Bikepacking | Tips for transporting your bike by Michael Strasser

Tips and tricks by bike expert Michael Strasser 

Taking it apart, packing it safely and then reassembling it again – if you’ve ever travelled abroad with your bike, you’re familiar with this procedure. But what’s there to keep in mind when transporting your bike by plane? How much time should you allot for check-in? Soft bag or hard case – what’s better? 

Michael Strasser flew around the globe with his road bike. Now, he’s ready to share some valuable tips on how to get your two-wheel friend on the airplane with you. 

The various airlines and how they handle bulky sports luggage 

Many airlines charge you a fixed rate for bringing one piece of sports luggage. Emirates and Qatar Airways even offer this service without an extra charge. 

Good to know: If you pack your bike in a soft bag, the airline will usually ask you to sign a piece of paper saying they do not assume any liability. This means: In case your bike gets damaged, you cannot claim these damages. The only things that are insured are total loss or damages to your bag. Definitely read the paperwork thoroughly! 

Factor in more time at the airport! 

If you’re travelling with sports luggage, you should factor in another half an hour at check-in. Oversize luggage has to be run through the scanner at almost any airport. 

Good to know: Smaller airports sometimes don’t have scanners for oversize luggage. This means airport security has to take your bike apart and run it through the scanner piece by piece and then reassemble it, which can take up to 45 minutes.