I have a fairly nice bike I bought here. ($400).

I'd like to take it to the UK.

What are my options and possible costs?

It's very light.

1. Pay excess on airline?

2. Post office - ship by sea?

Any other ides appreciated.

Pauly

Sorry, I meant 400GBP, not $400.

Not that does make much difference. I just want to see how I can get it back cheaply.

Paul

Checked baggage is best but policies vary by carrier. Most Asian carriers will accept it as part of your standard baggage allowance. (The airline I work for charges $200 one way to check a bike in economy class, used to be free!) Just get a box from any bike shop.

Do you know how to pack a bike? I can't answer your question but I can tell you how to make it cheaper. Shippers often charge by size of carton or item as much as by weight. If lucky, you can get a bicycle box from a retailer. If not you can make one from big boxes after you have the bike ready to insert.

Tape bubble wrap around all of the frame rails.

Remove the front wheel and if it has one, the front fender. Remove the seat and seat post. Get some bubble wrap. Pull the goose neck out of the steering neck but leave the cables attached. Bubble wrap the handlebars and goose neck and swing them in between the frame opening.

Tape several layers of cardboard over the ends of the front wheel axles, wrap the wheel in bubble wrap and tuck that wheel also up against the hollow middle of the frame.

Remove the seat with the seat post. Remove the pedals. Wrap those in bubble wrap and tape them to the bike. The pedal on the rider's left side is usually reverse threaded, so turn it clockwise to loosen and remove it. The right one is normal and you turn it counter-clockwise to remove.

Now you have a much smaller, narrower package to ship and it will arrive undamaged.

Good luck.