Where should I fly

July 29, 2007

Based on the questions that I have received about my tour, traveling with a bicycle is the most worrisome obstacle to potential touring cyclists and travel by plane is the most terrifying of all. Fortunately, neither air nor rail travel with a bicycle is difficult but it can be annoying if anything goes wrong. Below, I've written a brief how-to discussion about traveling with a bicycle by air. I note that you are probably better off skipping this section and asking for help at your local bike shop. Nonetheless, my comments are below.

Nearly all airlines permit travel with a bicycle. However, the bicycle must be properly boxed, the airline should be notified a few days ahead of time, and the airline may charge a fee.

Boxing your bicycle properly accomplishes two things: (1) you will be allowed to take it on the plane; and (2) it may arrive unharmed. I mention these two things because accomplishing one does not necessarily accomplish the other. I recommend using a bike case whenever possible and a cardboard box only when necessary. A bike case provides better protection against shock and also eliminates a second form of (more serious) problems, which I first encountered on this trip: Airline idiocy.

While in theory, a cardboard bicycle box can be packed to safely transport your bicycle, this protection only goes so far as you can control. Once an airline attendant decides to have a peak inside your carefully-packaged box, all bets are off. A bike case is designed to be used many times and thus is designed to be opened and closed. Even if Homeland Security decides that your bicycle may be a threat to the war on terrorism, they may be able to have a look inside the case and also refasten it. With the opened cardboard box, the chances of them figuring out how to repackage your bike are far slimmer. On my trip home, my bicycle arrived in a fully-open and dilapidated cardboard box, which was clearly opened and then carelessly-resealed. My point: if you can, use a proper bike case.

If you can not use a bike case, it is possible to box your bike in a cardboard box. Since my trip originated in a different city than it ended, I could not use a bike case (I would have had to carry this case with me or ship it to my departure city from my arrival airport). Cardboard boxes suitable for shipping bicycles are usually available at a bicycle store for free. It's a good idea to ask a week or so in advance so that the store can set one aside. Also, not all boxes are created equally: High end bikes often (e.g., Trek's Madone) come in really nice padded boxes. I recommend speaking with the mechanic at the store and seeing which box he would use. Once you have a box, take the time to pack the bike carefully. There are plenty of resources available that describe how to do this. However, your best bet is probably to ask the bike mechanic from whom you got the box for help if you're unsure.

Once your bike is in the box and the airline is notified, take your bicycle to the airport. People at the airport will look at your box like they have never seen anything like it. Fear not, some people lead very dull lives. At the counter, don't wave your hands around yelling "bike". Ideally, the airline won't ask any questions (no fee). However, once the agent mentions the word bicycle, simply point out that you phoned ahead and noted that you would have a bike. The airline may charge you a fee.

Regarding fees, whether you get charged is almost arbitrary. The only consistency I've noticed is that almost all domestic flights (USA to USA) charge about $75 for a carrying a bicycle. At one time international flights let a bicycle fly for free but I have since been charged to fly to Spain and/or London from the USA. My guess is that different airlines have different policies and also that the agent behind the counter may "forget" to charge the extra fee depending on his/her mood (I usually try to look pathetic and hope for some sympathy).

Lastly, before you leave the counter, ask if the airline would like to examine the contents of the box. After 9/11, airlines are X-raying checked luggage and the attendant will let (or require) you accompany your bike to the X-ray station. This way, if the airline decides to open your box to inspect it, at least you have the opportunity to assist in the repackaging. With this in mind, you may want to bring a roll of good tape to the airport. I did not accompany my bicycle to the X-ray on my way from Toulouse to London and the results were not pretty: much of the contents of that box were lost.

Chances are, if you are using a cardboard box, it's because your trip (like mine) follows an A to B route (it finishes somewhere different than where it starts). This presents one last challenge: you must find another cardboard box at your departure city. For me, this was the single greatest cause of persistent stress for me during my trip. I did not have full confidence that I could find a box during the one day that I had in Toulouse. I inquired about boxes at bike shops in smaller towns and had no luck. Fortunately, finding a box in Toulouse was very easy. I attribute the ease with which I found a box to the fact that I was in a rather large city in France. First, large cities have more bike shops and higher turn-over so the chances of finding an unneeded box are higher. Second, France is a bike-friendly country where many bikes are sold each day, again affording many empty boxes. Based on my experiences and assumptions, I would recommend ending an A to B bike tour in or near a rather large city to afford the best chances of attaining a box to get your bike home.

June 22, 2007

Where do I want to be and when? I decided that I wanted to watch the mountain stages. Also, I've always wanted to tour western France. I found the list of stages at the Tour's Website and a map of the route. The first hilltop finish was at Bourge-en-Bresse, July 14th. I bought a Michelon map of France from a bookstore and located the city. Then I looked for nearby airports and found several. For reasons discussed below, I picked Geneve as the best airport to fly into in order to get to Le Grand Bongnard for the finish.

For the best price to Geneve, the answer was clearly (1) fly to London Heathrow and then (2) take a smaller, European Airline like Ryan Air ... add links. From Washington DC, a ticket to anywhere in France was about $1500 this June 10th. However, a ticket to London cost about $850. From London, traveling to other European cities is cheap. My lesson in this was: fly to London first; then use the local transportation. Right now all I can say is it looks like the best idea on paper. I will be sure to report how it works out.

I am flying to Geneve, Switzerland, where I will begin my tour. At the end, I will need to make it back to Geneve for my return flight. I hope to get there by another small European airline. I plan for at least one leg by train but have since read in French Revolutions that travel by train in France is difficult with a bicycle: "it is consequently impossible to take bicycles on French trains." Clearly, I will have to research this topic and figure out the best way to transport a bicycle around France.