Taking Your Mountain Bike On An Airline When You Travel

Corey Philip // May 19, 2023

Over the years I've taken my mountain bike on dozens of flights across the world with many different airlines.  It's surprisingly less challenging and risky than you would expect.  When packed in an Evoc bag my bike has never experienced any damage.  In this post I'll give you some pointers.  

You Can Use A Bike Bag Or A Bike Box

First thing's first.  Your bike will need to be packed.  You can buy a specific travel bag for the mountain bike, or you can use a good ole card board bike box.

I personally use a EVOC bike bag (no pro version), and it has served me very well.  Do note, I do add some extra foam to a few places in the bike bag.  My medium size trail bike with 29" wheels and 150mm of suspension fits in it no problem.   Longer travel bikes or XL frames may require the suspension to be deflated, but should still fit.

The Dakine Bike Roller Bag, is another competing bag that many people like. It looks similar to the EVOC.

>>> Tip: hardshell cases like the Thule Round Trip are nice for protection, but get cumbersome when not in use as they don't collapse.

Most US Airlines Charge It As A Second Check Bag For $50

The 3 major US airlines charge will treat the bike as a regular checked bad.  That's pretty nice.  Budget airlines such as Frontier & Spirit will push up towards $100.  

No Matter What, Check It As A Regular Bag.

Outside of the 3 major airlines, rules are around the bike fees are a bit 'fuzzy'.  For example, some airlines may say it is a second checked bag while others ring it up as oversized sporting equipment.

What I do is just check it as a regular checked back at the self check-in kiosk.  Then if the bag drop agent wants to do anything... they'll have to correct it.  Most of the time they don't say anything, I have had a couple say 'this should be check as ______' to which I'll reply cordially reply "I'm sorry I thought I read online that it was just a regular checked back".  And on that note, none of the drop agent has ever corrected it.

For Flights Originating Outside Of The Us Be Prepared To Pay A Bit More.

I've flown from outside the US back to home twice and both times they gave me the shaft on the bike bag.  With language barriers and disdain for customer service (or even American travelers), you are really at the mercy of whomever you're interacting with.  

In both cases they cited oversized fees, and while the website might say that doesn't apply to bikes, you'll be met with countless resistance as to why that verbiage doesn't apply to you.  

Maybe I've just had bad luck here, but in my opinion it's worth expecting a bigger fee here.  I forget the exact numbers but they were between $100-$150.

You Don't need To Deflate Air Your Tires Or Shock.

While someone in the comments of Facebook thread may tell you that the air pressure at altitude in the place will fuck things up -- it won't.

There's only about 7lbs of pressure difference between sea level and 36,000'.  

So basically you're tires and and shock will have no problem.

TSA also does not care if they are inflated.

Don't Leave Little Things In The Bike Bag

I once pulled the wheels off my bike and went to put on the rotors only to not find the rotor bolts in the bike bag.  I take the rotors off my wheels for travel and would put the bolts in a little baggy and stick it in a pocket of the bike bag.  

My guess is TSA misplaced them when they were searching it.  The baggy of rotor bolts is tiny and hardly ways anything so they would be easily misplaced.  Now the rotor bolts go in my carry on luggage.

TSA  searches basically every bike bag looking for CO2 catridges.

As Soon As You Land Find Out Where Oversized Bags Come Out.

The airport is a weird place.  There's so much security when you get on, but at the baggage claim, it's a free for all. 

On a flight into a LAX I got to the baggage claim in a hurry and patiently waited for that buzzer.  20 minutes later, my suit case had arrived, all the other passengers had left, and my bike was no where to be found.  I found some help, and they directed me ALLL THE WAY across the airport to an oversize bag claim, and there way bike bag just hanging out in the middle of LAX for anyone to take.  

I'm glad I was fortunate there.  Now I always find out where oversized baggage comes out and try to keep any eye on that area.  

It's 50/50 whether it'll come out on the carousel or at oversize baggage. 

Make Sure The Multi Tool You Bring With You Can Put Pedals On.

No matter which bike bag you used, or if you box it, pedals will be off.  

Make sure that you bring a multi tool with a pedal wrench or 8mm allen to get you pedals on and off.  

On that note, NEVER put your pedals on tight, so you can easily take them off.  Finger tight is really all you need as the spinning of the pedals naturally threads the pedals tighter.

Author:

Corey Philip

Mountain biker and trail runner. I work remotely and travel around riding awesome trails 66% of the year. Bike: 2020 Specialized Stumpjumper. Youtube | Strava | Instagram