[Closed] Flying with bike.... Just use cardboard box?

I've flown with my bike quite a bit using boxes. They work fine, although you need to spend quite a lot of time taking your bike to bits and protecting it. They can be a bit worse for wear if you intent to use the same box to come back with. Also - not all bike boxes are created equal! A road bike box will struggle to fit a mountain bike for instance.

I got an Evoc bag last year as I was flying quite a bit with bikes. Much better than boxes, but if you're only flying occasionally then probably not worth it. Easier to fit the bike into, better protected and easier to wheel around.

A box is way better than a bag. More protection and gets better treatment from the baggage handlers. One of those posh hard cases is probably the best but they are very expensive and will eat your baggage allowance. Never had any issues with a cardboard box at check-in.

Have used a box, got a bag now tho, easier to pack and carry/move around but for a 1 off box is definitely doable

Nick may have a point about baggage handlers, there is a train of thought about riding to airport remove pedals turn bars and wrap in plastic bag. No idea how well this works

Get a box(s) free from you LBS, who are normally happy to get rid of them.

So you can use a new one each time. Way better than wearing out your expensive bike bag. Box or bag will get damaged by crappy luggage handlers.

Each time Ive done it there has been mild damage to the box. If it had been my own bag Id be pretty upset.

I make the box stronger by using cardboard rolled into struts to stop the box being squashed when chucked into the hold. Also get those plastic spacers for the forks / rear dropouts so they dont get squished.

I use a large clear bag as baggage handlers can see what it is and are less likely to throw it around. Boxes get chucked about in my experience

A box is way better than a bag.

You mean a hard case bike box? Surely not a cardboard box?

I used a cardboard box a couple of times, it got ripped to shreds. I even saw it being dragged across the tarmac carelessly and further ripped. That was enough to persuade me to shell out for a bag even though it was a lot of cash at the time. Very glad I did.

Cardboard does nothing to protect your bike being squashed - but neither does a bike bag. However a bike bag offers far more protection against tearing and abrasion.

Way better than wearing out your expensive bike bag.

That's just daft. Bike bags are made to last whilst protecting bikes - that's their whole reason for existance. Do you put your clothes in binbags to avoid wearing out expenisve luggage? I suppose you wrap your feet in cloth to avoid wearing out those expensive shoes too eh? 🙂

Or hire a bike box - a rigid one with wheels will make the experience much more pleasant that lugging a huge cardboard box with no handles to grab hold of around.

Especially when you are trawling around the town, knackered, late at night, trying to find your apartment (speaking from experience here).

I have used one of these, brilliant, re useable and cheap.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-bike-travel-safe/aid:21916

I used a cardboard box for my 1st trip with plenty of bubble wrap / pipe insulation on tubes. Outgoing flight was OK but when I picked it up in the UK it was pretty ripped apart though as I'd packed it so well all was OK. After that I got an unpadded bag and used lots of big bubble bubble wrap/pipe insulation and cardboard backed foam - figured this was lighter than a proper padded bag.

BTW, many airlines don't like you to put clothing in the big box/bag so check it's OK.

You mean a hard case bike box? Surely not a cardboard box?

I've used an old cardboard bike box from LBS and it's fine, there will be signs of handling, so use some pipe insulation as protection! BUT check the weight limit, bike and box at 20KG is hard, the cardboard box alone was 3-4 kg, not much scope for extra weight and the penalties (extra £££ for the airline, incentives for staff;) can be expensive.

the box will protect the bike while it does it.

Will it hells bells. Speaking from direct experience here.

What kind of bag do you have in mind? Mine is sturdy and padded.

what about a box inside a bag? best of both worlds 🙂

re using clothes as padding, some airlines are funny about this and specify that only the bike (and propper padding, rather than rolled up clothes) is in the bax/box/flight case.

Just to add to what I said earlier , use a clear [url= http://www.wiggle.com/ctc-plastic-bike-bag/ ]plastic bag[/url] . Can be taken with you for return flight too

BTW, many airlines don't like you to put clothing in the big box/bag so check it's OK.

Never had anyone check what's in there, normally pack loads of stuff in with the bikes.

[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3827/10689029563_56b931b144_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3827/10689029563_56b931b144_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/hhy56a ]MTB Packed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/75003318@N00/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

I went the Evoc route too, just so much easier packing and unpacking and if you go regularly abroad with your bike it makes a lot of sense.

If your bike box is in an open trailer and it's chucking it down with rain a cardboard box won't last long - seen it happen - not mine thankfully but I never used one again after that.

Thanks for the replies!

@tomhoward I was actually thinking of the box inside a bag route! Provided the box will fit, I assume it would need some trimming.

I was planning on wrapping clothes etc round the frame with a little bubblewrap just to hold it in place, if it's bagged and then boxed I don't really see them taking it all out to check (?? 😕 )

I wont be doing this much at all so I'm not too interested in buying an expensive "proper" box, although they are around on ebay for just over £30 for a weeks hire which seems good.

@Monkeysfeet... that just looks like a cardboard box with some extra boxes inside really, or am I missing a bit?

Worth noting that there may be a 23kg weight limit on the bike and if you have a hefty bike, putting clothes etc in it might tip you over.

The flight is with easyjet, I get a 20Kg hold bag + 32Kg bike allowance, so total of 52Kg. It is a DH bike, but that should come in well under 32Kg!

Worth noting that there may be a 23kg weight limit on the bike and if you have a hefty bike, putting clothes etc in it might tip you over.

Quite rare for them to weigh it eg EasyJet check in at Gatwick can't fit a bike box on the scales as there is a bar across the access, so they just ask you what it weighs...

Box is fine. Get two and a roll of pscking tape and Take the time to reinforce the corners, and places of weakness. I build a block of cardboard to tape under the bottom bracket which stops the chainring getting bent. also get stay supports to go between the dropouts in case it gets dropped sideways. These should also be in the lbs waste stream. Only downside is no handles. Last year I got a cheapo bike bag and put the box in the bag. Makes it look more respectable and gives the throwers easier handles to grab onto. As my bike is a 19" with 170mm forks I have to take the bars off anyway, but that's no real issue..... Or rent a box from your lbs...

Quite rare for them to weigh it eg EasyJet check in at Gatwick can't fit a bike box on the scales

Well a few years ago they weighed mine in the over sized luggage area.

Used a cardboard box a few years back, it got ripped on the flight out and I lost a couple of items that were in a bag in the box. I bought a bike bag after that.

You could considering hiring a box.
[url= http://www.pod-it.co.uk/hire-centres.html ]http://www.pod-it.co.uk/hire-centres.html[/url]
Had a quick look couldn't see a price. Down side is the box is 10.5kg on its own.

Box is fine

Except for all the people on the three who've had them rip...

We've flown our tandem all over the world and usually use pipe lagging and a monster placky bag. The first time we flew it, I taped two single bike boxes together but it was a bit of a monster to handle. Never again.

After that, lagging and a couple of CTC bags taped together. We've had very little damage and have just returned from Vietnam using this approach. No damage from the flight, the fercking ****ers on the trains however....

Cardboard box from lbs will be fine. Wrap in duct tape at corners and handles to give it a bit more strength. Take a roll of tape with you so you can repair any damage for return flight. I used one before and was fine, I also added a set up skateboard wheels to one of the corners to make it easier to move. Bike bags are definitely better as they are easier to pack and the hard ones give alot more protection but it depends on whether you reckon it makes economical sense. Ive got a CRC one that was very good value

Cardboard box from lbs will be fine.

🙄

Nick may have a point about baggage handlers, there is a train of thought about riding to airport remove pedals turn bars and wrap in plastic bag.

I don't think that baggage handlers working to a 25 minute turnaround will take particular care just because it's obviously fragile.

Use a box. The other thing is, of course, is that if it gets squished you're going to struggle with the insurance claim.

I've used a carboard box and specific bike bags and both have been fine. You just need to be sensible about it . Reinforcing the corners of your cardboard box is an easy one, and not stuffing loose items in there is also pretty obvious. Protect the bike properly and it should be ok. The flights to Geneva are pretty used to handling sporting equipment.

I use a bike box (Specialized, currently), inside a bike bag. The box (and all the packaging inside the box) is doing all the hard work and offers a decent amount of protection, the bag... well, it's just a bag, you know? You'd have to be daft to trust the average bike bag to protect your bike from slingers.

If I didn't have the bag, knowing what I do now I'd get a good sturdy cardboard box- Apollo ones are good, they have to be to restrain 50lbs of pig iron as it gets transported round the world for the lowest possible cost- and laminate the hell out of it with strong packing tape.

I have a bag, it is fine. Problem with boxes is weight and storage but they do offer better protection.

You could combine a bag and cardboard box? My planet x bag is massive so would easily fit a carboard box inside.

When I flew to Mallorca it was raining very hard. When I arrived my bag was saturated and had obviously been outside a while. Not sure what state a cardboard box would have been in.

On our club trip the majority had hired hard boxes. A few of us had bags, one guy had his tandem in bubble wrap and plastic. Everyone was ok.

Planet X bags are about £60 a bit of pipe lagging was £5 tape and bubble rap another £5. A box is about £50 to hire for a week or £300+ to buy. A cardboard box you might be able to get for free but given the demand you might have to pay unless your LBS is one of these mythical places that does work for jaffacakes.

I think the problem with the box I had was that the handles ripped as it was being abused by baggage handlers, which then tore the box open.

if your bike box is in an open trailer and it's chucking it down with rain a cardboard box won't last long - seen it happen

On our ski trip this winter everyone's bags sat in heavy rain at Grenoble airport for an hour before being transported to the carousel. Luckily my bag was waterproof, those who weren't started their week with 6 days worth of soaking ski kit!

Seven years of running a mountain-bike holiday business. Many hundreds of guests, most of whom travel here by plane. Number of bikes damaged in transit? Zero. I think someone's brake rotor might have got bent once.

Be sensible, pack well, but don't stress about it too much.

Big cardboard box from the LBS for me. Packing my 60cm tourer means removing front rack, front wheel, mudguards, bars, pedals,saddle & seatpost. All corners re-enforced against crushing with rolls of cardboard. Tubes protected with pipe insulation. Fork spacer taped in place. Tyres not deflated but left at about 60psi.

Last time the only box I could get coming back was so small the forks and the cranks had to be removed as well to fit it. I don't worry much about padding coming home as a damaged bike won't need fixed in a hurry.

I've never had anything damaged in 12 flights.

The only damaged bike I've seen was at Vancouver airport a recumbent in several plastic bagged bent pieces.

Number of bikes damaged in transit? Zero

Well there we go then. I used a cardboard box for my bike to go on the holiday that Stevomcd runs, White Room -excellent - have borrowed a bike bag for my forthcoming overseas hol. My request to borrow a bike bag via Facebook sparked a similar response from people - do/don't. I just want something a bit more easy to lug, but might add some cardboard box via LBS as a result of reading this.

Well I've managed to pick up a "trico iron case" off of gumtree for a bargain price,..... but I've just realised the case itself is 14Kg 😯

With my dh bike coming in at around 18Kg, thats cutting it pretty fine! Might have to sell it on and probably end up doing the carboard box in a bag route!

Pipe lagging from B&Q £4, plastic bag from Wiggle £3. That's all you need. We usually keep both for the return leg as pipe lagging can be difficult to come by in hotter countries...

Pipe lagging is a good call. I have some fairly industrial bubnle wrap that as packed round a microscope we got at work. Bike bags can be pretty heagy as mentioned earlier which combined with a bike fit for korzine could be an issue, you have to lug it about too

Shipped 6 bikes air freight in boxes, some were very battered on arrival torn etc. Bikes were fine due to what else was packed in them.

Flown with cheap bike bags - squashed drop outs bags trashed (one on the first flight)

In the last 12 months I have done about 20 flights with an Evoc bag, it's the clear winner.

Spend a bit of time building a bike specific box and rattle can spray it to waterproof it? Or varnish? Call it a composite. I read Audi r8 bodies are built with araldite. That's a shed load of little double syringes!

I think the problem with the box I had was that the handles ripped as it was being abused by baggage handlers, which then tore the box open.

Wrap in duct tape at corners and handles to give it a bit more strength