by Larry Lagarde

If you're thinking about flying with your bicycle as checked baggage and don't want to get socked by high airline baggage fees, beware.

Up until this past February, travelers could fly on major US airlines pretty much without worry of being charged for 2 checked bags. Then, United opened Pandora's box by charging $15 for your first checked bag.

Currently, 2 checked bags on United will run you $80 for a round trip flight but United is upping the ante again. Effective November 10th, flying on United round trip with 2 checked bags will cost a minimum of $130.

What's A Flyer To Do?

Be Selective.
Choose the airline you fly on carefully. You can still avoid checked baggage charges on Alaska and Southwest. In fact, as long as your bike will fit in a container that measures no more than 62 linear inches, both Alaska and Southwest will accept your bike as one of the 2 free checked bags that they'll carry for you. Unfortunately, only bikes that fold will meet these dimensions.

Transport Your Bike In A Hardcase.
Packing your bike in a hard case provides maximum protection; however, hard cases are large so they're prone to excess size and weight charges. Hard cases are also likely to get handled with less care. If you plan on using a hardcase, review the baggage policies for the airline you plan to fly and be aware of the fees you could face. Measure the case; if it's larger than 62 linear inches, expect to be charged a fee.

Transport Your Bike In The Original Shipping Carton
Some folding bikes are packed in shipping cartons that meet airline specs for checked bags (examples include the CarryMe, E-Z Pack & Strida folding bikes). If you're the owner of a folding bike like this, save the shipping carton. Chances are that your shipping carton will come in handy the next time you travel.

Transport Your Bike In A Softcase.
Soft sided bags or carry cases provide less protection than a hardcase but tend to be much smaller. As a result, it's possible to pack a full size bike that folds into a soft case and check it aboard some airlines with no fee at all. I've transported micro folders like the Mobiky and full size folding mountain bikes (like the Montague Paratrooper) this way without any damage to the bikes. I do wrap the frame members, crank, crank arms, etc. with foam pipe insulation as well as zip tie and bungee the bike to prevent components from rubbing against one another.

Other Options:

Carry On
If you have a tiny folding bike like an A-Bike or CarryMe, you may be allowed to take the bike aboard as a carry-on. With the way flights are over sold these days, you probably have a 30% chance of carrying it on; however, if the flight attendant tells you no, the bike will be one of the very last items to go into the cargo hold (so it's more likely to be on top of all the other checked bags).

Rent A Bike
With large cities like Paris, Barcelona and Washington D.C. offering sophisticated bike rental programs, it's very possible that you could rent a bike at a minimal charge. The drawback is that bikes may not be available and who knows what condition the bike will be in.

Ship It
There's always the option of shipping your bike but shipping fees are quite high these days. Shipping a full size bike can easily cost in excess of $100 one way for ground shipping within the USA. Internationally, shipping charges regularly exceed $350. Also, there is the risk that the lodging accommodations will loose the bike or refuse to hold it for you.

My Choice
Based on my experience, the option that works best for me is to take along a folding bike when I fly and transport the bike folded within a soft sided carry bag. For added protection, I normally place my clothing in the bike carry bag. To prevent the clothing from shifting or becoming soiled by the bike, I use plastic zip lock bags like the Hefty One Zip and insert those bags around my pipe foam protected folding bike. There is a risk of the bike being damaged but there's risk of that with a hard case too. Besides, traveling without a bike is just not an option.

For more information on airline baggage regulations and fees for bicycles, visit Ibike.org. Also, do check with the airline you're flying and take their terms of carraige with you just in case.

Labels: airline-fees, travel-by-folding-bike

by Larry Lagarde

Each summer, I receive inquiries from travelers that want to pack a folding bike in a regular suitcase that meets airline specifications for checked baggage.

This afternoon, a lady cyclist was asking about the differences between the E-Z Pack and the Superlite 1 speed folding bikes. Her requirements were similar to a variety of leisure travelers that want folding bikes so they can see more scenery by cycling rather than walking. For this reason, I thought it may be helpful to some readers if I shared her request as well as my response. Here's what she wrote:

I used to have a Dahon Presto Lite folding bike, but it got stolen in France and now I am looking for an a new folding bicycle. I have a suit case which I used for the Presto Lite (it's just a regular suit case made of canvas but it happened to be ideal).

Is it easy to take the pedals off the E-Z Pack folding bike? If the E-Z Pack folds down to 26" x 15" x 20", perhaps by removing the pedals the E-Z Pack will be small enough to fit in my 20" x 29" x 10" canvas suit case. The Prestolite folded down to 20" x 30" x 11"; it was a tightfit but it worked.

I am also considering the Kent Superlite 1 Spd; however, in this case I will have to forget about the suit case. How does the E-Z Pack compare with Kent's Superlite folding bike? I see many good reviews on Amazon on this bike. I am 5'2'' tall (i.e. short), weighing 115 lb. I ride bikes with very low gears: I have an 8 speed bike but I always ride with 1st or 2nd gear. I am also wondering if the bag that comes with the Kent is a tight or loose fit. I used to have a Taiwanese Brompton, that came with a tight fitting, strong canvas bag. I just put some padding around the bike and could check-in to fly. I wonder if I could do that with the Kent bike and carry bag. (I'm going to Europe).

p.s. I realize now that the Kent 1spd can be 27" x 20" x 15" without the seat. Can it be also thinner if I remove the pedals, and is it easy?

And here's my response...

With the handlebars, pedals & seat removed, the E-Z Pack measures 26" long by 10" wide by 18" high so it should fit in your bag without a problem. I actually ship the bike this way and include the wrenches needed to bolt on the pedals and handlebars because it's very easy to do (the seat has a quick release so tools are not needed for that). You can use the packing materials in the box when you pack the bike in the suitcase. Just be sure to hand thread the pedals to make sure you have the right pedal on the right side, etc (threads for the left pedal run in the opposite direction).

Another option is to purchase folding pedals. The folded width with folding pedals would be a little wider than if you just removed the pedal all together but folding pedals come in handy even when you're walking beside your bike. I will have spare folding pedals in stock by Monday.

If you travel a lot and you expect to be placing a lot of weight on the rear carry rack, you'll find the E-Z Pack a better choice because the carry rack is stronger. The E-Z Pack's metal fenders take more abuse, there are brakes on the front & rear and the bike comes with the carry bag. Shipping is included in the $179 price too.

The Superlite is geared lower than the E-Z Pack but it's harder to get the Superlite to a smaller size than that listed. It's a matter of the way the bike folds. The width would be a little less though if you removed the pedal on the outside of the fold.

I've checked folding bikes on commercial airline flights using a soft carry bag so it can be done but you're always taking a bigger risk that way. One time, I was flying with a Montague Paratrooper full size folding mountain bike that did not have folding pedals. The bike arrived fine but the pedals tore through the side of the bag...

If you're willing to take the risk and check your bike in a carry bag, I'd go with the optional Kent generic looking carry bag. It's bigger than you need for the E-Z Pack but it will give more room to pack your personal belongings (thus providing more protection for your bike). The Kent bag is made from a stronger nylon-canvas material. The bag folds up to a small size and zips into it's own side pocket. It also has a hard bottom that will provide additional protection, a shoulder strap and carry handles.

Labels: travel-by-folding-bike