Sending Bike as Luggage

I use a hard case bike box.  I've never had an issue flying with it other than the expense.  Depending on which airline, you can be paying up to $230 each way.  If you keep it under 50#, it's "only" $175 with Delta...each way.

But the bike will be safe.  Mine has been to Australia, St. Croix and several US locations, so no worries on that end.

Yeah money is not an issue. I have a hard case but the Delta website states...

 "Your bike must be packaged in a cardboard or canvas container in one of the following ways:

1. Handlebars fixed sideways and pedals removed
2. Handlebars and pedals encased in plastic, Styrofoam, or other similar material"

I was having an issue with cardboard or canvas container.

But I know my hard case in more than 80 inches (length + width + height).

I flew mine from Chicago to San Fran once (Frontier). I have a hard-shell case that it fits very nicely in.

 I did not watch them load the bike on the way out but witnessed them unloading it in Denver. I about had a heart attack.  The baggage handler literally took the case lifted it above his head and then dropped it to the ground. I could not wait to get home to see if there was any damage to the bike. I was livid the entire flight back. Got home and the bike was fine.

The cost was only 50 each way.

Lots of folks send it via UPS ground or whichever carrier is cheaper directly to a friend or their hotel. Normally it is about $50 each way and you get door to door service.

You can go online put in weight and dimentions and shop price.

My bike has been all over the world via various methods of transportation.  The ONLY time it broke was on a flight.  And I've probably flown it as many times as I've mailed or shipped it.

Don't leave ANYTHING in it that might cause them to want to open it (like CO2).  The only time mine broke on an airline was when they had opened it to inspect it then didn't pack it back properly.  My derailleur cable was shredded from them trying to shove the handlebars back in.

As for the 80" rule...I swear I've taken my bike case which is about 45+30+12 on many different airlines and never had them welch about the 80" thing.  Though maybe it's a new rule?

Just make sure you check out the price on the airlines.  It may really be cheaper to ship it and UPS/FedEx/DHL will INSURE it.  You can seriously do 2 day air for about the same price it will cost to fly it.  Then send it back ground to save some cash.

USPS also does an amazingly good job believe it or not!  My bike made it to Qatar and back completely undamaged in a hard sided plastic case! Keep it under 70lbs and make sure L + 2*W + 2*H <= 130...

I flew with my bike in an ironcase (exceeds the 80" rule) on USAir, Air Canada, AirTran, JetBlue and one other airline this summer.

Unfortunately they usually do want to open the case - try to be there.  I only had a fairly minor problem but it was with the TSA folks not packing it right on the flight to canada.  After that I insisted on watching....and in fact the next flight I took they let me repack after the inspection.

I debated shipping my bike but felt that I wanted it with me.

USAir also has that 80" rule on their website - in fact it states anything larger will have to be shipped with some third party very spendy sports shipping company.  So I called. Other than being fleeced it was not a problem.

Did you ship it to a bike shop?

Another interested party here...although I've already rented a hard case and am traveling on SouthWest.

Just be warned that many bike shops will literally charge you just to accept the package.  Like, $35 charge you.  I think it's stupid.  If they are open, WTF is the big deal about a package getting dropped off?  I bet they get shipments every day!  I hate paying people who are already getting paid so I try to find a friend to ship mine to....

Oh crap, now everyone has got me thinking about this.

I am doing IM AZ in about 9 weeks and really haven't put much thought into this. I am flying from Grand Rapids MI most likely via Chicago to Phx.

I have a hard shell case and was thinking about bringing it with but the UPS/Fed Ex way sounds better if they don't have to open it up and messing with anything.

So my questions:

Do most hotels accept deliveries of bikes?

Does anyone know of a UPS store or anything in the Phoenix/Tempe area as I am flying back out on Monday so I could drop it off somewhere.

I flew from Atlanta to Chicago and used a Sci'Con soft sided case. At first I was weary about the soft sided vs. a hard shell case but the bike and case made the trip both ways without incident.  Two things about the SciCon case:

1) It's very light and you wont have any issues with weight and/or dimensions. Plus, the case has nice rolling wheels if you have a lot of luggage.

2) The only things you need to do are to remove the wheels (wheel bags are integrated into the case), remove any type of hydration you have hanging off the seat and loosen and tilt the aero bars down (if you have regular handbars, this is not needed). I can pack/unpack the entire bag in about 15 minutes.

If you are a frequent flier, rates are reduced for shipping bicycles. I paid $40 on Delta each way to ship the bike. The soft case kinda looks like a large carry on bag.

have you thought about trucking your bike to AZ with tribike transport?  www.tribiketransport.com