Shipping a bike back to US

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Johnnysmooth
Posts: 180
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:56 pm
Location: Beantown

by Johnnysmooth

Heading back home to Boston after a year in Austria. Came with one bike, leaving with two. One bike I'll bring with me on plane.
Still have to get that second bike back so wondering what folks have found as the most economical way to ship a bike from Europe, better yet Austria, to the US.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom and advice.
It only hurts if you think.

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eric01
Posts: 909
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:06 am

by eric01

I've shipped some bikes between US and Hong Kong. Not exactly Austria... Anyhow I used a cardboard box from local bike shop + pipe insulation, bubble wrap, etc... Postage if I recall correctly was around 80-90 USD. Both directions I used US Postal or HK Post.

I've also traveled with bike. One time I was charged extra 100 USD! Other times, no additional charge. I use a Pika Packworks soft case which measures smaller than hardshells. I think that factors into whether or not I get hit with extra charges.
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albertop07
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2015 10:09 pm

by albertop07

Take the bike with you. Extra luggage will cost you USD 100. Shipping the bike will cost you more and you may still have to deal with US customs.

elSid
Posts: 254
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:59 pm

by elSid

Do you mean $100.00 for each additional bike shipped? Last summer, flying with my bike to Europe from the USA was $200.00 each way on United, Delta, and American Airlines. At that time, other airlines were far more expensive.

I also investigated shipping the bike, but every option I could find would still be a lot more expensive than checking the bike.

ghostinthemachine
Posts: 780
Joined: Thu May 07, 2015 9:18 pm

by ghostinthemachine

Speaking from experience, I'd be checking with the airline first. Excess baggage or sporting equipment fees *Might* be lower than the shipping cost. Speak to a person though, they can add details like "two bike cases, paid" to booking details. Should minimise fuss at check in.

Depending on what contacts you made it during your year, it may also be an idea to speak to any local businesses, they may be able to get far better rates. (This saved me about €65 per bike, per journey when I had to ship a number across Europe, checking that many bikes onto a flight gets really expensive!)

Johnnysmooth
Posts: 180
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:56 pm
Location: Beantown

by Johnnysmooth

Thx for replies folks.

I already have one bike I'm bringing back via a Pika bag - great bag BTW. We are also bringing a lot of other stuff back home after our yr long stay here which brings up the main problem:

Airlines (KLM) charges ~70euros for your second ck'd bag on flight, first one being free. But if you add another bag to that, fee jumps to 180euros for that one, and it just continues to escalate from there. Thus the desire to seek alternatives.
I am friendly with one bike shop here in Vienna, will ck-in with them.
It only hurts if you think.

zev
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 11:11 pm

by zev

Check out bikeflights.com

The rates vary from time to time depending on the day you shipped but it was cheaper than flying back from Kona with mine.

by Weenie


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jimaizumi
Posts: 717
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:48 am

by jimaizumi

Have done the Jpn-Oahu route and was 200 each way... Taking two bikes to to airport will be a pain in itself but only to be relieved over the emotional uncertainties w/ having to leave your bike to the courier gods. I used an old Scicon Aerotech and its big, bulky, induces infinite cursing over having to twist and turn it just to get it into a minivan.. but it gets my bike to and through the airport w/o any damage to my bike.

If it was up to me and only up to me, then I'd likely ship one and take the more expensive bike by hand.. Note, the challenge also lies in how you would be able to move two bikes from Logan Airport to your final destination..
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