There are man options for traveling with your bike on aircraft:
- Standard cardboard bike boxes available from your local bike shop are a cheap and effective way of transporting your bike.
- Bike Bags often come with wheel compartments and frames to mount your bike to.
- Hard Bike Cases are heavier than cardboard boxes and bags, offer the most protection and come with wheels.

We recommend the following steps to minimize your risk of damage in transit:
- Release most of the air from tyres,
- Remove rear derailleur from derailleur hanger,
- Remove handle bars from head stem,
- Remove your seat along with the seat post still attached,
- Remove wheels – for extra insurance you can remove your disc brake rotors as well if fitted,
- Remove quick release skewers,
- Remove pedals,
- Remove accessories such as mirrors, lights or fenders,
- Fit fork and frame spacers – these are available from your local bike shop,
- If you have disc brakes, fit disc brake caliper spacers between the brake pads so they do not get compressed.
- Cardboard tubing can be placed around the frame to minimize the risk of scratches whilst packing and give extra piece-of-mind.
- Tape the rear derailleur to the rear triangle out of harms way and tape the handle bars to the top tube being careful not to crimp your cables or hoses.
- Place the frame in the box, bag or case and carefully place your wheels along side the frame with the cassette towards the frame.
- Don’t forget to add your pedals, skewers and other loose items including tools to reassemble your bike on arrival.
- Often you can pack your helmet, shoes and other items in the loose space and use this as additional protection for your bike.

Make sure you clearly label your luggage with name, destination and contact details. Adding an up arrow and Handle with Care or Fragile can sometimes help.

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This tip is provided by supplier M07701