ShipBikes is back!

[Ty0604]

After a few year hiatus ShipBikes is back but they now require you purchase a box through them to ship. They’re only $19.95 but requires more planning as you’ll need to order the box and wait for it to arrive before you can ship your bike. They do request an order number before purchasing a label to verify you have one of their boxes.

Still glad BikeFlights now has a competitor again.

https://www.shipbikes.com/

[BikeliciousBabe]

Well...Tried to get a quote for an O-D pair I have used with bikefights numerous times.  Here is the message I received:

"We could not process your request-- please contact us at 1-708-383-2433 for a rate calculation."

Doesn't instill any confidence.  Neither does having to buy a box from them.  I have my own reusable, plastic box box.  Maybe if I were not doing a loop tour, I might consider it, but not for a round trip.

Using UPS concerns me a bit as well.  When bikeflights switched from FedEx to UPS (pre-pandemic), prices went up and service slowed down.

Finally, I noticed that ShipBikes uses the term "charge card" on their website:

"Print a shipping ticket and pay for it with a charge card.
The ticket comes to you in your email."


I am 58.  My mother used to call it a "charge card" long after the term "credit card" became standard in the U.S. (For the benefit of you young folks, "Master Charge" was a predecessor name of "Mastercard.")

And who calls it a "shipping ticket" instead of a "shipping label"?  This language makes me wonder who is now behind ShipBikes.

[Ty0604]

Much preferred the old BikeFlights with FedEx over UPS. Service was quicker, cheaper and they treat their packages better IMO. When I asked BikeFlights about why they changed carriers in August 2019 they sent me the response below.

Thanks so much for reaching out and taking the time to provide your feedback. We genuinely appreciate hearing from our customers.

We are very excited about the switch to UPS as UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services.

Working with our new carrier, we are now able to better serve more of our BikeFlights.com customers in more different ways. For example, with our new primary carrier, you have more drop off and pick up location options than ever before. We are also able to better serve our e-commerce and international shipping customers.

While we understand that all of our customers have preferences for certain shippers, we think that shipping with UPS will be a fit for all and we sincerely hope that we can continue to serve you with UPS as our carrier.

Our rates for domestically shipping the largest packages recently increased as carriers (all carriers, UPS and FedEx) have raised their large package handling fees. We continue to offer generally great rates, excellent service and premium protection for all shipments.

[kd_ca]

Southwest Airlines allow a bike in a bike box as one of two the checked bags that is included in your fare.  They charge $75 due to dimensions exceeding 62 inch limit.

[Ty0604]

Southwest Airlines allow a bike in a bike box as one of two the checked bags that is included in your fare.  They charge $75 due to dimensions exceeding 62 inch limit.

That’s still more than BikeFlights and as someone who lives a carefree life, getting it to the airport in a box isn’t an easy task. I’m sure it’s doable for others though!

[kd_ca]

Getting bike box to the airport wasn't a problem.  Bike box was 58 x 30 x 9 , 35lbs and fit in a car with back seats down.  Easily managed on a luggage trolley at airport.

Bikeflights website quoted me Ground (7 days) at $176 , 2 - 3 day Air at $350 and 1 - 2 Day Air at $468.

In my case, Southwest fee of $75 and bike traveled with me on the same flight was an easy choice

[John Nelson]

In my case, Southwest fee of $75 and bike traveled with me on the same flight was an easy choice

Southwest Airlines web page currently says this (https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/special-baggage-sports-equipment): Bicycles over 100 pounds in weight and 81 inches in total dimensions cannot be checked as baggage and can only be shipped as Cargo if the Customer is a known Shipper.

Is this new? It’s hard to get a bicycle in 80 inches or less. Their 80-inch rule eliminates Southwest for me.

[kd_ca]

Southwest Airlines web page currently says this (https://www.southwest.com/help/baggage/special-baggage-sports-equipment): Bicycles over 100 pounds in weight and 81 inches in total dimensions cannot be checked as baggage and can only be shipped as Cargo if the Customer is a known Shipper.

Is this new? It’s hard to get a bicycle in 80 inches or less. Their 80-inch rule eliminates Southwest for me.

I flew last week and in Boston, the checkin counter did not weigh or measure the box, only asked for payment credit card and asked me to put it on a large trolley at the end of the checkin counter.  I got the bike box from a bike shop (so I am assuming its a standard size bike box) and it had dimensions of 58 x 30 x 9 , 35lbs .  No issue checking in. 

I've heard Alaska Airlines is also friendly to bike boxes but don't have first hand experience to share.

[John Nelson]

I don't think I'm going to take the chance of showing up at the airport hoping that the airline won't enforce their own written policy.