How do I fly on an airline with my bike and not get dinged for $80 per travel leg for the "excess baggage"? Do some airlines not charge this fee? Are there any arrangements through USCF and the airlines if you have a license? I flew to France last July and it cost me an additional $300 to bring my bike! I'd love to travel more on cycling vacations but the huge fees are a big reason why I don't do it often.

If you belong to USCF you can get two United bike vouchers. Each good for one way. Be careful, we booked I fight last year off of United's web site and it ended up being on one of their partner airlines and they did not want to except the voucher. It was a big fight but with the big line they finally let it go.

The League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org) and USCF have deals, but there are restrictions. IME, there has been no charge for bikes flying international (Northwest, Delta, United, Luftansa) but regulations change all the time. One trick that has worked for some people has been to tell the check-in people that you have "exercise equipment" or "a sports display" or something else imaginative in the box rather than stating that you have a bike. You have nothing to lose by trying that trick. Another trick has been to use curb side check-in and a "don't ask, don't tell" mind set.

The League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org) and USCF have deals, but there are restrictions. IME, there has been no charge for bikes flying international (Northwest, Delta, United, Luftansa) but regulations change all the time. One trick that has worked for some people has been to tell the check-in people that you have "exercise equipment" or "a sports display" or something else imaginative in the box rather than stating that you have a bike. You have nothing to lose by trying that trick. Another trick has been to use curb side check-in and a "don't ask, don't tell" mind set.

I heartily agree... I had an argument with a Continental agent regarding the contents of my bike box. I insisted that since the measurements were UNDER their requirements for regular baggage, I could not be charged. She insisted I had to be charged since the contents of the box was a BIKE. :confused: I asked her if it were full of shoes if I'd be charged. She said no, but of course it was too late to tell her it was just shoes.

Stupid policy designed to make money off people with bikes. :mad:

Label it "bike parts". It's not a lie and some people I know have had success with that one.

Oh poop! I am flying Air Canada in two weeks and did not know about such rules. Does AC have this rule as well? I will only have a suitcase, just my bike box. Will they let it go since I will not have any other items?

Thanks

Oh poop! I am flying Air Canada in two weeks and did not know about such rules. Does AC have this rule as well? I will only have a suitcase, just my bike box. Will they let it go since I will not have any other items?

Thanks

Your best bet is to call the airline and ask, without identifying yourself as a passenger. Then you can decide what you want to do based on their answers.

I flew to Europe last year with my bike in a case that i rented from the LBS. I flew on Northwest and they considered it as one of my two allowed bags to check in. I had called ahead of time to see what the deal was and they were most concerned about the wieght of it rather than the content. A bike in a bike case weighs about 45 lbs ( the case usually wieghs about the same as the bike). I think the airlines get concerned when bags get over 60 lbs.

Best advice is to just budget the fee costs and hope you get lucky, as I did recently. I took my bike to Japan with me last month. Got tagged for $80 on the way over. On the way back the Japanese agents wanted to charge me like $280 for an oversized baggage fee. Said it was a bike and explained it was less. They took me over to another spot and charged me what should have been $80, but so far I've only seen a $5 charge to the airline on my credit card bill.

Most airlines have a baggage policy somewhere on their website. Read the fine print carefully. Most airlines charge $75-80 each way in the US. Many airlines (USAirways, British Airways in my experience) do not charge anything for a bike on transatlantic flights so long as you check only one other bag and the bike box is less than 30 kg. Southwest charges $50.00 each way. After you read the fine print and figure out what it is going to cost you, print out the baggage policy, highlight the relevant parts and make sure that you take it with you to the airport. Twice I have had to show the policy to the desk attendant to get my bike on board for the right price (once, I had to demand to see the desk attendant's superior before I got the bike on for free on a transatlantic flight).

The most important thing in the post 9/11 world is: DO NOT LIE about the contents of the box. Your box will be opened and searched or xrayed soon after you check it. The old "convention supplies" or "display art" ruses for avoiding the bike charge will not work anymore.

The most important thing in the post 9/11 world is: DO NOT LIE about the contents of the box. Your box will be opened and searched or xrayed soon after you check it. The old "convention supplies" or "display art" ruses for avoiding the bike charge will not work anymore.

MarkS has some good advice. Your box will most definitely be opened because it'd be too big for an X-ray scanner. Make it easy for the security guys to open, inspect, and pack up again. That's why I much prefer the non-hardshell BikeProUSA case than the hardshell cases. Mine is really easy to open and close up again.

From experience, most non-US airlines let you fly your bike bag and bike for free, as long as it's below the weight limit. Otherwise, you pay the usual overweight charges.

The most important thing in the post 9/11 world is: DO NOT LIE about the contents of the box. Your box will be opened and searched or xrayed soon after you check it. The old "convention supplies" or "display art" ruses for avoiding the bike charge will not work anymore.

Bzzzzt wrong answer...

this has worked for me 6 times in the last year alone:

get a box that does not have "trek" all over it...I wrap my box with packing paper/tape. Go to the skycap and make sure he see's the $10 you're about to give him. Pack pedals and seat in checked baggage so the box is very light (mine is about 15lbs). Swing the box around saying it's a display for work. Check bags and you're on your way.

Even if TSS open's the box or xray's it...they're not airline employees and don't care if you paid extra for it or not--they just see a bike, and the only "lie" was to the skycap which is never written on anything. Plus my boxes have never been opened.

This has worked for me without fail every time even after 9/11.

A friend of mine mails his bike FEDEX to where ever he's going (ie. if he knows the hotel etc). He mails it about four days before he flies and it arrives the same day he does. He calls the hotel to let them know in advance. How much? About $18-25 bucks. And FEDEX will deliver to a business much better than residences.