Bikes on the train or plane: tips for transportation and packing

Removing the front wheel, unscrewing the pedals, turning the handlebars to the side – that’s often the minimum required for transporting a bike by train or plane in other countries.

General tips

Taking a bike on an SBB train is usually pretty straightforward. Yes, you’ll need a reservation on longer trips, but you don’t have to take your bike apart to get it on board. Instead, you just clamp it to one of the hooks or stands provided. If you want, you can also pack your bike in a special transportation bag. There’s a bit of fiddling involved, but your bike will be treated as luggage, which means there is no cost for taking it on SBB trains. Caution: some PostAuto buses are subject to different rules; the timetable will tell you what you need to know.

If you’re planning a cycling trip within Europe or even further afield, the conditions are different for each country and transport company. Some good general tips to remember:

• Book early: space for bikes is often limited, so book as early as possible

• Non-standard bikes, such as tandems or bikes that are more than two metres long, cannot always be transported. So, make sure you have all the facts from the travel company ahead of time.

• If you’re travelling with a bike trailer, make sure it’s no wider than 80 centimetres. That means it will fit through the doors of most trains in Switzerland and in other countries.

• If you don’t want the bother of transporting your own bike or checking it in for your plane journey, consider sending it ahead, or find out if you can hire a bike at your destination.

Travelling with your bike by train

In Switzerland, you’ll need a ticket for your bike at a half-fare rate. Currently, an all-day ticket for a bike costs CHF 15. So if the ticket is more expensive than an all-day ticket, just buy the all-day ticket. Depending on the train – S-Bahn, Intercity or Eurocity – you might need a reservation. You can find this information online or you can ask at a railway ticket office.

If you’re travelling outside Switzerland, different rules apply for bike transport. Here you will find an overview of some neighbouring countries.

Travelling with your bike by plane – seven key tips

Each airline has its own conditions for transportation of bikes and other sports equipment, so check directly with the airline you’re booked on. The price often depends on how far you’re flying – in other words, whether it’s a short-haul or long-haul flight. Common to many airlines is the rule that says if you can pack the bike in a box ranging from 130 x 70 x 20 to 200 x 40 x 80 centimetres with a maximum weight of between 23 and 32 kilos, it is considered an additional piece of luggage. The volume and weight vary by airline. Often you will only pay for an additional piece of luggage or a fixed price. Take a look at the airline’s website for more details; you will usually find the key information under ‘sports luggage’ or ‘special luggage’. Or simply ask your travel agent. If you have connecting flights, it is important that you find out whether your bike will be checked through to your final destination.

The following tips will help you pack your bike well for transportation, no matter what airline you’re travelling with. And some of the tips will also help you with train transportation, as well:

• You’ve probably got enough luggage for your cycling trip, so you can do without the transport bag for your bike. You can find bike shops with the right cartons for packaging just about everywhere. It’s a good idea to check ahead of time that you can get what you’re after en route. Many airlines offer reasonably priced cartons for packaging – just add masking tape and you’re ready to go.

• If you’re a little taller than average and you have a bike with a larger frame, it might be difficult to get it in the box, so let down the tyres first. This will give you a few extra centimetres.

• For safety reasons, many airlines refuse to carry e-bikes. Make sure you find out before you book. You can often rent an e-bike at your destination, which saves you the trouble of transportation.

• Clearly mark the carton with your contact details and your travel destination, for example the address of your accommodation for the first night. And while you’re at it, add an arrow to show which way is up.

• A packed bike is cumbersome and difficult to carry. The best idea is to take your bike to the airport and pack it there.

• Remember to factor in enough time for check-in. Also important: instead of the usual check-in, you will usually have to check your bike in at a counter for bulky luggage, which is often a little out of the way. And at the destination, you will also have to pick up your bike at the bulky luggage counter.

• You can check your bike bags in as luggage. Pack them in a plastic bag – a clean bin liner works well – and wrap the whole thing up with sticky tape. If your taped-up package doesn’t exceed the weight limit, you can check in multiple bike bags as one piece of luggage.