Two wheels on air

Cycling enthusiast, Kanishka Poddar, prefers to take his vehicle to the destination. He has some tips up his sleeve to ensure that not just the check-in and flight are smooth but the cycle is also transported without any damage

One of the most frequently asked questions about my bicycle tour is how I carried my bicycle to all the places I’ve toured? Did I ship my bike? Or I rented one over there? I instantly get a surprised look when I tell them that I travel with the bike on the plane.

Flying with a bicycle isn’t really difficult and is as easy as carrying your own checked-in luggage. You need to do some basic planning and understand the rules of the airline you are flying and packing your bike well. I have flown with my bicycle both within India and to international destinations and have felt it is convenient and often cheaper to fly with a bike as checked luggage than to ship it separately or rent one at the destination.

In India, few airlines like AirAsia, Indigo, Air India and Vistara allow you to fly along with your bicycle after paying a nominal fee as sports equipment or oversize baggage handling charges. I was a little nervous when I first flew with my bicycle to Thailand but, thereafter, I have done this multiple times and it worked out perfectly. In this post, I will try to detail out the cost, airline policies, bicycle packing and more to make it easier for you when you fly for the first time with your bicycle.

Can I take the bicycle on a plane?

Yes, most commercial airlines other than smaller aircraft, allow taking a bike on a plane or carrying oversized baggage. I’d generally Google “(airline name) bicycle policy” to find its policy on how to carry bicycle or sports equipment on board.

Cost of flying with a bicycle on an airplane?

The cost of flying with a bicycle generally depends on the airline policy. Indigo, Air Asia and Go Air have a dedicated sports equipment policy wherein they mention rules of carrying the bicycle along with its charges on domestic and international routes. However, Air India and Vistara consider a bicycle under the oversized baggage policy and charge accordingly.

This is why you need to choose your airline carefully when flying with a bicycle. You can click on the airline name below to find their policies on the bicycle and oversized baggage. The prices mentioned below are the handling charges and do not include the baggage weight.

• Airasia: Rs 500 for domestic routes and Rs 1,000 for international routes
• Indigo: Rs 1,000 for domestic routes and Rs 2,000 for international routes
• Go Air: Rs 1,200 for domestic routes and Rs 2,500 for international routes
• Air India: There is no specific rule and excess baggage rates are applicable to bicycles.
• Vistara: Rs 2,000 for the domestic circuit as oversized baggage

Pro-Tip: Most airlines ask you to pack your bicycle well before checking them; preferably in a bicycle corrugated box and deflate your tires.

Packing Bicycle Properly

Packing your bicycle sounds like a daunting task but believe me it isn’t that difficult if you understand the basic mechanics of a bicycle. The first time I flew with my bicycle, I took the help of a YouTube tutorial and there has been no stopping me thereafter. Now, I generally take anything between 25-30 minutes to pack my bike completely and around 20 minutes to unpack and reassemble it at the destination. Instead of getting it done by the local bike shop, I always recommend it to do it yourself as it helps you understand the process better and make you more confident.

How to Box Your Bike

There are several tutorials available on YouTube for you to check. However, I am highlighting the important parameters as under:

The best packing material is a corrugated box which can be found at the local bike shop. It would generally give this out for free as it takes a lot of space in the shop. If you are not able to find one, the box of a large LED TV can also be used.

• Get packing materials like tapes, zip-tie and some old paper/foam.
• To fit the bicycle in the box, you need to detach or adjust the following parts: a) Remove the front wheel, pedals, rack and seat. b) Release the handlebar and tie it using a zip-tie on the fork.
• Protect the bike using foam all parts that a sudden blow could damage. The front fork, rear derailleur and disc brake rotors are especially vulnerable.
• Pack all the small bits like pedals, quick release skewers, bottle cages, screws and more in a small box/ container.
• I generally add my helmet in the box itself but remove all the battery-operated equipment as these are not allowed in checked baggage.
• Please keep all the required bike tools and repair supplies in the box itself including the stuff I can’t carry onto an airplane (pointy metal tools, pocket knife, pepper spray, battery and more).

Airport: Arrival and Departure

The most important part is to calculate the total allowed baggage weight so that you don’t have to pay extra. I generally divide the weight between checked-in baggage and cabin baggage to ensure it falls within the allowed limit. However, if you need to buy it, pre-book it to save paying a premium at the airport. It also saves time when you check-in.

The process remains normal in the smaller airports but all bigger airports will have a separate counter for oversized baggage and you would need to check-in separately. The bigger airport will also have a separate luggage belt to receive your oversized baggage. However, it never works that way and you have to keep an eye on both belts. I have received my bicycle in either of the belts irrespective of how I checked in.

Pro-Tip: Most Indian ground staff or custom officers are not familiar with the concept of bicycle touring and that people actually fly with their vehicles to different places. Be ready to explain the concept as you will be asked multiple times. The customs officers have never really troubled me much after I explained the adventure to them and the fact that it is an old bicycle.

Storage & Disposal of Box

There is no one answer to this and is mostly situation-dependent. Every time I am flying back from the same city from where I started my ride, I would safely store the box with the hostel, hotel or the local bike shop. The local bicycle community or the hosts are also very helpful when it comes to the storage of the box. The best way to connect with the local bicycle community is through Facebook groups or local clubs on Strava.

However, disposal of the box after un-boxing can be a bit tricky due to its size. I generally leave it with the local bike shop so that it is disposed of through a proper channel or leave it with the cycling-friendly hostel or B&B, if available. These boxes can then be used by other cyclists staying at the place