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Can a regular diamond frame bike be packed to fit as standard airline carry-on luggage?

Bicycles Asked on June 16, 2021

I’ve been looking into possibly taking my bike with me on planes as carry on (not checking in). This is for (i) avoiding the extra cost of checking in oversized luggage and (ii) avoid breaking any parts during checkin.

So I got searching and of course I found lots of information on "foldable" bikes such as Bromptons that seem to fit over-head compartments (link):

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So I got curious, can regular diamond shaped bikes also be packed in such a way?

Some more search I found ways to disassemble them and pack them inside a thin tarp (link):

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This of course lead me to the natural question: will that fit inside a carry-on compartment of an airplane just as the Brompton did?

Bike wheels already being 26/28" might already be a deal breaker for this, but was curious if anybody ever tried bringing a disassembled diamond frame bike on an actual flight.

EDIT

The carry-on standard limit is: 22” x 14” x 9”. My thinking was that a 28" wheel could still be packed with an angle in a 22" case, so am curious if anybody ever tried that.

Here’s an interesting concept design for collapsable diamond frame + wheels.

One Answer

You are correct that bike wheels are the dealbreaker—even if you could get the frame down to carry-on size, you won't get the wheels that small (although people have tried making collapsible bike wheels too).

There are full-sized bikes made with couplers, which can be taken apart and packed in a case with the same footprint as the wheels, and there are a few "full-sized folders" that look nearly identical to a conventional bike as well. But these will always be bigger than carry-on size. Attempting to bring one on board would require the indulgence of the cabin crew, and is not something you could count on.

Correct answer by Adam Rice on June 16, 2021

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