Costs
How much does it cost to fly with a bike?
Flying with your own bike costs less than most people expect, and far less than hiring a bike at your destination that never quite fits. There are two costs to plan for: the airline’s fee, and the box.
1. The airline fee
Most airlines charge a sports-equipment or bike fee, typically £30–£60 each way, and it’s usually cheaper to add online in advance than at the airport. The exact fee and weight limit vary by airline — compare them on our airline bike policies page before you book.
2. The bike box
A professional hard-shell case is the other cost. Buying one outright is around £755 — a lot for something you’ll use a few times a year and then store. Hiring is the cheaper, simpler option for most cyclists: from £7.10/day for a Premium box and £11.00/day for an EasyFit, with a 7-day minimum and no deposit.
Hiring vs buying
If you fly with a bike once or twice a year, hiring wins easily — no upfront cost, no storage, no maintenance, and you pick the box up from a hub near you. Owning only makes sense if you travel very frequently and have space to store a large case. Our membership tiers also cut the daily rate by up to 25% the more you hire.
A worked example
A week’s hire of a Premium box is roughly 7 × £7.10 = £49.70, plus your airline’s bike fee both ways. Compare that with £755 to buy a case outright, and the maths is clear for occasional travellers — you’d need many trips before buying pays off.
FAQs
Is it cheaper to hire or buy a bike box?
For most cyclists, hiring. A box costs around £755 to buy; hiring is from £7.10/day with no deposit, so unless you fly with a bike very often, hiring is far cheaper once you factor in storage and the box sitting unused.
Are there any hidden costs?
No deposit and free cancellation up to 14 days before collection. The only costs are the daily hire rate and any optional extras you choose — packing, rebuild, or a door-to-door courier.
Does the box include tracking?
Yes, free. Every box has a built-in Bluetooth tracker (like an AirTag, not GPS) so you can follow its live location from your account, at no extra cost.