, you can get them at your local bike store for a small fee. Hard-sided bike suitcases will cost upwards to $350, but you will have it forever and you can also purchase a collapsible one as well. You might also consider what is called a triangular box and in this case you don’t even have to disassemble your bike.

3. When it comes time to pack your bike you will have to minimally disassemble it, depending on the size of the box. Perhaps you will only have to take off the wheels and the handlebars. You might also have to take off the seat and the pedals to fit the bike into the case or box. If you have decided to go with the triangular box then all you need to do is use the quick release on both the front wheel and seat. The bike will be held with the tie downs that come with the box.

4. If you are packing your bike in the cardboard box, you might want to make sure you add some padding. This is in case the bike parts move around and you don’t want anything to accidentally get poked through the cardboard or lost.

5. If you use a hard case to ship your bike, you can even lock it. Be sure and use a TSA approved lock, which you can find at any store.

6. Check your bike in at the airline counter and when you get to your destination you will have to pick your bag up in the oversized baggage area.

For the hard sided carriers PerformanceBike has one for less than $250. or "Ironcase" made by Trico Sports Shipping Case option: For the best protection when travelling, we also recommend shipping your bike in a Bike Travel Case (available for sale or rent from Landry's store)

Keep in mind International flights. Your bike can count as one of your two pieces of checked luggage, usually without any surcharge. So if you can get by with one other piece of checked luggage, this can be a good option.

More info on bike cases:
http://www.biketcba.org/general/bikecases.html

bike cases for sale
http://www.bikemania.biz/Bike_Boxes_s/28.htm