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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread

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Ultra-tri-guy

Jul 10, 09 19:46

Post #76 of 193 (1765 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [bella] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Do you really need your own bike for the amount of time you are in Penticton?If you are wanting to ride while you are there I'm sure you can rent a bike from The Bike Barn for way less than the cost of shipping yours.They have a huge selection.

.

Ultra-tri-guy

Jul 10, 09 19:53

Post #77 of 193 (1764 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [RichG] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Are you checking your bike all the way through to Australia from St Louis or is your St Louis-LA flight a domestic connection which means you have to re-check your bike in LA?This makes a difference in the US.If you are checking your bike to OZ from St Louis them you should not be charged (but you have to point this out to them) as you are on an International flight.If you have to re-check your bike in LA then you will be charged in St Louis as it is a domsetic flight and they will not care if your connection is on a Qantas codeshare flight.

.

chamuco

Jul 11, 09 3:52

Post #78 of 193 (1747 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [RichG] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Be careful and call them. I think they have some sort of rule (not in their website), that says that if you are australian, or hold an australian resident visa, the rule you are mentioning does not apply. It has happened to me.
Call Quantas at the airport in advance.

bella

Jul 11, 09 4:16

Post #79 of 193 (1745 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Ultra-tri-guy] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have talked w/ Bike Barn and that is a very good option I am considering. I just wanted to get an accurate idea about shipping my bike. I have a key ride I need to do while I am there and physiologically it may not matter if I am on a road bike vs.my tri bike- but my bike would be nice.\
S

Ultra-tri-guy

Jul 11, 09 4:25

Post #80 of 193 (1741 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [bella] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Have fun on Ultraman weekend.You will be meeting some awesome people.Crewing is fun but I think racing the damn thing is easier.

.

RichG

Jul 11, 09 5:49

Post #81 of 193 (1735 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [chamuco] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I am a US citizen with a US passport so I think the rule would apply. I so enjoy airport negotiations!!!

Rich G.
Proud member of the Geritol wave!

bella

Jul 11, 09 8:20

Post #82 of 193 (1722 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Ultra-tri-guy] [In reply to]	Can't Post

We went to UltraMan Hawaii last Nov. It was a life changing experience, but for now I would rather crew- maybe in a few more years I could consider competing in it.
Right now just hoping my athlete is rested for the event- not my ideal choice of race planning. He raced Germany last weekend and is racing Switzerland tomorrow- then 2 weeks to rest up for Ultraman.
S

ChrisTN

Jul 13, 09 14:39

Post #83 of 193 (1601 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Rappstar] [In reply to]	Can't Post

USAirways dinged me for $20 even though I had my free bike shipping certificate on the way back from Rhode Island 70.3. I questioned the "trainee" who told me that "it just covers the bike fee but I still had to pay $20 since it counted as a checked bag "(even though I didn't check any other item and the total weight was only 34 pounds). On top of that they misplaced my bike and coulndnt locate it until today.

desert dude

Jul 14, 09 8:34

Post #84 of 193 (1561 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [tryguy3] [In reply to]	Can't Post

USAirways is a flat rate of $100, there is no baggage check fee. With a voucher your total should have been $0. I had this conversation with them yesterday in the airport. Here is what they say re: bikes -

Bicycles will be accepted as checked baggage for a charge of $100 per direction, if over 62 in/157 cm in total dimensions (total dimensions are length + width + height). One item of bicycle equipment is defined as 1 non-motorized touring or racing bicycle with a single seat.

Bicycles should be prepared for transportation by the passenger. Bicycle must be placed in a card board or hard cased bike container. Bicycles not enclosed will still be accepted, however, the handlebars must be fixed sideways and pedals removed, or bicycle handlebars and pedals must be encased in plastic or foam or similar material for transport. A release form will also need to be signed by the passenger.
Here is the link: http://www.usairways.com/...ge/specialitems.aspx

In case TSA damages any of your stuff when they search your bike case and re-pack it poorly, here is the link to file a claim.

http://www.tsa.gov/...95_claim_package.pdf

Somehow they managed to put multiple dents in my helmet and what looks like teeth marks although it was no where near any of the cassettes or chain rings.

Brian Stover Accelerate3 Coaching, Blog
Save at TriSports.com - use code BSTOV-S when placing your order

(This post was edited by desert dude on Jul 14, 09 8:40)

desert dude

Jul 14, 09 8:39

Post #85 of 193 (1559 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [swaco] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I use a big Tri all 3 with the removable top vs a clam shell. You can pack way more shit in it, it's way easier, but it's a PIA if not impossible to get into anything less then a mid size rental.

Brian Stover Accelerate3 Coaching, Blog
Save at TriSports.com - use code BSTOV-S when placing your order

gonzobob

Jul 14, 09 8:43

Post #86 of 193 (1557 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [sto] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

My BF is a Delta pilot, and I can confirm, as can another above poster, that Delta / NW now charges $300 EACH way on International Flights for bikes. Yup, $600 round trip.

My brother and I just flew bikes from Minneapolis to Munich on Northwest/Delta (connecting through Amsterdam on KLM) and we were charged $150 each. On the return trip from Barcelona (also through Amsterdam), the KLM agent didn't charge us anything for the bikes. The bikes were our only checked baggage each time.

(This post was edited by gonzobob on Jul 14, 09 8:43)

ChrisTN

Jul 14, 09 8:46

Post #87 of 193 (1556 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [desert dude] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here is what I got from their customer relations:

Quote:

"Thank you for contacting Customer Relations. I am sorry to hear about
your difficulties you encountered regarding your checked baggage.

I have forwarded your inquiry to our Corporate Baggage Resolution Office
for handling. Please be assured, your concerns have been documented for
review by the appropriate managers and included in our report to Senior
Management.

Due to the circumstances you have described, as a one time courtesy I
have authorized a refund of your $20. Please allow up to 30 days for
posting back to the original form of payment."

Now I did eventually get my bike back yesterday afternoon but it looks to me like the Customer Relations don't even know their own policy. The way I read it they are doing me a courtesy for my inconvenience of misplacing my bike rather than being incorrectly charged.

baxnelly

Jul 14, 09 15:10

Post #88 of 193 (1521 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Rappstar] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

NOT GOOD
United - $150/bike + $25 second bag fee. Real sticklers about overweight, which is an extra $125
Continental - $100/bike + additional fees?
American

I had a good experience with Continental. Agreed that if you read their baggage policy you could interpret it as $100 plus additional fees but that was not the case. From Pittsburgh to Malaga, Spain (3 flights) it was a one time fee of $100 and I had one checked bag also at no extra fee. They did tell me if I wanted to check my carryon bag that would be extra as the bike case counted as 1 of my 2 pieces of free checked luggage, but I new that ahead of time. I paid the $100 at check in at Pittsburgh airport.

From Spain to Pittsburgh they didn't charge me anything extra when I checked in. Fully was prepared to have to pay the $100 when I arrived at Pittsburgh but no one said anything and I just got my bike and went. So to and from Spain, 6 flights total, came in at $100 for the whole trip to fly with my bike.
________________________________________

http://kktriblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.thedamtri.com

STJay

Jul 14, 09 17:57

Post #89 of 193 (1512 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [baxnelly] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Wow, I'm surprised, especially by some of the international charges, which are outrageous. I have been using the Blue Competition Akona BioSpeed bag this year on two trips, one domestic to 70.3 Nawlins on Delta, and one completed this past weekend after covering the Roth Challenge; into Geneva and out of Frankfurt, on United. Each time, the bag came in at 29lbs (packed the bike kit, shoes in regular rolling luggage) and well under the size limit. Four different gate agents, and I have been charged exactly $0. Of course, I take care by taping the bike up with foam insulation and used fork and dropout blocks, but the bike has been undamaged each time.

Maybe I look like a guy people want to help out. But I think the reality is, the easier you make it on the agent (that is, you don't roll up to the counter hefting something that looks like a Fort Knox safe) by making the presentation as small and light as possible, the more likely you are to skate by. That's been my goal this year in testing the Akona bag, and while I'm sure it's not guaranteed to skate every time, I think my season bike travel payout says something. I've had a couple pros call me after I did a blog post on it some months ago, and there's a group of athletes who can't afford to $400 hits taking their bike to a race every other weekend. If you can minimalize as much as possible when traveling and go soft-sided, you might be able to skirt by once or twice... or more. Coz if you travel enough, it adds up.

Of course, if you have an $11,000 baby and don't want to even risk it getting damaged, which is the greater benefit of a hardshell, then stick with a hardshell and be prepared to pay the tithe.

Bumble Bee

Jul 14, 09 18:18

Post #90 of 193 (1510 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Rappstar] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Delta charged me $450 each way to take my bike to Munich.

This was the second time I had ever used the Pro Bike Case.

The box was so thoroughly destroyed on the return trip I had to laugh (only after seeing that my bike had somehow survived).

The box had been rectangular with an aluminum frame. It is now some type of parallelogram. The latches all look like a crow bar has been taken to them.

On one side of the case, there are multiple holes where it looks like the box was dragged along the runway at speed. Some of the box is melted due to the friction of dragging along pavement.

I had to go through customs in Atlanta. the customs people were as upset as I was. They were nice enough to loan me some duct tape so that the box could make the rest of the trip to Austin.

Let's just say that the baggage person for Delta took one look at my plastic scrap heap at baggage claim and responded,"I guess we'll be replacing that then." No argument and no comment needed from me.

$900 for the privelege of having a $400 bike box destroyed. WHAT A BARGAIN!!!!

mullinsm

Jul 15, 09 10:00

Post #91 of 193 (1482 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Bumble Bee] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"I guess we'll be replacing that then."

I couldn't help laughing when I read that. Sorry about your box, glad your bike made it home safe though.

---

To another poster: that BioSpeed Bike Travel Case looks awesome. I am going to ask Santa for one at X-mas. From the comments on Blue's website it looks like a lot of well-traveled pros are using it. I'd say that is a good sign.

http://aeruscomp.com/...dea223dbb10d3756459a

http://rideblue.com/...?document=travelcase

mm

sto

Jul 15, 09 14:44

Post #92 of 193 (1457 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Bumble Bee] [In reply to]	Can't Post

LOL. That was a very funny description of the damage to your case. Maybe they couldn't fit it inside of the cargo so the dragged it behind the jet :)

Let us know if Delta steps up and replaces it for you...

-------------------------------------------------
"so i've got that going for me, which is nice"
- Carl Spackler

rockfish

Jul 15, 09 18:32

Post #93 of 193 (1439 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Rappstar] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Booked a flight on Delta using frequant flier miles and now pondering how to get my bike to kona in October. Good news had enough miles to get me and the family in first class. Bad news is is sounds a good chunck of the savings will be spent getting the bike there. Looking to buy a case read up on some and it seems many already weigh over 25 lbs, so the bike and the rest of the stuff has to be under 25 to avoid even more fees. Anyone ever travel on frequent flier miles in first class and not get charged?

Anyone have any reviews or feedback on this bike case? http://www.performancebike.com/...;top_category=400007

Peace,
RF

Uncle Phil

Jul 15, 09 19:18

Post #94 of 193 (1436 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [mullinsm] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote:

From the comments on Blue's website it looks like a lot of THEIR SPONSORED pros are using it.

I fixed your post for you...just remember to take everything with a grain of salt. I think there's a guy on this thread who had his bike crushed a couple weeks ago while traveling with his bike in a Biospeed case.

sonicfast

Jul 16, 09 8:33

Post #95 of 193 (1410 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Rappstar] [In reply to]	Can't Post

.

Iron Dukie

Jul 16, 09 17:18

Post #96 of 193 (1350 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Rappstar] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I flew Delta to Zurich for Ironman Switzerland 2009, and even though I flew home in Business Elite, I still had to pay $300 for my bike, AND they lost my bike. I since have wasted at least 3 hours on the phone with Delta (most of that time spent on hold) trying to figure out the whereabouts of my bike, and can't seem to get any consistent answers. On Tuesday, I spoke to 4 different Delta agents and received 4 different answers on the whereabouts of my bike. Yesterday I was told they had found the bike and it would be delivered to my house around 6:00-7:00. It never showed up and nobody ever called. This morning when I called, after waiting on hold for 30 minutes, I was told they didn't know why the bike wasn't delivered or where it was. On a later call today, they told me they had the bike and that it would be delivered tonight at 6:30. I rushed out of work to be home by 6:30 - it's now 8:15 and I'm still waiting (and nobody has called). AND, to top this all off, they are refusing to refund me the $300 I had to pay to fly with the bike.

mullinsm

Jul 17, 09 4:50

Post #97 of 193 (1324 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Uncle Phil] [In reply to]	Can't Post

"I think there's a guy on this thread who had his bike crushed a couple weeks ago while traveling with his bike in a Biospeed case."

...and people have had their bikes wrecked in hard-shell cases too. ANY time you hand off your bike -- put it on a plane, ship it via UPS, etc. -- you risk 1) damage, 2) loss, and 3) ridiculous fees.

The advantage of the BioSpeed case, as I see it (and maybe Blue should sponsor ME now too), is that it doesn't look like a bike case. Damage and loss are unavoidable risks when flying with your bike, but fees are potentially avoidable.

Say you fly with your bike five times in three years. That could easily run you $1500 in bike fees. If you use a soft case and avoid the fee even four of the five times, you just saved $1200, enough to buy another frame just in case they crush your bike on the fifth flight.

And, as has been brought up numerous times in previous threads, maybe you don't really NEED to take that $9000 bike with you every time. Maybe for this trip, you can take a nice, older, metal-framed road bike instead. Leave the $3000 Zipps at home and take some sturdy 32-spoked wheels instead. If you minimize your risk -- pack according to direction, bring things that can be bent back if they get bent, bring an older less-expensive bike -- you're another step ahead.

Flying with a bike is a losing proposition. If you're going to do it, why not try to lose as little as possible?

mm

NOT sponsored by Blue, BioSpeed...hell, I'm not sponsored by anyone.

mullinsm

Jul 17, 09 4:58

Post #98 of 193 (1323 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Uncle Phil] [In reply to]	Can't Post

And no, there is no post on this thread about a bike being crushed in a Biospeed case on this thread -- I just reread all the posts.

mullinsm

Jul 17, 09 5:04

Post #99 of 193 (1320 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Uncle Phil] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Finally, just to prove that I'm not shilling for a company:

I'm flying to IMC in August. I wasn't going to do it because of the bike fees, but then I found out about the free bike vouchers with US Air. I got a $236 ticket to Seattle and I have two vouchers in hand.

I am borrowing a huge hard-shell case to pack my bike. If it's free, I'll take all the protection I can get.

For $236 and $0 in bike fees, it was substantially cheaper and easier than driving.

mm

fexyguy

Jul 17, 09 9:09

Post #100 of 193 (1301 views)

Re: The Official Airline Bike Fee Thread [Fleck] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

First, there aren't enough cyclists to make any sort of difference. I fly a lot. I rarely see bike boxes. Second, I think what you and other people complaining about these fees don't understand is that airlines probably don't want cyclists' business. I really believe this isn't a case of them trying to rip cyclists off, as much as it is a case of them trying to dissuade people from flying with abnormally sized/weighted luggage. They have determined for whatever reason that bikes cause them problems, and will raise fees until we stop traveling with them. I've heard my surfer friends complaining about the same things.

Agreed!

It was always frustrating checking in with my bike box and one other small checked bag behind the very overweight couple with mammoth suit cases and golf clubs - and me having to pay something extra for the bike but the behemoths with all their luggage in front of me paying nothing extra. At least now there's a bit of parity. The airlines go on and on that it's mostly about weight on the planes - more weight means more fuel used. So if it's really about weight then start charging people by their weight!! :)

2x

I always said that when you arrive at the airport, you should have to step on a scale with all of your baggage (carry-on, checked baggage, strollers, etc..) and they charge you on a cost/lb basis based on fuel costs/lb. Seems pretty simple to me....
http://teamtimex.timexblogs.com/
www.teamfexy.com

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