Whats the best of to take a bike with my interstate on a flight?

[N00blet]

What bike bag recommendations (one that I can get my hands on ASAP
Any tips for packing? Do I have to tear down the bike?
do I just pay the airline for extra luggage?

[g-boaf]

My flying all done with Scicon Aerocomfort.

Wheels come off but bike stays intact.

You MUST put some foam padding and plastic pipe around the handlebars to protect them against rough handling by airlines and airport staff.

The bag is part of my luggage allowance in weight which differs on airline and your status with the airline.

[jasonc]

My flying all done with Scicon Aerocomfort.

Wheels come off but bike stays intact.

You MUST put some foam padding and plastic pipe around the handlebars to protect them against rough handling by airlines and airport staff.

The bag is part of my luggage allowance in weight which differs on airline and your status with the airline.

i have the same bag. i disconnect the battery, drop the seatpost, take off the rear derailleur and chain then cover the thing in foam (pool noodles are your friend)
and yes, i pay for an extra bag

edit: undo the shifters so they can move around as they will get bumped

[g-boaf]

The roll bar foam (used for car roll bars) can also be good.

I also take the brake discs off the wheels - don’t want them getting bent.

Another thing with my bike - mine has Rapid Axle Technology skewers for the wheels. I have a second pair of those skewers for securing the bike to the frame in the bag. Keep my good ones for riding. Pedals should be taken off as well. Also take off the rear derailleur- even though bags often give you a metal guard for it, that’s pretty flimsy.

Electronic shifter batteries you’ll likely have to take in your cabin baggage (assuming they are removable). CO2 cartridges there are different policies from airline to airline. Also take things like your bike shoes in your cabin luggage. You don’t want stuff like that getting lost, same with helmet.

Also - if you have Apple Air Tags, recommend hiding one in your bike bag! They are a genius solution to airlines “losing” your bags. Airlines get upset about being told where the lost luggage is, but stuff them - your bike is more important!

A friend of mine often has problems with BA losing her bike bag and uses the Air Tags to tell BA where the bag is because they don’t know…

[N00blet]

Do you have to pull out the Di2 battery?

Its inside the frame somewhere and would need a fair bit of disassembly/reassembly

[jasonc]

Do you have to pull out the Di2 battery?

Its inside the frame somewhere and would need a fair bit of disassembly/reassembly

I haven't, but as stated above, i do disconnect it

[g-boaf]

Do you have to pull out the Di2 battery?

Its inside the frame somewhere and would need a fair bit of disassembly/reassembly

I would leave it, but disconnect it.

The main concern airlines have with batteries are fires, but I can’t think of any Di2 ones doing that.