Originally Posted by
neil
Fair in those cases, yes, but airlines that slap a "bike" fee regardless of size or weight aren't being fair. I've heard horror stories where, despite the use of S&S couplers or folding bikes to fit within the baggage allowance, the airlines still slap an extra charge of several hundred dollars if they find out what's in the box.
Yes, right now I'm looking at Delta's site, for instance. They're not clear if coupler/folders escape $400 round-trip fee. Lufthansa has high fees like Delta for full-size bikes but notes that no extra charge if bike fits in regular-size luggage. Oh well...at least some US city buses now have bike racks on the front!