Getting a bike to the airport

It worked for me but the bike was a tank, big dutch bike, powder coated, internal gears, so nothing to catch or damage. just turned the bars sideways and flipped the pedals to the inside. let air out.
When it arrived in Toronto the bike was carried out by a handler before the luggage came out.

Box everytime... The condition the boxes are in when they get to the other destination is usually questionable...

Fuck putting a plastic bag over it,may aswell chuck it under a bus while your at with the way they get treated

http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/page/Heathrow%5EGeneral%5ETo+and+from+Heathrow%5EBicycles/103a9e9260599110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/

hire a bike box from London Cycle Workshop - £45 for a week. sorted

Box everytime... The condition the boxes are in when they get to the other destination is usually questionable...

Fuck putting a plastic bag over it,may aswell chuck it under a bus while your at with the way they get treated

Rubbish. On the return from the polo tourny in Berlin, Dave and Rik had measly bag bags- just material in a rectangular shape and remarked about the robustness of the high (ish) tech box I borrowed and how tough it looked. Guess whos stuff was plotted at the sorrily at the side of the carousel (dented top tube, broken fork and TOTALLY destroyed bike box)?

...seen more life in a tramps vest than that sight.

I've veerying to the cling film vibe now.

I agree ^

Surely if they can see your bag there going to be more careful (hopefully) with it aren't they?

makes the big assumption they give a fuck...

I'm new here. Hello all! was wondering a similar thing..planning to take my bike to New York. Has anyone done this? I'm a bit too scared to try the plastic bag thing, and probably not worth it to hire a bike box since I'd be away for about a month, or a bit more (so I'm guessing it would be cheaper to buy a bike box in this case?)
So thinking of either getting one of those cardboard boxes and ALOT of bubble wrap etc...or will it be safer to buy a box maybe?? any advise?
my bike=old frame converted to fixed..had it for years, not fancy. but I love it so don't wanna risk breaking it..

I've probably said this before somewhere on here, but in my experience of flying with a bike you've two options;

1. do as little as possible to package it, i.e. on of those CTC bags and no more, or
   
2. get a hard shell case, dismantle the bike and add as much protection as you can.
   
   

I've done both and, touch wood, have yet to have any problems.

Thanks!! will def get pipe insulation and ties.. and for hard shell cases, does anyone know of any good ones that aren't too expensive?
and dismantling the bike I was thinking wheels, chain, pedals off, bars off (or turn bars) and loads protection..should be ok, no?? aah freaks me out checking it in-never done this before!!

I'm out here now. I did the plastic bag thing.

There were a few knocks and bumps, but it was mostly fine. It depends on what bike you're taking; well-used tourer, no worries, pristine carbon road bike, not so much.

Later on today I'll be wrapping it up again to come home...

This image is soo cute . This cycle reminds me of my old days when I used to ride my bicycle....

This image is soo cute . This cycle reminds me of my young days when I used to ride my bicycle....

did you ever move the bike through airports too?

If it's steel / aluminium, it should be relatively safe. Knock together (or buy) some spacers for the dropouts. Use pipe insulation and zip ties.

+1 on the dropout spacers, pipe insulation and zip ties. I would even add some cardboard around the crankset (for safety), and some bubble wrap around the shifters and derailleurs (to protect from scratches/damage).

Brought my steel tourer from USA to UK like this, no problems.

Apparently they like it if it can roll - this is the advice I got at the time...supposedly they're less likely to throw it around like a box.