Flying with Bicycle on Small Planes

[BikingBrian]

I will be taking a jet to on the first leg to my tour start, but the final leg is on a regional turboprop (Embraer 120 Brasilia). With this small plane, would I have any issues with taking a boxed conventional bicycle as checked luggage?

[Tourista829]

I use to be a pilot. Depending on how the airplane is configured* it might be an issue, I would check with the airline and have the dimensions of the box ready. It may cost you some cash. *If they have it set up for maximum number of passengers versus passengers/cargo.

[BikingBrian]

Thanks for the tip. I called United about the Skywest flight on the EMB-120. They said there's a limit of L+W+H of 80" on their smaller planes. If I had a cardboard box the size of an Iron Case, it would be 46" x 30" x 10", for a total of 86". I doubt it would be refused at checkin, but I searched online and found stories of bike boxes being first to not get on the plane if they had to keep the weight of the plane down. So I'll probably find someplace at my destination to ship it, I checked with FedEx and it should be about $50 provided it's one of the smaller cardboard boxes, otherwise it will be about $110 (though still not bad considering United's $100 fee).

[Tourista829]

Ship it to a hotel or better yet a bicycle shop. If adjustments are needed, the bike will be ready to go. It makes you wish you had S&S couplers. www.blienky.com does retro fits on bicycles. Good luck to you and have a good safe tour. 

[Tourista829]

Syncjeonosogs,  As we say in the South, one of your posts was more than a gracious plenty. I request the moderator to delete these numerous posts. Thank you.

[JHamelman]

Syncjeonosogs,  As we say in the South, one of your posts was more than a gracious plenty. I request the moderator to delete these numerous posts. Thank you.

Duly deleted.

.Jennifer.

[indyfabz]

Ship it to a hotel or better yet a bicycle shop. If adjustments are needed, the bike will be ready to go.

+1.  We are shipping to a shop in Missoula tomorrow.  It wil reassemble and tune, for a price of course.

I have suggested this before:  If you have good relationship with a LBS at home, try shipping through it.  It's possible that they get a lower, merchant rate.  Worked for us two years ago.

[Tourista829]

Thank you Jennifer, you are the best. Happy & Safe Cycling.

[JHamelman]

Thank you Jennifer, you are the best. Happy & Safe Cycling.

You're welcome, Tourista829! We do our best to stay on top of things over here. Unfortunately, it appears we're in the midst of a wave of spam.

And thank you, too. It's great to be able to refer cyclists looking for advice to these forums and know that the answer is either already here or someone is likely to chime in with a thoughtful response.

.Jennifer.

[indyfabz]

If you have good relationship with a LBS at home, try shipping through it.  It's possible that they get a lower, merchant rate.  Worked for us two years ago.

This morning I opened by Crateworks box for the first time since we got back from our trip two years ago.  Inside was an itemized receipt from Glacier Cyclery.  Shipping was $53/bike from Whitefish, MT to Philadelphia, PA.  My box is a total of 86.5 in.  Cheaper than the on line price I was quoted by UPS.  And much cheaper than the $200 Delta/NWA wanted.