Taking a bicycle on a plane. How to fly with your bike?

You are going on your dream bike trip far, far away, and now you face the big question: how do I get my bicycle on a plane? Flying with your bike is a logistic challenge, and it can be overwhelming especially the first time. This article will prepare you for the operation Flying Bike.

What to pack your bike in for the flight

Cardboard cycle box

A cardboard box is my favourite way to transport my bike. It is cheap and convenient. Most bicycle shops will be happy to give you one for free. They have lots of them since the bikes they order for sale arrive in these boxes. 

Before your return flight, I advise you to give yourself enough time to find a box (you might be very unlucky, and the bike shop might just have disposed of all the boxes). You can also contact them beforehand and ask them to save one for you. 

In popular cycle touring destinations, you can find other travellers willing to give you the box they brought their bikes in.

What to pay attention to?

Carefully check the size of the box. If you have an L-size mountain bike, an S-size road bike box will likely be too small. Do you have a luggage rack? Remember that it also needs to fit in the box.

You might conclude that the bigger the box, the better. Bear in mind that the dimensions need to match the airlines’ restrictions. 

You will also have to get to the airport with the box (it is a rather staggering task to transport the box on your bike). When flying from Almaty, Kazakhstan, my big bicycle box was too big for the car ordered with Yandex Taxi (a Kazakh version of Uber). The driver was sceptical about driving with an open trunk. I convinced him by promising to pay an eventual fine from the police. We made it safely (without a fine) to the airport, but it was quite stressful. 

Together with the bike, I usually put some of my camping gear into the box. The sleeping bag and the sleeping mat work well as padding. Make sure there is no free space and no elements are moving. 

For some trips, I could pack all my luggage in the box. It saved me some money when travelling with low-cost airlines like Wizz Air or Ryanair since they charge extra for checked-in baggage.

Use bubble wrap and cardboard to protect the bike’s most vulnerable parts (derailleur, front sprockets, fork, etc.).

Plastic wrap or a plastic bag (aka CTC bag)

Some bicycle travellers have a minimalistic approach and only pack the bike in a transparent plastic bag or wrap without securing it too much. 

It is very convenient – you can put the plastic bag in your panniers and pack the bike at the airport. You also don’t need to dismantle as many elements as using a cardboard box or bicycle case/bag. According to some cyclists, the airline’s personnel would treat your luggage with more care if they saw that it was a bicycle.

It is risky, though – most carriers’ policy clearly states that the bike should be packed in a bicycle box or case, so the airport staff may refuse to accept your bike.

Hard bike case

A hard bike case is only an option if your tour starts and ends in the same place and you have a place to leave the case somewhere (at a friend’s, in a hotel, etc.) or if you’re staying in one place and not making any overnight trips by bike.

Its advantage is that it is safe and durable. There is nearly 0 chance your bike will be damaged during the transport.

However, it has two big downsides: it is expensive (ca. 500 euros) and heavy (some weigh over 10 kg, so be careful not to exceed the airline’s weight limit). Most hard cases are made for road bikes, but you can find some bigger ones that will fit an MTB bike.

Soft bike bag

A soft bicycle bag (like this one) is a lighter and cheaper option than a hard case, but it is still a significant weight you will need to carry on your bike if you don’t fly back from the same airport where you arrived. 

How do you pack a bike for a flight? 

Packing the bike for the flight is my least favourite part of each trip. Before doing it for the first time, I was having nightmares. What if I forget to pack something and can’t assemble the bike after arrival? What if I don’t get it right?

Luckily, it is not as scary as one imagines. If you want to stress less about it, do a trial packing and unpacking at home before the trip. This way, you will make sure you know what goes where and what to pay attention to. 

You can ask someone in your local bike shop to show you how to do it. There are also tutorial videos on YouTube (e.g., this one). In most of them, the bike is disassembled on a stand. You probably don’t have it at home (and not on a trip), so you must manoeuvre by flipping the bike upside down or laying it on the side. Put a cloth below the bike to prevent scratches. 

How to disassemble the bike – steps

• Remove the pedals (you will need an Allen key if you use SPD or a 15 mm wrench if you have platform pedals). To remove the left pedal, turn the wrench clockwise, and for the right pedal, turn it anti-clockwise.
• Take the wheels off (most bikes have a quick release, so this should be pretty easy).
• Unscrew the handlebar by removing the four screws on the stem. Remove the handlebar, align and attach it to the frame with zip-ties or tape. Screw the four stem screws back. 
• Be careful with the brake cables and levers, especially if you have hydraulic brakes. In this case, it’s best to put something (e.g., cardboard) between the levers and the grips. This will prevent you from accidentally pressing the levers when the wheels are removed (which causes the piston to change its position).
• Sometimes, you must also remove the saddle and the luggage rack to ensure everything fits in the box. 

Taking a bicycle on a plane – rules by airline

I described my experience flying with my bike and the official rules for a few other airlines I didn’t personally use. The list is not comprehensive. If you’ve taken a bicycle on a plane with other airlines, please share your experience in the comment. This way, we can make this list exhaustive and helpful to other travellers. For more information, check out the table with rules for bicycle transportation per airline on seektravelride.com.

Taking a bicycle on Turkish Airlines

My bike flew with Turkish Airlines twice in 2019. The reservation process wasn’t the smoothest. It was impossible to add sports equipment directly during booking. I had to call the call centre to add the bicycle to my reservation (it took a few attempts to reach them). 

The confirmation they emailed me after the phone call was quite confusing. Until the day of my trip, I was unsure if they registered it and if my bike would fly with me. To take my bike from Sarajevo to Bishkek with a layover in Istanbul, I had to pay 90 euros.

Recently, Turkish Airlines updated its pricing. Now, all bicycles are considered oversized sports equipment. Prices depend on the zone in which your destination is located. You must pay a separate fee for each leg of your journey. You can find the details here.

The bike must be packed in a special package or sturdy cardboard box. E-bikes are not permitted. More information is on the official website.

Taking a bicycle on Wizzair

I have taken my bike on Wizzair planes multiple times. There were never any issues with the check-in or the bike’s damage. 

You must deflate the tyres, set the handlebars parallel to the frame and remove the pedals. The weight cannot exceed 32 kg. It costs 55 euros, and you must add sports equipment when booking. You can find more information on the official website.

Taking a bicycle on Ryanair

Taking your bike on Ryanair costs 60 euros, which, given their low fares for tickets, will likely be more than you pay for your own seat. Add sports equipment, and then choose a bicycle during booking (the booking process with Ryanair is quite annoying, as they always push you to select additional extra-paid options, but once you get through it, it gets better). 

I flew with them a few times and never experienced any issues with my bike. 

The maximum weight is 30 kg. The bike needs to be packed in a padded protective bag or box. E-bikes are not allowed. For more information, check the official website.

Taking a bicycle on Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines allow bicycles on most of their routes for a standard baggage fee if the weight doesn’t exceed 50 ibs (ca. 22,6 kg). The dimensions of the box or bag have to be below 292 cm.

Your bike should be in a hard-shell bicycle bag, otherwise you must sign a limited liability release form.

Taking a bicycle on Air France

To bring your bike on planes operated by Air France, you have to submit a request at least 48 hours before the departure. Electric bikes are accepted but only if the battery has been removed.

The maximum weight is 23 kg and the dimensions of a box or bag cannot exceed 300 cm. At more Air France airport check-in counters, you can even buy a bike box that meets the size criteria.

The bicycle fee depends on the geographical zone, from 40 euros for flights within Metropolitan France, to 55 euros for flights within Europe, to even 100 euros for flights from an to Canada.

Taking a bicycle on Lufthansa

You can take your bike on Lufthansa for free as a part of your baggage allowance. However, you must still register it up to 24 hours before departure via the reservation hotline (+49 (0)69 – 86 799 799). 

The maximum dimensions (height + width + depth) are 280 cm. Lufthansa doesn’t allow e-bikes. Check the airline’s website for more information.

Taking a bicycle on Norwegian Air

You can take a bicycle on a plane with Norwegian if it is packed in a hard case or box. The handles must be turned around, the pedals demounted, and the tyres deflated. The weight shouldn’t exceed 23 kg. You need to book space for your bicycle in advance (it costs 35 euros by online booking). Electric bikes are not allowed.

You can find more information on the official website.

Taking a bicycle on Widerøe

The bicycle should be packed in a box or hard case. If you don’t have a box, remove the pedals, wrap the chain and hub in plastic, remove the wheels, turn the handlebar, tape it to the frame, and deflate the tyres. The maximum weight is 32 kg, and the price is 399 NOK (ca. 35 euros) if you book online more than 24 hours beforehand. E-bikes are not allowed. You can find more information on the official website.

Taking a bicycle on KLM

The bicycle fee on KLM is calculated based on the route. An early reservation is recommended (no later than 48 hours). The bike should be packed in a box with a maximum weight of 23 kg and a size no bigger than 176,5 x 23 x 101,5 cm. 

Remove the pedals and deflate the tyres. The handlebar should be along with the frame, and no parts should be sticking out. E-bikes are allowed if you remove the battery. You can find more information here.

Taking a bicycle on SAS

You can take your bicycle free of charge if it weighs up to 23 kg and fits within the checked baggage included in your ticket. If it doesn’t, you pay a regular price for extra baggage (you must request it in advance. E-bikes are not allowed. You can find more information on their official website.

Taking a bicycle on Air Baltic

The fee for the bike is 44,99 euros (if purchased together with the ticket). The maximum weight of the bicycle is 25 kg. You must remove the pedals, turn the handlebar and deflate the tyres. More information is on the official website.

Taking a bicycle on Qatar Airways

The sports equipment is free of charge as a part of the free baggage allowance included in the ticket (the maximum weight depends on the ticket type), but since the bikes are typically bigger than normal luggage, you’ll most likely have to pay extra. The price depends on the route.

The bike must be packed in a sturdy box, the tyres should be deflated, the pedals removed, and the handlebars turned and fixed lengthways. More information is on the official website.

Taking a bicycle on United Airlines

You will pay the price of a standard piece of luggage for your bike. Bicycles should be packed in a hard case or a sturdy cardboard box, with the handlebar sideways and pedals removed. E-bikes are not permitted. You can find more information here.

Taking a bicycle on Air New Zealand

If your bicycle is not longer than 2 metres and weighs less than 23 kg, you can transport it for the same fee as a standard bag.

For larger bicycles, you’ll be charged an additional fee. The maximum weight is 32 kg and the length cannot exceed 2.5 metres.

On smaller regional flights within New Zealand, the allowed length is different and if it exceeds 1.8 metres, you need to contact the airline.

On aiports in New Zealand, you can buy a bicycle box for 25 NZD.

You don’t need to deflate the tyres but you need to remove the pedals and turn the handlebars sideways.

If you’re transporting your bicycle in a box, seal the box and put on a label with your name and phone number.