Bike boxes

We are taking bikes in boxes to Cuba in a couple of weeks landing in Varadero if all goes as planned. We usually pack them full of anything we have room for (bike stuff,etc to leave behind.) We haven't done it in awhile - does anyone think we'll have a problem when they pass through the xrays? I guess weight might be an issue for the airline but I'll check with Sunwing re oversized luggage. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

It's the weight thing... I have brought 2 bikes to Cuba. Both times the boxes were stuffed with clothes to get the weight up to the maximum allowed. No problems in Cuba.

Thanks Greslogo, that's kind of what I thought. In case anyone else is interested here's what Sunwing says:

Bikes: $30 CAD flat fee from Canadian gateways. Free upon return.
If weight exceeds the total allowance of 20 kg, the overweight/oversized bag fee will apply.

Overweight/oversized bag: 23 kg - 32 kg (51 lbs to 70 lbs)/ 159 to 292 linear cm (63 to 115 linear inches) $78.75/ per bag ($75 + $3.75 GST)

If your bag exceeds the maximum allowable weight and/or dimensions it will not be accepted.

Keep the 'filler,' to clothes and not anything that would get customs interested in the box.

Hmmm. We were going to take tires, tubes, patch kits, pumps, etc... as well as put our own helmets, cycling shoes etc. Maybe a rethink.

I think you are ok with the bike equipment. I do it all the time. No baseballs or tennis balls though. They think they are apples.

The only problem I regularly encounter with bike boxes flying out of Toronto Pearson International is that bike boxes larger than 28 inches wide do not fit through their large item X-ray machines. That means you have to open up the boxes, take most of the stuff out to allow customs to root through it. I always take a half roll of duct tape with me and then after I reopen the box I tape it shut and tape it shut good. Ensure that nothing loose is rattling around inside that someone's hand can grab through the hand holes in the box to remove. Stuff has a strange way of vanishing into thin air.

Arrive at the airport earlier than norm to account for extra time opening the box. If you arrive too late the flight may be near it's allotted luggage weight and your bike may not arrive and you may have to wait days for it to come on another plane. This too has happened to me, especially if there were many Cubans going home with their ten tons of luggage.

I have never had a problem with customs upon arrival and when asked why I am bringing another bike I simply tell them I had my last one robbed.

Make sure to tell them all the stuff inside is for your personal use on your trip.

As Candy said, I have never had a problem with bike gear and clothes.That alone quickly burns up 20kg. Haven't flown Sunwing for several years, but in Vancouver, it is only WestJet with the manual box check. They have the new scanner , that is too small. With Sunwing in YVR you just drop it off at different location after check in.

Thanks Candyita and cyclistaken. Reassuring to know that things haven't changed much and that we can pretty much do what we've done before. Sounds like YOW has the same manual bike check at oversized drop-off as YVR . My concerns were more at the Cuba end but that sounds as easy as previously too.

#4.... That's ok.

I have brought my bike twice to Cuba.
My box was stuffed with clothes and cycling equipment.
The only problem I had is that my oil bottle was gone.

I'm going back October 15.

Yes my road pedals were missing once from a cardboard box at the airport in Santiago - luckily on the way home - I hope they are still enjoying them.

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