Flying with your bike on a plane: tips on airlines, fees, packing, bike bags, spare parts and damage
- For serious cyclists, having your own bike when you travel can make for a much better trip, but flying with bikes can be expensive and stressful
- These tips will help make the experience as smooth as possible
There is nothing quite like having your own bike with you when you travel, be that on a cycling adventure or simply a business trip with down time to ride.
Getting it to and from your destination, however, can turn into expensive and stressful exercise. Here is our guide to flying wisely with your bike.
Flying and figures
Before you book a flight, check the carrier’s latest bike and excess baggage fees, and that the fee includes connecting and code-share flights and is not per flight leg. This is even more important when booking through the major travel sites, which tend to mix airlines and go for baggage-free fares.
Excess baggage fees can be ludicrously expensive, sometimes as much, or even more than, the flight or bike cost. Rates between Southeast Asia and Europe can be as much as US$70 per kilogram.
For a bike, airlines may charge anywhere between US$50 and US$200 each way or per flight leg. US and Indian airlines are often the most expensive for bikes.
