Touring - Chinese airlines ship bikes for free, ignore weight limit

I just took three flights with my bike over the past two days, all domestic within China, where the luggage limit is two pieces of twenty kilograms total. I had two pieces of check luggage, one of which is a packed bicycle, each weighing 18 kilograms for a total of 36 kilograms. I expected to be fined for the excess weight, but all three airlines charged no handling fee for my bike, and additionally did not count my bicycle toward my total luggage weight.

Almost too good to be true isn't it? If only North American airlines are equally progressive. I have an Air Canada flight from Shanghai to Toronto this afternoon. I'll report the results when I get home.

The airlines I flew on were Air China (who last year also waived my overweight fine when I flew with a bike from Rome to Shanghai), Hainan Airline, and Shanghai Jixiang Airline.

Edit: Air Canada charged me the usual fifty dollars. I tried to get by with the standard 'sporting equipment', but the clerk asked what type, and I couldn't lie. I was within the weight allowance.

pretty sweet

I think EVA Air via Taiwan is also very bicycle friendly

Will keep that in mind when planning my sojourn after next :)

z

Edit: Air Canada charged me the usual fifty dollars. I tried to get by with the standard 'sporting equipment', but the clerk asked what type, and I couldn't lie. I was within the weight allowance.

I think the "sporting equipment" line is either a myth or some people are just getting lucky with the attendant not being aware of the rules. If you look at the rules of most airlines, they are setup for oversize luggage period. They are not discriminating against bicycles. If anything they relax the over sized luggage rules a bit because they are bicycles.

I had the benefit of attendants not being aware of the rules myself. I flew to Italy on American this year and was charged the expected $100 fee. On the return flight from Italy, I was told I would need to by 125 Euro. Exchange rate at that time was around $1.30 to Euro so my fee should have been under $100. I objected to the 125 Euro fee and the attendant said I would need to speak to his manager. The manager told me that if I could get the contents of my checked bag into the bicycle case, the bike case would go for free because I get 1 free piece of luggage!

I quickly tore all of my dirty clothes out of my checked bag, right in the middle of the terminal and stuffed them in my bike case! :)