Does anybody know if any of Mr Bonning's above information is current or still valid?

I traveled from Pittsburgh to Venice and return summer of 2009 and was charged $300 each way for my boxed bike in a "factory deliver" cardboard box weighing less than 50 lbs.

I have heard that European Airlines do not charge for bike "baggage' if less than 25kg (50 lb) on trans Atlantic flights.
Any comments or update would be greatly appreciated.