Originally Posted by staehpj1

Their policy is a bit confusing. They in practice do not limit you to 80", if they did no regular bike could fly with them. The language in the bike section of their policy does not list the size limit for boxed bikes at the $50 charge. The regular baggage section of their policy does say that the limit is 80", but I know that many people have flown with boxes of over that size. I spoke with them before my June 2010 tour and was told that a box over 80" would be fine. I was still nervous so I asked on a couple forums and heard from quite a few people who flew on SW with boxes like bikes come in when new with no problem and heard from no one who was turned away.