Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sireno]

Hello. I will soon be travelling to Korea to start my first job working at a hagwon. My employer will be purchasing my ticket for me. I am very much planning to bring my bicycle with me as I will be located in Suwon-si, Yeong-tong and understand that there should be bicycle lanes and or enough space to bike.

I am curious as to which airline companies are the most reasonable to transport a bicycle. I have seen that Korean Air is an extra $50, and others range from free ~$2 - 300 just to bring a bicycle. Does anyone have experience doing this? I am somewhat apprehensive to ask my employer what airline I would like to travel, is this something that I should be concerned about? Thoughts?

Thank you.

[caniff]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GugsCdLHm-Q

Sorry, wish I could have been more help.

[Kurtz]

Just find the cheapest ticket then check the baggage limit for the airline.

Cathay Pacific who I flew with were VERY nice with me. Baggage plus bike was 32kgs flying home but they only smacked me on the wrist for an extra 2kgs when it should have been 12 kgs.

Pays being a foreigner sometimes.

[zeppelin]

[Sireno]

I am not concerned about transport from Incheon as I have Korean friends with cars and that shouldn't be a problem. My issue is about flying with the bicycle. This is what Korean Air website tells me. I am unsure what it really means.

[Kurtz]

I got sent over a 5 million won dual suspension MTB from home. It cost a fortune getting it sent over but I sure got my money's worth, I used it all the time.

When I went home this year, I took the bike with me. What a pain in the arse. My mechanic stripped it down a bit so I could get it in the bike bag, I was 12kgs over the weight limit, I had the bike in a bike bag, big backpack and hand luggage, not fun travelling to and from airports.

I left it at home on my return to Korea. A few regrets but not really as Busan really sucks for riding. Rural Korea is another thing entirely.

If your bike isn't your baby, I'd sell the thing and do what the above poster said, buy one in Korea and sell it later.

I'm sure light weight road bikes are far easier to lug around than bulky MTB's, but are more delicate too so you'd maybe have to purchase a proper bike box which don't come cheap.

[Kurtz]

Sorry, I wrote my message without seeing yours.

I'd ring up the airline company and ask.

[Bailsibub]

Sireno,

How much they charge you often depends on the person who accepts your luggage.

First, break the bike down as small as you can get it. We're talking frame and fork size with the wheels off and right next to it. Bars off, seatpost off, etc.

Then if they ask you what's in there, my advice is to fib. They don't write down what's in there for security purposes or anything. If they ask, just tell them you're a student and it's a large thing you need for school (projector unit, sign equipment, whatever....) Of course, if you tell people it's a bike, they tend to freak out for some reason. Tell them it's a tripod you use for nature photographs, and they are cool with it.

I don't know how into cycling you are, but if you ride high-end bikes, especially road, I highly recommend bringing your own here.

[DeMayonnaise]

Putting a bike on a plane is really, really easy. Get a big bike box, spend 10 minutes unscrewing a few screws and throw it in. Assuming you aren't a feeble old person, it's not that hard for one person to carry. This airport is probably the easiest to get a bike home from. They give you free luggage carts and the buses all have luggage holds down below you can throw a bike in. No problem.

Seems like Korean Air is the easiest for bike purposes. I brought a bike to Korea with them and was only charged for oversized baggage, which was like $50 or something.