Touring - It appears UsAirways is now charging for bicycles on international flights

Price of airfare has dropped by a few hundred dollars overnight on UsAirways for my September trip to Italy.

UsAirways used to have an exemption for bicycles on international flights mentioned on their website. I wanted to go to the website and print out this policy along with the date so that if it did change I would have poof of the policy on the date I purchased the ticket. The exemption no longer exits on the website. :mad: UsAirways was one of the few (if the only) US carrier that had such an exemption. It was quickly becoming one of the only carriers among the European carriers too.

The good news is that it is only $80 each way. I have heard that some airlines can charge at least twice that.

Hopefully the policy change is so new that the agents won't know to charge the fee.

Thanks for the info.
I have never flown with my bike, but was intending to begin doing so. However, if 80 dollars is considered inexpensive (on a one way flight only), I will continue to drive the auto as much as possible.
Of course, flying overseas, as in your case, you have no choice unless you want to spend the summer on a ship getting where you're going.

I am sorry to hear this news. Because of US Airways policy, I have used them exclusively for touring trips to Europe. Just another reason to explore folding types of bicycles that can be packed into "legal" sized suitcases.
It bothers me to see people flying into Utah with golf clubs, skis, even kayaks without penalty. I don't understand why we, as a group, can't get some kind of "pull" to pressure the airlines. I really feel like we get singled out as a group.
Lyndon
Salt Lake City:(
When I flew out to L.A. to buy a Bacchetta Giro, I flew Southwest, because they had told me if I packed the bike in a bike box, they would not charge me extra on the return. I got this in writing, and they wouldn't honor it. I was able to get the Bachetta down to an acceptable size for FedEx ground, which charged me $22, instead of over a hundred from Southwest. I won't fly them again, even if they may be the lowest price.:mad:

Yes. I've posted this link several times recently suggesting people have a look at it, but I'll post it once again:

http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm

In January the regulations changed. Read the link above to see what happened.

Thanks Machka. Yes I have read that article but I was hoping UsAirways was one of the "rebels". Chances are they just did not update their website.

I like how the article says that there is litt;e difference in weight comparing a cyclist's luggage to a normal passenger's.. I would add that the combined weight of a cyclist and their bicycle is near the same body weight of many of their other passengers alone.

This is very sad news. I recently got into touring and thought what a fantastic way to see the rest of the world. I'll probably still go to Italy this year but it may be the end of my air travel with a bicycle.

Hopefully the new Open Skies agreement will cause policy changes with the increased competition.

With all the talk about "climate change" blah, blah, blah ..... you'd think the airlines would support those of us who opt to take our bicycles to ride at our destinations rather than using some sort of poluting method of transportation. Very sad.

I really don't think they care. But the hosting countries might. Reduce the number of tourists using petrol and you reduce your country's dependency on petroleum. I just wonder if the "powers that be" in the various countries are aware to this new policy, If someone has their ear, this seems pressure from the various counties would be an effective way to have the policy changed.

I'm not sure that percentage of tourists are also cyclists. I just wonder if loss of their tourist dollars would any kind of significant difference.

Yeah, even if the the internet said they don't and you printed it out as 'proof', you'll still get screwed at the airport counter. THose dipwads don't care what's on a website - the CEO wants his money from you and he'll get it no matter what. On another note, I found out that Westjet doesn't charge for bikes. But of course they're only in Canada.

I'm banking on the fact that they are "dipwads" and aren't aware of the new policy or at least don't care.

I'm banking on the fact that they are "dipwads" and aren't aware of the new policy or at least don't care.
Here's a hint- if you can do curbside baggage check-in, a large tip to the skycaps helps...

Here's a hint- if you can do curbside baggage check-in, a large tip to the skycaps helps...

I'm not sure if you can do curbside for international. Can you? They are going to bring it to the ticket counter anyway then you could get stuck with a big tip and the charge.

For most of the international flights I've been on, you have to bring your bags to the ticket counter and get them to weigh and measure them ... then take them to the X-ray machine, where they have to be a certain dimension and weight.

They are already checking your bags twice. Since the new regulations have been in place for several months now, I have my doubts you would be able to slip anything through without being charged anymore.

Oh, and on some flights, I've been escorted through the whole procedure by security because one of my "bags" was oversized luggage (my bicycle). Security was glued to my side till I got to the boarding area.

I have no problem paying to cover costs if indeed there is an extra cost for handeling. But somehow I doubt that the extra cost is anywhere near $80. And some airlines are charging as much as $150 each way. The airlines are really taking advantage of the cyclists.