spinnaker

You were simply lucky enough to run into someone who either doesn't know the rules, doesn't care or just wanted to give you a break. When I was traveling from Italy, I was told that the fee was 125 euro. At that time, I think usairways was like $75 or $100 US . So it would have been FAR under 125 euro. I complained and was told I needed to talk to the manager. Manager came over saw my other bag (I packed a second bag to spread the weight since I would be paying for the bike anyway). The manager said if I could get everything in the bike case then it goes free as my one piece of luggage. That was wrong but I was not complaining.

spinnaker

On my second trip to Italy, they had just started charging. My buddy and I decieded to go to the ticket counter separately. We were betting on the fact that at least one attendant was not aware of the rule change and would not charge at least one of us. The deal was if one got charged and not the other we would split it. The plan did not work on the way out but almost worked on the way back. I went first and the attendant was not going to charge me. My buddy immediately got the attendant next to me. My friends attendant started to fill out the paperwork for the bike charge. My attendant asked her what she was doing and the next thing I know the paperwork got brought out for me.

flatlander_48

No, over 6 years, it was maybe 24-26 round trips to Taiwan. My home airport is fairly small, so that was the same staff maybe half the time. However, that was rarely the case at Taipei. The people looked familiar very few times. I think that's 'way beyond luck, not knowing the rules or anything else. CKS Airport is the major international airport on the island of 23,000,000+. I tend to think they know what they are doing.

Further, there's nothing inappropriate about my responding to questions about the content as sporting goods or exercise equipment. How could you classify a bike as anything different. And, they can always choose to open it and inspect if they want.

flatlander_48

Checked baggage is X-rayed after airline takes control of it. The TSA people don't care unless they see something that is restricted. They don't know what you have told the airline personnel.

spinnaker

Over sized luggage is over sized luggage. Being "sporting equipment" doesn't magically change that. Why wouldn't some tourist with a giant suitcase just declare "sporting equipment"? I don't know how you were able to do it but the vast number of people don't get away with it.

It could also be the airline you were using. Some of the foreign carriers where not charging for a long time after the US carriers started charging. The US carriers started charging for overseas flights somewhere around 2006 or 07 if I remember. Before that bikes went free, even though you might pay for domestic flights.

flatlander_48

I've never been asked about a general piece of luggage. If it's oversized or sometimes over weight, it is charged appropriately. The only only thing that I have been asked about is the Ritchey case. It is an odd shape in that it looks like a case for a box fan. For whatever reason, they have decided not to measure. And, it's sort of hard to tell by looking. 62 united inches is the standard and the Ritchey cases are 66", so you have 4" spread across 3 dimensions. Plus, there is a black plastic cup where the cassette fits. It protrudes a couple of inches beyond the side of the case. But, it has the effect of making the case look thinner. Maybe that's why no one seems to check.

The airline was Northwest, which became Delta. My first trip to Taiwan started late January, 2004.

OGS_SD

The reason why some resort to "sporting equipment" line is because some airlines adopted a policy of charging a "bicycle fee" for a bike in a suitcase, even if the suitcase fits within the dimensions and weight limits for regular luggage. I believe Delta, American Airlines and United were
among those, even though United has rescinded this policy since then and others may have done so as well.

These articles summarized some of the charges for air travel with standard bike cases:
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/.../fly-your-bike
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/...friendly-skies

The Ritchey case is 64 linear inches, and new suitcases (past 4 years or so) do not feature the "dome" for cassette.
"Standard" bike case is close to 90 linear inches, so Ritchey case is very close to allowed 62 inch limit, and in my 30-something trips I was never charged - the luggage agent measured it only once, and let it slide.

Ritchey can also be easily packed in a S&S hard cases which are completely airline legal, at 62 inches, if anything, Ritchey frame should be more compact due to lack of bulky couplers. Hard case may be better at protecting the bike, but the hard case has several downsides too - it is substantially heavier than Ritchey soft-sided bag, and there is much less room - which means that extras, like shoes, helmet, tools etc. have to go in another bag, whereas Ritchey bag can pack everything cycling-related. The packing procedure required for S&S hard case is also quite a bit more involved, including deflating tires and removal of the cranks, as well as possibly the fork. Soft-sided cases also attract less attention from airline agents and TSA.

DC Rainmaker describes how he travels with full-sized TT bike:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/02/h...h-my-bike.html

Packing Ritchey in a soft-sided suitcase S&S style:
https://bikeaway.tumblr.com/post/1744...away-s-s-style
and Ritchey Breakaway style:
https://bikeaway.tumblr.com/post/3369...ase-of-courage
as well as videos and descriptions here:
https://bikeaway.tumblr.com/post/5410...-breakaway-for

spinnaker

Again that is from a misunderstanding of the rules by the gate attendant. If the case is normal size, the airlines don't care what is in the case as long as it is legal. If anything the bicycle rule is in place to help save you money. Many times the oversize luggage charge is more than for bicycle. But once in a while, you will get an overzealous gate attendant that tries to charge for bicycle, over size and over weight, I had one that tried to do that to me but she told me if I could get the case under 50 lbs, just the bicycle charge applies. Which did not make any sense. I could see bicycle + over weight or oversize + overweight but the 3 together were ridiculous. And I was only 10-15 lbs over. Most airlines ignore it. She just didn't feel like lifting the case on the belt and was pissed, you could tell in her demeanor.

flatlander_48

And how did she know it was a bicycle?

flatlander_48

That's why the case for an S&S equipped bike is smaller...

OGS_SD

Yes, but you must mean the opposite - the *reason* that that S&S procedure calls for deflating tires, removal of the cranks and the fork is BECAUSE the S&S case is smaller, 62 linear inches, rather than 64 inch Ritchey.

flatlander_48

Chicken or the Egg?

OGS_SD

No, this is not "gate attendant" misinterpretation of the rules. (I wish it was just misinterpreation!). Recently (perhaps 1-2 years ago) several airlines (I believe Delta still has this, and United and American went back and forth with this) adopted a formal policy that would call for additional fees imposed on bikes, EVEN if they fit within required 62 inch/50lbs suitcases. This means even Bike Friday/Bromptons would be charged.

Normally there are bike fees and oversized fees (and/or over-weight fees). In many airlines they are applied as a sum, not just the largest number, which is why volunteering information that you are packing a bike is likely to cost you money, if you are not lucky. I have honestly said that I have a bike on both United and Southwest flights and wasn't charged, but I think they could have charged me $50 each way.

See, for example:
https://bringonthepaincave.wordpress....es-on-a-plane/

flatlander_48

Conversely, in a moment of weakness (I was tired, middle of a long trip, etc.) I told the Cathay Pacific people that my wife and I both had bikes. The charged $75 per bike each way = $300.