Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cdninkorea]

Due to the inflated prices of bicycles in Korea, I want to buy a bicycle in Canada this summer and bring it back with me as checked luggage. It'll be packed in a box so it should be relatively small and not over the allowed weight. I'm thinking it'll be okay but want to check if anyone else has experience in this regard: is this kind of thing okay on Air Canada?

[Pink Freud]

I'm pretty sure Air Canada will charge you for a bike even if you are under weight. When i last looked at their website they had a list of prices for sporting goods that are carried as luggage. still might be worth your while though.

[nosmallplans]

Most airlines will charge you a ton for bringing your bike on board. That said, if you run into the right clerk on the right day they may just do you a favor.

When I brought my bike to Korea I brought $350 to the airport just in case only to have the guy who checked my over-sized box do it for free. He explained that since I was taking a connecting flight between two different airlines that I could only be charged by the 2nd airline which would be doing the LAX to ICN. Of course, Asiana never got around to charging me. I still don't understand it... but it happened.

[Robot_Teacher]

Yep, these are not the ship bearing days where you had a huge luggage allowance and packed everything in big crates and made your merry way as a neocolonist to another land like in the Titanic days. They really accommodated neocolonism when America was open and free for the taking. Now, today, you're going on a year or two long trip with 2 suitcases and a briefcase to a land that sells little of what you really want to buy so this allows you to save up for the bargain deals you'll find when you return home. I got lucky on being 10KG over weight on Asiana!

[kiwikid]

It cost me $60 to bring a 17kg kayak back from Canada last summer. It's just under 3m long and just fit within the size limitations. I think I was flying Asiana. Travelling to Canada is great because you can bring back 2 bags of 20kg instead of the 1 bag of 20kg that you are allowed form New Zealand!

[cdninkorea]

Well, I checked the Air Canada website (I didn't know this kind of information would be on it; thanks Pink Freud!) and it's $50 to bring a bike. Since the bike I'm looking at is only 100,000 won more in Korea, and I'd have to wait until July to buy it in Canada, I think I'll just buy it here.

[Tobias]

I don't know what kind of bikes you guys are buying, but I've seen plenty of good used bikes in Korea for really good prices. I'm talking Colnago, Cinelli, et al, decked out with Campagnolo hardware.

[pandapanda]

[Tobias]

[cdninkorea]

[Tobias]

Mine that eBay lode, my friend. How much will it cost? It ultimately depends on the cost(s) of shipping the gear to you in Korea...and whether your eBay seller ships internationally in the first place. Perhaps you could win a whole package of parts from the same seller.

It shouldn't cost too much to have those Campy Record parts sent to you, though. Anything less than Campy wouldn't be worth it, IMHO.

[Ruthdes]

Anyone know about shipping a bicycle to the States? A friend of mine really loves the cute Korean style bikes that you apparently can't find in the states and has 2 that she wants to ship home. She contacted a shipping company was told that they're considered to be cargo, and would cost her about 300,000won each to ship!

I will tell her to check out her airline, as per the info above, but has anyone shipped a bicycle before? Any recommendations for company or the price should expect to pay? Any other ideas or experiences?

Cheers

[Zulethe]

wow, air Canada rocks