Transporting an E-Bike by Air

[6zfshdb]

Lately, I've been getting ads from BikeFlights.com. They are pricey to be sure but I'm curious if anyone here has used the service and with what result?

Bicycle Shipping | Bike Shipping | Shipping A Bike | Ship A Bike | BikeFlights.com

Ship your bike, wheels or gear with confidence. You get fast delivery, great prices and excellent service with every shipment per our Best Way Guarantee.

www.bikeflights.com

 

[FiremarshallDave]

The airline I flew (Allegiant) considered my e bike baggage and flew it for $50.00. Has to weigh under 50 lbs and I sent my battery separate. bike has to be in a box. As I recall bike flights was around $150.00 for the same bike. Call the airline. Once you ship the battery it's a regular bike. If the weight is over 50 lbs slip your pedals and or seat etc. into your luggage. Most parcel carriers will ship a ebike battery. The bike I shipped from WI to FL was a fat tire 1500w build. The weight was very close to 50lbs with my battery removed and the box plus packing materials. They did not put it on the luggage belt. They brought it out to me in the luggage belt area at SRQ. You can't pack a battery in checked luggage but you might be able to have it in a carry on. I didn't need to as we shipped a car down and I stuck the battery in our car. Call the airline. It was such a great deal I kept waiting for a hiccup but it went smooth as silk at the airport. Kudos, Allegiant Air. This was done spring of 2023.

 

[PedalUma]

if anyone here has used the service

I have used it a few times. Pack carefully. The best thing is to go to your local bike shop and buy a bike box and all the packing materials from the unpacking of a new bike. Normally that is garbage for them. If you go to a big box store such a Pennsylvania based Dick's Sporting Goods they will likely just give it to you. In person ask when they are getting a new shipment of bikes and arrive that day and offer to do an online survey for the bike assembly tech. Bike flights will pick-up at your door. Pad and box the battery inside a plastic bag after taking it down to 30%. It can go under the bike inside the box. They really don't check weight. Dimensions are a big factor in cost. If you photograph the unboxing of a bike you will see how to pack a bike by reversing the process.

 

[scottsdalecommuter]

The airline I flew (Allegiant) considered my e bike baggage and flew it for $50.00. Has to weigh under 50 lbs and I sent my battery separate. bike has to be in a box. As I recall bike flights was around $150.00 for the same bike. Call the airline. Once you ship the battery it's a regular bike. If the weight is over 50 lbs slip your pedals and or seat etc. into your luggage. Most parcel carriers will ship a ebike battery. The bike I shipped from WI to FL was a fat tire 1500w build. The weight was very close to 50lbs with my battery removed and the box plus packing materials. They did not put it on the luggage belt. They brought it out to me in the luggage belt area at SRQ. You can't pack a battery in checked luggage but you might be able to have it in a carry on. I didn't need to as we shipped a car down and I stuck the battery in our car. Call the airline. It was such a great deal I kept waiting for a hiccup but it went smooth as silk at the airport. Kudos, Allegiant Air. This was done spring of 2023.

I did the same when we moved, put the bike battery in our car that was going on the car hauler, no issues. I put the ebike into the moving pod without the battery because I was afraid they would freak out if they saw the battery on there and decline to pack it. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere the shipping pods weren't supposed to have batteries. Haven't ever flown with a bike but good to know if the need comes up!

 

[PedalUma]

Bikeflights sent me a link to this video today. They can send you a reusable box with everything you need to pack a bike. Those attach with bungies and are also reusable.