MasterOMayhem

If i took my Trico case on an international flight in business class and told them it was marketing material rather than a bike, do you think they would let me slide with the oversized charge rather than the 300.00 per way bike charge? thoughts? flight is JFK to Budapest.

Pugsly

been a while since I flew to Budapest (on BA), but they let me check ridiculously overweight bags. We were going to live there for 6 months and IIRC one bag weighed 180 pounds...

seems like you can get away with a lot traveling business class over coach.

Busta Quad

Might work. I know a guy who writes his wife off as advertising. He's a plastic surgeon and has basically rebuilt her; something like 28 different "procedures". Whenever he goes to a medical conference or professional event he takes her along to advertise his work and writes off her travel expenses.

urbanknight

I've heard stories of people using non-descript boxes and calling them "sporting goods" so they just get charged the oversized rate.

Machka 

Go ahead try it. And PLEASE report back to us every detail of what happens ... the whole conversation, and everything.

Surferbruce

I wouldn't count on it. It's a worth a try, but it totally depends on who's at the desk. odds are probably 10-1.

Surferbruce

..United still accepts a bike for free as one piece of checked luggage though.

bitingduck

maybe international, but not domestic. $125 each way for a bike domestic on united.

blacksquid

Just got back from a trip to SF on Virgin America and they only charged me $50 over the standard $15 checked baggage charge so I checked Virgin Atlantic. Lo and behold! Virgin Atlantic allows a bike to be checked for free provided it's packaged properly and does not exceed 32kg. Check here for details.

botto 

based on past experience. yes. based on recent experience: no.

fosmith

they know what bike cases look like. if i fly with my bike. i'll break it down into two boxes. one for the wheels and one for the rest, and i can get it in under the "oversized" dimension. i've done that several times. now, however, they will charge you for a piece of extra check-on. but you an put alot of gear and clothes in the boxes, so maybe you have to check in less.

even if they ask, you can tell them its not a bicycle. its bicycle parts. not a bike until its put together! haha.

botto 

depends.

carpediemracing 

I questioned the ticket agent on my bike charge (they charged me higher than what I thought their site said). We were flying Delta (which I highly recommend NOT flying). I didn't feel like questioning the agent's charge, but did ask for clarification on the actual charge (was I being charged a checked bag fee plus the bike fee, etc - there was an extra $25 in the charge and I was curious what that was).

Anyway, after I paid, we started walking away, and the agent says, "Oh, let me see your boarding passes." She takes them, scribbles on them, and hands them back without a word.

We go to the security line and we're told we've been randomly selected for additional checks. The TSA guy pointed at the scribble marks - apparently that's the "random" part. They gave us orange bins (instead of grey ones) and we got into a long line.

The TSA guys were like, "What is with all these randoms?? We're getting swamped here!"

Anyway, it's all about karma. I flew once where a travel companion insisted we were bringing convention display pieces, but that was the first and last time I didn't say it was a bike. Sometimes I get charged. Recently every time. In the past, maybe one out of every 3 or 4 flights.

European airlines sometimes don't charge. When I went to Belgium, I brought my bike, a frame, wheels, rims, spokes, powerbars, you name it, all packed in an overstuffed Cannondale box. 102 lbs. No charge either way.

cdr

botto 

^

when i first moved to europe i brought my pinarello and my mtn bike. both packed in cardboard bike boxes, with clothes, tools, helmet, etc packed with them.

i also had two huge(as in body bag big) duffels bags. didn't have to pay anything extra.

those were the days.

MrCrassic 

Objectification at its finest.

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MasterOMayhem

Ok here are some questions i have.

Since delta has a 300.00 buck per way charge TOTAL RIPOFF BTW

And I have my Trico box, I know it wont be over the limit weight wise but it will be over size wise. I dont mind paying 100 bucks each way thats fair to me. but 600 clams is making this totally not worth it and we are too close to ship it. BTW my mom and sister will be on that flight coming from Cleveland and Las Vegas so i cant change delta. Plus its a direct flight from jfk to bud.

Should i tell them its:

A: marketing material for my business ( I am flying business class)
B. tell them its some sort of sporting euipment: What Kind?
C. Will they ask me to open it up? and if i am slick enough do i pack some marketing esque material in there and pull that out?
D: Tell them its photography equipment: lights backdrop etc...
E. Get there early and kill em with kindness.... if it doesnt work i can stick it back in my car in the car park .

Also which bike should i take:

BMC SLC01 or Storck fascenario 0.7 or rent a merida - corretec etc....there.

botto 

have you confirmed this? i was never sure if it was a $150 each way, or not.

it's more like $175 each way for an oversized.

you can try,

doesn't matter.

when they ask, i've said cardio, and sometimes a frame. keep it short and vague.

they never asked me, but the TSA have.

how click are you capable of being?

try 'display materials', 'exhibition materials.'

that helps, but sometimes, when it's early, they have more time to be a pain in the ass.

a plus for the early argument.

whatever fits.

bratton

f*** those stupid airlines. ride your bike there, through the oceans and all

nesdog

I heard this recently: tell them it's bike parts. Even if they open the case, all they will find is a disasembled pile of items. (that they just happen to all fit together to make one bike..well...)

merlinextraligh

Delta has gotten to be much more of a stickler for collecting fees recently. You might have a bit of a chance if your platinum.

botto 

precisely my experience.

Machka 

OK, you do know that they X-ray the case, right.

botto 

there you go again.

AFTER you've checked in (and paid, or not paid, the fees).

Machka 

It depends on the airport.

In Sydney, Australia, in 2008, I arrived at the counter with my bicycle, the ticket agent waved someone over who took my bicycle away to the X-ray area. He returned with my bicycle and a piece of paper indicating it was a bicycle, and indicating the charge. I had to leave my bicycle in a place off to the side, walk to the other side of the airport, pay the fee, then return and show the ticket agent that I had paid. Only then did she give me my tickets.

That process took me by surprise because that's not how it was when I flew out of Sydney in 2004.

Times are changing out there!

botto 

i'll keep that in mind the next time i fly to middle earth.