I don't agree. I think it is because it requires special handeling. When my bike flew with me I saw it loaded onto the DC10 we flew on to Honolulu. When the "train" of baggage carts arrived at the aircraft my bike was the only thing in the cart it was in, nothing else with it. There was plenty of room for other baggage but because it is a bike they do not want to damage it. It was in one of the first carts, this means it was the last thing loaded into the plane in Sioux City & one of the first to be unloaded in Minneapolis to be taken to & loaded on the DC10. It was also one of the last ones loaded onto the DC10 because they could not put anything on top of it in the carge hold of the air craft.

When we arrived in Honolulu the bike was in the "special" & "bulk" baggage pick up area, which is next to the conveyor belt regular baggage pick up area. The bike was there first before the conveyor belt even started running with the regular baggage on it. Which tells me it was the first to be unloaded form the DC10, the first to go into one of the baggage carts & the first thing to be unloaded in the baggage claim area. I imagine this was all due to not wanting to damage the bike & prevent a claim from a passanger against the airline.

So I understand why they charge an extra $80.00 for a bike. They have to go out of their way to make sure it is not damaged. I don't mind paying it if my bike receives this kind of treatment to help prevent damage.