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While planning a bike tour in Czech Republic we foolishly jumped at a low ticket price before comparing airline policies on transporting bikes. We purchased our ticket with Air France to our deep and abiding regret.
Here is the word on Air France's bike policy straight from la bouche du cheval: Bikes are now considered excess BAGgage - i.e. you can take two full suitacases and the bike. The flat fee for taking a bike from the US to Europe is $150 per bike each way. This covers you from start to finish as long as you are travelling on one ticket (e.g. our ticket is for DC to Prague via Paris and back again, so we'd pay $300 altogether).
The bike must be BOXed and weigh less than 23kg/50#. The dimensions of the BOX must be L 175cm, W 21.5cm, H 86cm. If your bike weighs between 23kg and 32kg (and don't forget the weight of the BOX itself) the fee goes up to $200. Pedals must be removed, handlebars parallel to the frame, front wheel dismounted and tied to the frame, tires deflated.
Weight and size must be provided to Air France ahead of time so that they can reserve cargo space for your bikes.
Of course, if you weigh 300 pounds and are carting two massive suitcases and a bulging rollaboard carry-on - NO WORRIES! Grr.. | 