Taking a bike from Canada to US

Nate

Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be charged
US$80 one way!

Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?

Chris Es

Maybe try another airline...or pack your bike in a box and don't tell them what's in the box. Some
airlines will not charge for an extra piece of baggage or package to a certain size. If the package
is oversize they could charge a small fee. But not $80. Some airlines have a thing against bikes. Or
tell them it's golf clubs. They don't charge for golf clubs. Can a packed bike look like packed golf
clubs? Good luck...hope you save a buck, Chris On 30 Apr 2003 15:24:22 -0700, nathantusa@yahoo.com
(nate) wrote:

>Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
>best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
>charged US$80 one way!
>
>Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?

Glen McLean

On 30 Apr 2003 15:24:22 -0700, nathantusa@yahoo.com (nate) wrote:

>Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
>best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
>charged US$80 one way!
>
>Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?

In the past I have taken a touring bike on Air Canada flights, overseas to UK, and it has never cost
me a cent extra. Have done it using both a padded cycling bag, and a cardboard box (obtained from
the airline, for the purpose).

Boxed/bagged bike counted as ONE of my TWO allowed pieces of checked baggage, and I could pretty
much pack as much as I wanted, panniers, camping gear, etc.) into the bag/box. As long as I was
under the weight limit - no problem. Rules may have changed over the years, and may be different for
different destinations (continents).

Take off the wheels, turn handlebars, remove pedals - all that was required.

But, it was a number of years ago (10-15). As an indication, I was asked if I wouldn't mind
carrying it back to the cargo area myself as it was a bit heavy and bulky for the nice young ladies
at check-in.

- Glen McLean Ottawa (Remove the ".NIT.invalid" from the end of my address)

Jay

>nate at nathantusa@yahoo.com wrote on 4/30/03 6:24 PM: Hi I am planning to bring a bike from
>Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the best way to do it. I was planning to
>bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be charged US$80 one way! Anyone have any good
>shipping suggestions, etc?

I got a demountable trike that can fit in a suitcase. As one of my check-in luggage allowances- I
have no surcharges.

Don't forget to register your bike with customs first before you send it. They give you a
registration card so you are not considered to have bought it in the US and get the 16% duty and
15% taxes.

George

For some time I've been collecting information on user experiences taking bikes on planes, trains,
buses, boats, etc. There's lots of stuff on rentals, folding bikes, boxing, airlines, and railroads
around the world and how to ride in/out of about 120 airports.

See it at http://www.BikeAccess.net

nate wrote:
> Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
> best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
> charged US$80 one way!
>
> Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?

Raymo853

Lying to the airline folks can get you in trouble, a lot of trouble.

"Chris eS" <emailchris@canoemail.com> wrote in message
news:sjl0bv8r72htgu5rc74qne77156t43k8kv@4ax.com...
> Maybe try another airline...or pack your bike in a box and don't tell them what's in the box. Some
> airlines will not charge for an extra piece of baggage or package to a certain size. If the
> package is oversize they could charge a small fee. But not $80. Some airlines have a thing against
> bikes. Or tell them it's golf clubs. They don't charge for golf clubs. Can a packed bike look like
> packed golf clubs? Good luck...hope you save a buck, Chris On 30 Apr 2003 15:24:22 -0700,
> nathantusa@yahoo.com (nate) wrote:
>
> >Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
> >best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
> >charged US$80 one way!
> >
> >Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?

Matt O'Toole

> On 30 Apr 2003 15:24:22 -0700, nathantusa@yahoo.com (nate)
wrote:
>
> >Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to
San Francisco
> >and I'm wondering what's the best way to do it. I was
planning to
> >bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
charged US$80
> >one way!
> >
> >Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?

"Chris eS" <emailchris@canoemail.com> wrote in message
news:sjl0bv8r72htgu5rc74qne77156t43k8kv@4ax.com...

> Maybe try another airline...or pack your bike in a box and
don't tell
> them what's in the box. Some airlines will not charge for
an extra
> piece of baggage or package to a certain size. If the
package is
> oversize they could charge a small fee. But not $80. Some
airlines
> have a thing against bikes. Or tell them it's golf clubs.
They don't
> charge for golf clubs. Can a packed bike look like packed
golf clubs?
> Good luck...hope you save a buck,

All of 'em are jacking up their BS fees in these tough times. Shop ruthlessly -- find out what the
fees are ahead of time, and figure that into your total cost. Better than the golf club excuse --
tell 'em it's a trade show display, which are often packaged in boxes the same size and shape as
bike boxes. A bike box is obviously not golf clubs, and I'm not sure that excuse works anyway.
Golfers might be seen as affluent vacationers, easily shaken down for 50-100 bucks, but airlines
will do anything to suck up to business travellers -- that's where they make their money.

In any case, haggle like a gypsy -- the worst thing that could happen is that they say no.
Anything's worth a try. This works for hotels, rental cars, etc. Deals are there for the taking, but
only if you ask. Pretend you're buying sandals from a Tijuana street vendor.

FWIW, America West has always had very lenient baggage policies.

There used to be a deal with the Leage of American Bicyclists where if you were a member, you could
fly your bike for free if you booked the flight through LAB's travel agency. You could find the
flight on the web and just book it through them. I don't know if this is still going on, but it's
worth checking out.

Other than that, I'd suggest shipping Fedex ground (definately cheaper than UPS for bikes). However,
there might be hassles or extra BS fees for crossing the US/Canada border. FWIW, UPS is particularly
bad about these fees.

Personally, I'm sick of travelling without my bike. I think of all the missed opportunities... I
bring it when I can but it's a hassle, and/or expensive. I'll probably invest in a folder of
some sort.

Matt O.

Matt O'Toole

"Glen McLean" <gkmclean@cyberus.caNIT.invalid> wrote in message
news:cel0bv4sphrbflbgb70g6scke2a4dnm8jk@4ax.com...

> In the past I have taken a touring bike on Air Canada
flights,
> overseas to UK, and it has never cost me a cent extra.
Have done it
> using both a padded cycling bag, and a cardboard box
(obtained from
> the airline, for the purpose).

British Air has lenient baggage policies too.

Americans tend to look up US airlines first, when in fact foreign arlines may offer better deals
because their whole marketing approach is different.

Matt O.

Not The Karl Or

In article <5ec43b36.0304301424.7768dcfb@posting.google.com>, nathantusa@yahoo.com (nate) wrote:

> Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
> best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
> charged US$80 one way!
>
> Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?

UPS or FedEx though you may have to drive your bike to Blaine/Bellingham to ship it (might/will have
to pay more to ship it from Canada).

Not The Karl Or

In article <cel0bv4sphrbflbgb70g6scke2a4dnm8jk@4ax.com>,
Glen McLean <gkmclean@cyberus.caNIT.invalid> wrote:

> On 30 Apr 2003 15:24:22 -0700, nathantusa@yahoo.com (nate) wrote:
>
> >Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
> >best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
> >charged US$80 one way!
> >
> >Anyone have any good shipping suggestions, etc?
>
> In the past I have taken a touring bike on Air Canada flights, overseas to UK, and it has never
> cost me a cent extra. Have done it using both a padded cycling bag, and a cardboard box (obtained
> from the airline, for the purpose).

While it is stll free outside N. America, AC now wants CAd 65 for flights within Canada, and CAD
65/USD 50 for flights to/from the U.S.

http://www.aircanada.ca/services/luggage/

Not The Karl Or

In article <cqbsa.6572$hT2.4022432@news2.news.adelphia.net>, "Matt O'Toole"
<matt@deltanet.com> wrote:

> "Glen McLean" <gkmclean@cyberus.caNIT.invalid> wrote in message
> news:cel0bv4sphrbflbgb70g6scke2a4dnm8jk@4ax.com...
>
> > In the past I have taken a touring bike on Air Canada
> flights,
> > overseas to UK, and it has never cost me a cent extra.
> Have done it
> > using both a padded cycling bag, and a cardboard box
> (obtained from
> > the airline, for the purpose).
>
> British Air has lenient baggage policies too.

Except you can't fly them YVR-SFO.

Not The Karl Or

In article <mnbsa.6571$hT2.4022243@news2.news.adelphia.net>, "Matt O'Toole"
<matt@deltanet.com> wrote:

> All of 'em are jacking up their BS fees in these tough times. Shop ruthlessly -- find out what the
> fees are ahead of time, and figure that into your total cost. Better than the golf club excuse --
> tell 'em it's a trade show display,

Exercise equipment is a better one. It's not untrue.

Bear in mind that luggage allowances within N. America for more than a few U.S. airlines is now 50
lbs per peice, not 70.

Alex Rodriguez

In article <b8rcmj$13pq$1@f04n12.cac.psu.edu>, rcc105@hotmail.com says...

>Lying to the airline folks can get you in trouble, a lot of trouble.

Just say it is exercise equipment.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

Pete Hickey

In article <5ec43b36.0304301424.7768dcfb@posting.google.com>, nate <nathantusa@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Hi I am planning to bring a bike from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco and I'm wondering what's the
>best way to do it. I was planning to bring it on the plane with me but they said it would be
>charged US$80 one way!

Ride it all the way. Not only will you save the $80 for the bike, but you'll save your air fare as
well. Cycling through customs can be an interesting experience. They don'T know how to handle it,
and their reaction can range from amusement to confusion, where they keep you a long time, because
they don'T know what to do.

-Pete

--
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LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Did you know that 90% of North Americans cannot taste the difference between
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