Flying with your bike doesn’t have to be stressful — but it does require some planning. Whether you’re heading to Mallorca for a cycling holiday, lining up for an Ironman in Lanzarote, or taking on a sportive in the Alps, getting your bike there safely is the first challenge to solve.
Do you need a bike box or a bike bag?
Hard-shell bike boxes offer the best protection for your bike during transit. Soft bags are lighter but leave your frame and components more vulnerable to damage from baggage handlers. For carbon frames and expensive race bikes, a hard case is always the safer choice. The BikeBoxAlan cases we use are trusted by professional cyclists and triathletes worldwide.
How to pack your bike for a flight
Most airlines require you to partially disassemble your bike before checking it in. Here’s what’s typically needed:
- Remove both wheels
- Remove or turn the handlebars (depends on box type — our Triathlon EasyFit doesn’t require handlebar removal)
- Remove pedals
- Deflate tyres slightly (cabin pressure changes can affect them)
- Protect the frame with padding or pipe lagging around the top tube and chainstay
Allow yourself at least an hour for packing the first time. Once you’ve done it once, it takes around 30 minutes.
Airline bike fees — what to expect
Most airlines charge a fee for bikes as oversized luggage. Fees vary significantly:
- easyJet: around £45–£55 each way
- Ryanair: around £50–£60 each way
- British Airways: included in hold luggage allowance on some fares
- Vueling: around £50 each way
Always book your bike onto the flight at the same time as your ticket — fees go up closer to travel dates and some flights have limits on the number of bikes carried.
Hiring vs buying a bike box
Buying a BikeBoxAlan outright costs around £450–£650. If you travel with your bike once or twice a year, hiring makes far more financial sense. At £6–£9 per day, you can hire a premium hard case for a 10-day trip for under £100 — and you don’t have to worry about storing a large box at home between trips.
London Bike Box Hire offers 24/7 self-collection from our secure lockers at Wimbledon Chase (SW20), making it easy to pick up your box the evening before you travel. Check availability and book online here.
