bringing a bike on a plane

Dr. Richard E. Hawkins said:

I have a conference at home (Las Vegas) in a couple of weeks. I'll be
there an extra couple of days.

I've had the odd idea to bring the bicycle with me as transportation.

If I simply wrap it in a cardboard box, is it likely to survive? I've
seen the case, but they all cost more than the bicycle, which is close
to disposable . . .

There are more problems. It is very likely you will be charged $50-$75 --
each way -- to ship the bike. The box may attract attention because of
the metal bits, so you may have security problems.

Better ideas:

1) Rent. Not real easy to find in Las Vegas, but possible.
2) Buy a junker there. More likely findable, less reliable and no on to
complain to if it falls apart half-way to your convention.
3) Buy a folding bike before you go. Those usually go as luggage, and
some are sold with a box. Do this if you want to travel with a bike
often. Money is obviously the limitation with this option.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not
_`\(,_ | certain, and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to
(_)/ (_) | reality. -- Albert Einstein

I know some airlines will let you take a bike for free without counting
towards your two bag limit. I'm not sure, but I think they might even
give you a bike box to pack it in.
Your bike should be fine in one of those special boxes. I've had my new
bike shipped across Canada in one and it was perfectly fine. You'll
have to disassemble it a little though.

(clip)Your bike should be fine in one of those special boxes. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Won't an LBS give you a shipping carton? They must throw away lots of 'em.
I like the suggestion of buying a folder. I use my Dahon a lot, because it
fits in my car. I drop my wife near the entrance of whatever (fair,
festival, concert, etc.) She gets in line while I drive a mile or two to
park the car free. In some cases, the decision to go or not go has been
influenced by the ease and cost of parking.

Dr. Richard E. Hawkins said:

I have a conference at home (Las Vegas) in a couple of weeks. I'll

be

Quoted message said:

there an extra couple of days.

I've had the odd idea to bring the bicycle with me as transportation.

It's nothign spectalar; just for commuting a couple of miles each

day.

Quoted message said:

A Trek 4300 or some such that was the back to school sale a couple of
years ago; fairly generic mountain bike with quick release front &

back.

Quoted message said:

If I simply wrap it in a cardboard box, is it likely to survive?

I've

Quoted message said:

seen the case, but they all cost more than the bicycle, which is

close

Quoted message said:

to disposable . . .

A luggage would also have to be transported, which would be an issue.
If I could pack the bike this way, I could just pack in my old seabag
and wear it aas a backpack . . .

hawk

If you bring a bicycle on a plane, don't expect to get it back in good
condition unless you put it in cast iron and then put the cast iron in
cement. Do you see how things are handled and stored on a plane? My
son is a snowboarder. I bought him the best, absolute best storage
case for his snowboard. Well, it was a great case but the snowboard
ended up "LOST." He finally got the snowboard back but the next time
he traveled he rented equipment when he arrived. Saves alot of
headache. When we travel to Tahoe, we have to take a connecting
flight. No direct flights from Jersey to the Reno airport. We have
learned to travel light. One carry on and a big purse. I can't tell you
how many times our luggage was lost during the change in planes. I am
going out there again in May, and it will be one carry on and a large
purse. I have 20 minutes to make my connection. There is no way my
luggage will NOT be lost. I think bringing a bike on a plane trip is
just not worth it. But that's just my opinion. Plus storage for those
items like golf clubs, skis, snowboards etc. is ridiculous. And it
takes longer to get the items when you DEPLANE. I love that word
DE-PLANE. It's so stupid.
All Good Things,
Maggie

Quoted message said:

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Richard E. Hawkins, Asst. Prof. of Economics /"\ ASCII ribbon

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Maggie said:

Dr. Richard E. Hawkins said:

I have a conference at home (Las Vegas) in a couple of weeks. I'll

be

Quoted message said:

there an extra couple of days.

I've had the odd idea to bring the bicycle with me as

transportation.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's nothign spectalar; just for commuting a couple of miles each

day.

Quoted message said:

A Trek 4300 or some such that was the back to school sale a couple

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

years ago; fairly generic mountain bike with quick release front &

back.

Quoted message said:

If I simply wrap it in a cardboard box, is it likely to survive?

I've

Quoted message said:

seen the case, but they all cost more than the bicycle, which is

close

Quoted message said:

to disposable . . .

A luggage would also have to be transported, which would be an

issue.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If I could pack the bike this way, I could just pack in my old

seabag

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and wear it aas a backpack . . .

hawk

If you bring a bicycle on a plane, don't expect to get it back in

good

Quoted message said:

condition unless you put it in cast iron and then put the cast iron

in

Quoted message said:

cement. Do you see how things are handled and stored on a plane? My
son is a snowboarder. I bought him the best, absolute best storage
case for his snowboard. Well, it was a great case but the snowboard
ended up "LOST." He finally got the snowboard back but the next time
he traveled he rented equipment when he arrived. Saves alot of
headache. When we travel to Tahoe, we have to take a connecting
flight. No direct flights from Jersey to the Reno airport. We have
learned to travel light. One carry on and a big purse. I can't tell

you

Quoted message said:

how many times our luggage was lost during the change in planes. I am
going out there again in May, and it will be one carry on and a large
purse. I have 20 minutes to make my connection. There is no way my
luggage will NOT be lost. I think bringing a bike on a plane trip is
just not worth it. But that's just my opinion. Plus storage for

those

Quoted message said:

items like golf clubs, skis, snowboards etc. is ridiculous. And it
takes longer to get the items when you DEPLANE. I love that word
DE-PLANE. It's so stupid.
All Good Things,
Maggie

Quoted message said:

--
Richard E. Hawkins, Asst. Prof. of Economics /"\ ASCII ribbon

campaign

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[email hidden] 111 Hiller (814) 375-4846 \ / against HTML

mail

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other issues of the day at dochawk.org! / \

Well I've heard this a lot but have had very difernt experiences. I
traveled for business for 25 years. My flight miles were well over 1
million. I always checked bags. I never lost a bag- ever. I never had
the contents of a bag damaged in any way. I did have bags miss
connecting flights but they were always delivered to my hotel or home
within 24 hours. The late arriving bag thng happened only 4 times out
of some 2000 flights. That means that 99.8% of the time everything
worked the way it should.

Specifically about shipping bikes. I've done it with both bike boxes
and the special transport cases. Both worked fine.

My only caveat is that with the new rules about not being able to lock
your luggage I think there is a much greater risk of stuff going
missing.

Dr. Richard E. Hawkins said:

I've had the odd idea to bring the bicycle with me as transportation.

Great website with the information you need:

http://www.bikeaccess.net/BikeAccess/default.cfm

--
Bob Kastigar; [email hidden]
Home: http://www.neiu.edu/~rkastiga Work: http://www.wgntv.com
School: http://www.neiu.edu Play: http://www.neiu.edu/~stagectr
Union: http://www.ibew1220.org (Chicago, IL USA)

"Sweet Old Bob" (or just the initials)

Quoted message said:

And it takes longer to get the items when you DEPLANE.
I love that word DE-PLANE. It's so stupid.
All Good Things,
Maggie

You're absolutely right, DE-PLANE is just about the stupidest word there
is.

Jim said:

Quoted message said:

And it takes longer to get the items when you DEPLANE.
I love that word DE-PLANE. It's so stupid.
All Good Things,
Maggie

You're absolutely right, DE-PLANE is just about the stupidest word
there is.

Not to Tattoo.

: Won't an LBS give you a shipping carton? They must throw away lots of
'em.
: I like the suggestion of buying a folder. I use my Dahon a lot, because
it
: fits in my car. I drop my wife near the entrance of whatever (fair,
: festival, concert, etc.) She gets in line while I drive a mile or two to
: park the car free. In some cases, the decision to go or not go has been
: influenced by the ease and cost of parking.

Excellent idea, Smithers! Do you mind if I use this excuse, too? What do
you do with the Dahon after you ride back to the festival?

Pat in TX
:
:

::
: Specifically about shipping bikes. I've done it with both bike boxes
: and the special transport cases. Both worked fine.
:
: My only caveat is that with the new rules about not being able to lock
: your luggage I think there is a much greater risk of stuff going
: missing.

I just got back from traveling to Charlotte and back to DFW. In the
Charlotte airport, Brookstone had several different locks for sale that are
TSA approved. It seems they have a special key to open these locks without
having to know the code. If you use a TSA approved lock, everything ought
to be fine.

Pat in TX
:

Bill Sornson said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And it takes longer to get the items when you DEPLANE. I love
that word DE-PLANE. It's so stupid.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You're absolutely right, DE-PLANE is just about the stupidest word
there is.

Quoted message said:

Not to Tattoo.

I guess we owe that to the days of traveling by ship where you
embarked and debarked or even disembarked. Merriam-Webster OnLine
believes embark and debark are appropriate for air travel although
travel agents apparently like the specific term "plane" never having
gotten on a sailing ship for travel.

[email hidden]

:
: I guess we owe that to the days of traveling by ship where you
: embarked and debarked or even disembarked. Merriam-Webster OnLine
: believes embark and debark are appropriate for air travel although
: travel agents apparently like the specific term "plane" never having
: gotten on a sailing ship for travel.
:
: [email hidden]

And, that debarked probably came from the ship called a Barque.....

Pat in TX

I took my bike to Alaska recently and I used the same box it was shipped to
me in when it was new. Just a factory shipping box. I did reinforce the
box with some thin sheets of plastic styrofoam corrugated stuff (Like they
make signs with) just for extra protection.

Going to Alaska, American airlines charged me $80 and the bike was checked
through to the destination (I did change airlines). On the return trip,
Alaska airlines charged me $50 and again it was checked through to my
destination (again I did change airlines). Far as I can tell the only way
you can substitute a bike for one of your regular checked bags is if it
meets their size and weight requirement for a checked bag. Most bike boxes
are too big. Ergo, the extra charge. My bike came through unscathed both
flights, but the box took a pretty good beating. I was glad I had
reinforced the box with the plastic sheets.

That was my experience. I also looked into renting a bike, but some places
wanted $30-50 per day and they didn't even have the kind of bike I wanted.

Sid

"Dr. Richard E. Hawkins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a conference at home (Las Vegas) in a couple of weeks. I'll be
there an extra couple of days.

I've had the odd idea to bring the bicycle with me as transportation.

It's nothign spectalar; just for commuting a couple of miles each day.
A Trek 4300 or some such that was the back to school sale a couple of
years ago; fairly generic mountain bike with quick release front & back.

If I simply wrap it in a cardboard box, is it likely to survive? I've
seen the case, but they all cost more than the bicycle, which is close
to disposable . . .

A luggage would also have to be transported, which would be an issue.
If I could pack the bike this way, I could just pack in my old seabag
and wear it aas a backpack . . .

hawk
--
Richard E. Hawkins, Asst. Prof. of Economics /"\ ASCII ribbon
campaign
[email hidden] 111 Hiller (814) 375-4846 \ / against HTML mail
Find commentary on law, economics, and X and postings.
other issues of the day at dochawk.org! / \

Quoted message said:

If I simply wrap it in a cardboard box, is it likely to survive? I've
seen the case, but they all cost more than the bicycle, which is close
to disposable . . .

Some LBS's rent bike cases, if you're interested.

Chris Neary
[email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

Dr. Richard E. Hawkins said:

I have a conference at home (Las Vegas) in a couple of weeks. I'll

be

Quoted message said:

there an extra couple of days.

I've had the odd idea to bring the bicycle with me as transportation.

It's nothign spectalar; just for commuting a couple of miles each

day.

Quoted message said:

A Trek 4300 or some such that was the back to school sale a couple of
years ago; fairly generic mountain bike with quick release front &

back.

Quoted message said:

If I simply wrap it in a cardboard box, is it likely to survive?

I've

Quoted message said:

seen the case, but they all cost more than the bicycle, which is

close

Quoted message said:

to disposable . . .

We've traveled overseas, taking our bikes on flights. We didn't rent
or buy, because for a long bike tour, we wanted to use our own nice
touring bikes.

We got standard bike cartons - the ones new bikes arrive in - from our
LBS. Disassembly and reassembly were a bit tedious (what with racks,
fenders, etc. for touring).

The bikes survived, despite astonishingly bad treatment. We witnessed
our "This End UP!" bike cartons laid on their side on the roof of a
luggage truck. We watched as the "Fragile!" cartons were pushed from
that height directly to the ground. Pack well!

If I had it to do over again with those bikes, I'd add wheels or
casters to one corner of the box; the cartons are large and unwieldy.

For a couple day trip with little riding, I'd consider borrowing,
renting or buying a junker. (You say Vegas is "home." Do you have
friends there who can scare up a bike for you?)

If I made such trips frequently, I'd get a folding bike.

Quoted message said:

Bill Sornson said:

Quoted message said:

> And it takes longer to get the items when you DEPLANE. I love
> that word DE-PLANE. It's so stupid.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You're absolutely right, DE-PLANE is just about the stupidest word
there is.

Quoted message said:

Not to Tattoo.

I guess we owe that to the days of traveling by ship where you
embarked and debarked or even disembarked. Merriam-Webster OnLine
believes embark and debark are appropriate for air travel although
travel agents apparently like the specific term "plane" never having
gotten on a sailing ship for travel.

Not sure why you replied to me since you in no way addressed what I wrote,
but...

Debarked is what happens to a tree in a big dog's yard. (Eventually.)

De-Usenetting now, BS

<[email hidden]> wrote: (clip)Merriam-Webster OnLine
believes embark and debark are appropriate (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
If I say "debark," my friends assume I am talking about wood.

"Pat" wrote: (clip) What do you do with the Dahon after you ride back to the
festival?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm glad you asked. Depends on the event. At the state fair in Sacramento,
I kept it with me, and used it whenever I had to go back to the car, for
food, etc. At the Scottish Games in Pleasanton, I cabled it to a post,
within sight of a security guard. At an indoor concert, I fold it and take
it inside. One time I stashed it in the aisle of a university classroom.
Sometimes, at a flea market I'll bungee a carton to the rack, and use it as
my shopping cart.

"Dr. Richard E. Hawkins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a conference at home (Las Vegas) in a couple of weeks. I'll be
there an extra couple of days.

I've had the odd idea to bring the bicycle with me as transportation.

Why not rent while you're in Vegas?

See: http://www.vegasbikeclub.org/faq.htm

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky