Taking a Bike To Europe

Lots of talk lately about bicycles on airplanes and excess baggage charges, etc. Its real, and it really adds up! Our cycling team recently got tagged with about $600 in round trip charges just for 3 guys to fly a short 2 hour domestic flight! Well, what are the airlines doing exactly?

Here is Delta's policy on bicycles from their website:
"Non-motorized touring or racing bicycles with single seats are accepted as checked baggage, with certain limits. Any bicycle in a box with overall dimensions not exceeding 62" or 157.5cm (length + height + width) and checked in lieu of one bag is accepted. Bicycles exceeding 62" are subject to standard oversize baggage charges. Your bike must be packaged in a cardboard or canvas container in one of the following ways: Handlebars fixed sideways and pedals removed Handlebars and pedals encased in plastic, Styrofoam, or other similar material Some connection carriers and aircraft may not accept bicycles as checked baggage, and may have different limits. "

What is not mentioned here is a weight limit. Delta also says that you can check 2 bags FREE for travel outside the USA; but then they say that each bag has a weight limit of 50 lbs/22.5 kg. There are some higher limits for Business and First Class ticket holders.

Excess fees: Delta says it will charge a fee EACH time an allowance is exceeded. Possible fees therefore include:

If your bike box is a 3rd piece of checked luggage for international: $150 Overweight limit of 50 lbs/22.5 kg up to 70 lbs: $80 Over 70 lbs up to 100 lbs: $150 Over size fee: $150
Avoiding any fees seems pretty hard, but being assessed multiple fees seems very possible. Don't think you can pack extra gear in your bike box either - see weight limits!

Does this apply only to Americans? No. For example, Air France's Australia website had more or less the same restrictions as Delta above with very similar fees and limits. Nobody is immune, even if foreign carriers are more solvent than the American companies, the chance to make money on this is too tempting. Expect to pay.

What else should you expect in traveling with your bike box?

Train troubles: in France and most of Western Europe, high speed trains have very limited luggage space. Most trains only offer space at the end of the car or overhead racks. Bike boxes don't really fit, and you could be subject to the whims of the conductor of the moment. Smaller regional trains usually do take bikes even in built up condition. Travel in July and August when trains are packed is very likely to be difficult. Regardless, you schlep your box on and off the train by yourself, among the people who will not make room for you.

Lost luggage? Every year when we have groups that go to watch the Tour de France, at least 1 in 10 persons will have their bike box mishandled enroute. On these kinds of tours where the lodging is remote and the traffic is difficult, getting a bike redelivered and caught up is a problem!

Storage? Where will you store your bike box when you visit Paris or some other big city? Will it fit in the hotel elevator? How much will the taxi add on for an oversize bag - if the taxi will even take it!

Build that bike up - you better know how to do it and bring the tools to get it done! On our trips we do help with that of course, but if you are winging it on your own; be totally self contained wiht tools and parts and a mechanical inclination!

What's a vacation worth? A lot - advice - don't muck it up with unnecessary troubles. PLAN AHEAD!!