When it comes to shipping your bike, understanding how dimensions and weight affect the cost of your Bike Flights is crucial. Generally speaking, the larger and heavier your bike box or case, the more you’ll pay for shipping, regardless of your destination or the speed of delivery you choose. To ensure the best possible rates for your bike flights, it’s important to understand the guidelines set by shipping carriers.
Understanding How Dimensions and Weight Determine Bike Flights Shipping Rates
Shipping carriers consider both the size and weight of your package to calculate shipping costs. While weight is a factor, the size of your bike shipment often plays a more significant role in determining the price, especially for bikes which are generally light relative to their volume.
For optimal bike flights rates, aim for package dimensions that fall within these guidelines:
- Length: Should not exceed 48 inches (122 cm).
- Height: Should not exceed 30 inches (76 cm).
- Shipment Size: Calculated as Length (L) + (2 x Width (W)) + (2 x Height (H)), and should be 130 inches (330 cm) or less.
It’s important to note the maximum size restrictions for bike flights. Within the US, the largest package you can ship has a maximum size of 165 inches (419 cm), with no single side exceeding 108 inches (274 cm) in length. For international bike flights, size limits are typically smaller, usually 157 inches (399 cm) or less, and can vary depending on the destination country.
Weight also influences the cost of bike flights. You’ll typically find the most economical rates for packages weighing under 50 lbs (23 kg). While you can ship bikes, including e-bikes, weighing up to 100 lbs (45 kg), shipments heavier than this but under the maximum of 150 lbs (68 kg) may require prior approval. If you need to ship a heavier bike, it’s advisable to contact [email protected] and provide photos documenting your shipment’s weight, dimensions, and packaging to request approval before shipping.
Exceeding these limits can result in significant penalties. Packages exceeding 165 inches (419 cm) in size or 108 inches (274 cm) in length within the US, or weighing over 150 lbs (68 kg) are prohibited. Shipping packages beyond these limits can lead to a carrier penalty of US$1,450, and your shipment may be stopped, delayed, or returned. It’s crucial to stay within these guidelines to ensure smooth and cost-effective bike flights.
How to Measure Your Bike Box Dimensions and Weight for Accurate Bike Flights Quotes
Accurate measurements are key to getting correct bike flights quotes and avoiding issues during shipping. Here’s how to measure your bike box or case properly:
Measuring Your Own Bike Box
When measuring your own box, use a tape measure to determine the Length, Width, and Height. Always measure at the widest points to account for any bulging.
- Length: The longest side of the box.
- Height: The second longest side.
- Width: The remaining dimension.
Crucially, always round up each measurement to the next whole unit. For example, 12.25 inches becomes 13 inches, and 13.7 cm becomes 14 cm.
To weigh your shipment, use a scale and always round up the weight to the next whole pound or kilogram. For instance, 57.2 lbs should be entered as 58 lbs, and 33.3 kg as 34 kg.
The Bikeflights.com rate finder simplifies this process by automatically rounding up dimensions and weight when you search for rates, ensuring you get the most accurate quotes for your bike flights.
Using Pre-defined Boxes and Cases for Bike Flights
Bikeflights.com offers a convenient feature by pre-populating dimensions for many popular bike boxes and cases that are known to be suitable for shipping. If you are using one of these listed containers, simply select it from the dropdown menu when booking your bike flights.
If your specific bike box or case isn’t listed, it could be because it’s not commonly used, Bikeflights.com lacks experience with it, or it might not be suitable for shipping based on their experience. If your case isn’t on the list, it’s recommended to contact the Bikeflights.com Support Team. They can verify if your case is appropriate for bike flights and potentially add it to their list for future convenience.
Why Accurate Dimensions and Weight are Essential for Trouble-Free Bike Flights
Providing accurate dimensions and weight when booking your bike flights is not just about getting the right price; it’s also about ensuring a smooth shipping process. When your shipment enters the carrier’s system, it’s based on the information you provided. Carriers use dimensional weight scanners to verify these details.
If the scanned dimensions and weight don’t match what you declared, your package will be “bump sorted” for relabeling. Bump sorting increases the risk of damage and delays to your bike flights, and can also lead to additional fees. Therefore, taking the time to measure accurately and provide correct information is a simple yet vital step to ensure your bike arrives safely, on time, and without unexpected costs.
