PedalingWalrus

I found an interesting summary for airlines and their bicycle policies

Travelling With Bikes - Taking Your Bike on a Plane, Transporting Bicycles - Airline-Baggage-Fees.com

It is interesting how many airlines (over 40) include bicycle as part of your baggage without additional fee.

jmeb

This is a nice resource, but people should be warned it over simplifies the costs on different carriers on the front page. The detailed page helps, but I would still confirm before booking as these things change frequently.

For example: it lists Lufthansa as "free". That's only true if the bike fits inside standard dimensions of checked baggage (62 linear in). No full size bike will do this except travel bikes which can be broken down into two pieces. Else it costs $70-150 each way.

jefnvk

Meh, it may be a good quick guide, but it should not be considered comprehensive. I can see right off that Brussels Airlines is listed wrong on the sheet.

Always check with your specific airline. Generally there aren't more than a couple options (unless you are doing something like JFK-LON), go over the ones you specifically are looking at.

Tourist in MSN

Agree with the others that you need to check the price for the bike with that specific airline before you buy the ticket. But it looks like a good resource if you are lucky enough to be able to choose airlines. I am served by a small airport and choices are quite limited.

axolotl

There's lots of outdated stuff on that website. For example, it has a listing for Continental Airlines which merged with United 5 years ago and adopted the United name. Similarly, US Airways merged with American Airlines 2 years ago but is still on the list.

raybo

This site is a bit more up than date:

https://www.yellowjersey.co.uk/bike-...hic-worldwide/

Machka 

Have you had a look at this page?

Airline Baggage Regulations For Bicycles

Go to the second page for the actual information. The first page is just background.

Machka 

And this pops up in my news feed from time to time ...

What do different airlines charge to fly your bike around the world? - Cycling Weekly

Rob_E

The idea of having that info in one place is great, but I agree that it's not quite accurate. The policies are often a little too nuanced to be represented in a nice chart.

Just took a trip on American Airlines. The sheet say that your bike counts towards your baggage allowance and costs $150. But, depending on the kind of ticket, you don't actually have a baggage allowance. However it does count as your first, checked bag. Every checked bag costs extra, and your second bag costs more than the first, so a boxed bike costs $150, plus it counts as your first, checked bag, so if you check any other luggage, it also costs a little more because of the bicycle. I put mine in an S&S case and brought everything else is a carry on, so it only cost me $50 round trip. However I had to leave some items at home, like my rear rack and my helmet, because they would not fit in my carry on, and a 2nd, checked bag would have added $70 round trip. Checking a bag plus a full-sized, boxed bike would have been $370 round trip, which is why my wife decided to leave her non-coupled bike at home.

Meanwhile, I have a trip on Southwest planned, and they allow two checked bags and only charge $75 for a boxed bike. Looking at the chart, you would think that means they're $75 cheaper than American Airlines, which is true if the only thing you check is your bike. If you check a 2nd bag, though, on Southwest it's free and on American, it's not. Then American ends up being over $100 more each way. For my part, I can put that bike back in the S & S case, and check a 2nd bag, and have no extra baggage fees on Southwest.

So, yeah, the details section is going to be key for making a list like this useful.

FBinNY 

I agree that it's important to know the specific rules for airlines you might be using.

But it's equally important to know the fine print. For example many airlines have a specific fee for bicycles but, a lower one for an oversized case that a bike would fit in. So, you might do better by paying the oversize fee, and not mentioning the contents.

Also, most offer far more generous baggage allowances for first or business class customers, and it's often cheaper to upgrade your ticket in order to qualify for the break. My record on this was on a business flight with trade show samples in 4 cases. I found a $25 1st class upgrade with 3 bags free, saving $150 instantly, then at the counter, the staffer must have liked my smile, because she gave me the last bag free also.
Saved almost $200 total, and had a much nicer flight.

Lastly, within the USA it's often cheaper to ship your bike out in advance via UPS or Fedex.

So, the real takeaway is that it pays to do the research and travel smart.

reppans

Decent summary... the 3 primary airlines I use look correct on the summary and detailed page. Agree though that you must look up the actual policy, and every airline should have the detailed policy in the cloud if you search for:

"[airline] contract of carriage"

Also might be worth uploading the PDF into a smart device just in case of a surprise at the check-in counter.

biketocamp

Thanks for sharing this. I'm planning a South America trip with a friend this late August and flying JetBlue. They told me over the phone that I cannot use a cardboard box which I normally use for flying domestic. I will now have to invest in a hard sided case for my bike which isn't an issue. However, the cost of them are very high. I'm looking in to buying the Thule RoundTrip. Anyone else have experience with this and flying South America with their bike?

gerryl

Every time I read these things I'm glad I have access to a reasonable amount of airline choices. My favourite is a medium sized Canadian airline, Air Transat. Only 30 bucks and the bike is not counted as a piece of luggage, you still have your 1 free piece. I also like that I can ride my bike to the airport, since they will accept bikes packed in a plastic bag which they provide.

manapua_man

Chainreaction has sales on bike cases every so often. You can get some nice ones used too if you're patient.

I saw a guy with what I think was the case you're talking about at the airport a while back- looked pretty nice to me.

indyfabz

Check out Crateworks. They offer a corrugated plastic box that is a compromise to pricier hard shell cases. I have used one for many trips. I can fit my 60cm LHT inside along with my racks (not attached, of course).

gauvins

According to their website you can use a "plastic foam" (flight bag) after having removed your pedals and turned the handlebars sideways.

biketocamp

Thanks Indyfabz. I like that Crateworks box. Wonder how the material is compared to the Thule.

mev

Not too happy with Delta on my trip to Cartagena:
- $150 fee, as described in document
- No bike boxes in Denver (nice if you ride to airport and then box, but less common now than years ago)
- Wouldn't check bike or luggage through to destination since layover >5 hours. Instead, had to pick up bike at baggage claim, take shuttle from domestic to international terminals, check baggage in again and go through TSA.
- Check in delayed ~30 minutes while Delta tried to figure out if their 737-800 door (48"x36") would fit a standard United Airlines box (70"x40"x10").
Mostly little annoyances, but I'll avoid Delta in future when I have reasonable choices.

Trip from Panama went more smoothly as far as the bike goes. Inbound flight was first delayed (4 hours), then boarded, then cancelled. Didn't get out from Atlanta until next day. However, that was part of a recent larger Delta meltdown and not specific to bicycles.

J.Higgins 

The solution is simple. Just tour on one of these.

biketocamp

Looking for additional help since after calling the airlines, they seem like they don't understand what I'm talking about... I'm flying into Bogota the end of August via JetBlue. I was going to get a Hardsided case but my friend who's coming said it's easier to go nylon foam padded this way we can build the bikes up at the airport and ride to our hotel for the night. We can also fold this bike bag up. Below is JetBlue's policy for bikes...


What is accepted:
Bicycles will be accepted in a hard-sided, padded case designed for bicycles. If not in a hard-sided case, bikes will be accepted with the handle bars secured sideways and pedals removed. The bicycle must also be encased in plastic foam, a cardboard box (domestic flights only), or similar material to prevent damage.

This is the bike bag he found that he wants to use... https://m.probikekit.com/cycling-acc...Fcy9swod0rMKHA

FBinNY 

I don't either. It seems that either is OK, subject to size limits. So I suspect you can go with whichever you prefer.

What specifically don't you understand?

Squeezebox

I was told by some airline person that only the bicycle can go in the box, including racks & fenders. No luggage, bags, clothes etc. And it seems that I've heard of people putting luggage in their bicycle box. Any clarification??

biketocamp

Well when I called them, they gave me mixed up options like yes I can use a nylon padded foam bike case and no I can only use hard shell. This morning I called and they said either was find as long as it fits in the dimensions and weight requirements which it will. We'll be traveling light using bikepacking bag setup which are feather weight versus a racks/ pannier setup.

jefnvk

Some specifically state it, some don't. My limited experience is that beyond the fact there is a bike in it, the gate agents don't care what is in the box, so long as you are under the weight limit. Neither even looked in my box, just had me put it on the oversize scale, tossed the sticker on it, and then had me go to oversize dropoff where the security folks poked around the contents. Security doesn't police airline policy, just dangerous goods.

My bike box had a whole pannier full of Belgian beers on the way home...

gauvins

Just wanted to report on a recent experience.

We were booked on a code share flight operated by United airlines. Their policy is that bikes are charged a $150 fee if they weigh more than 23kg or if LxHxW exceeds 62 inches.

At the airport, we were greeted by an UA employee who assisted us in the process of getting our boarding passes. When the question on baggages came, I quickly answered yes to the weight specification. The attendant didn't skip a beat even though it was obvious that our flight bags were oversize.

We saved 300 in the blink of an eye.