Travelling With Your Bike? Do Your Research!

Before you book your airline ticket, make sure your research the airlines' baggage fees before you book!

Most of us have flown to a race or two with our bikes and we all understand that we need to have access to or own a quality bike bag or bike box in order to give up temporary custody of our precious bike to the airline for the duration of flight.  We will carefully pack our bikes to make sure it is as well protected as possible.  Then, we will pray that the airlines will treat our bike with the same level of TLC as we would if we were putting the bike on the airplane ourselves.  Yes, we know it's unlikely, but we pray all the same!  Good quality bike boxes will cost between $500 and $900 or they are available for rent.  Now, that's taken care of, let's talk about the fees those airlines are going to charge you.

First, let's go over the facts and assumption as well as some of the terminology:

-    A cardboard bike shipping box is typically 8" wide, 28"high and 50" long (21 x 71 x 127 cm)  The total dimension inches (or linear inches) is 86in (219 cm).

-    A plastic clamshell style bike box will typically weigh in at over 50 lbs or more when packed with a lightweight carbon fibre or aluminum road or tri bike.  Most airlines will classify this package as overweight.

-    A softshell bike travel bag like the EVOC bag, the Helium bag or the best-selling Jetpack from BIKND will typically weigh in at easily less than 50 pounds, sometimes as low as 40 lbs.

-    Airlines charge extra for some certain baggage when it is one of three things:

       1.    A specialty item (and many airlines will identify a bike as a specialty item).

       2.   Overweight.  Depending on the airline, this is usually 50 or 55 lbs.

      3.    Oversized.  Oversized used to be determined based on dimensional weight but most airlines now use "dimensional inches" or "linear inches" to describe size limits.

      4.    Dimensional Inches or linear inches.  These terms refer to the number that is derived from adding up the number in inches of the dimensions of the box.  So the typical cardboard bike box will have a dimensional weight of 8+28+50 or 86.  Typically, an airline will call an item oversized if the dimensional weight is over 60' or 62" or 158cm.  

      5.   Many of the airlines specify how the bikes are to be packed.  Any airline can refuse to accept a bike that is not packed properly according to their policies. Here is the way WestJet says it should be done:

• -  Remove pedals;

•     Partially deflate tires

• -  Fix handlebars sideways

• -  Pack the bicycle in a bag or a box to prevent damage to your bike and to prevent leakage from bicycles containing hydraulic fluids

•     Airlines may refuse improperly packed bicycles.

Recently, Air Canada has updated their baggage rules to state that bikes are to be packed in hardshell or rigid cases. We haven't heard of it happening yet, but it is possible that they will refuse to accept a bike in a soft sided case.

Here's where this point becomes significant, particularly for anyone traveling with Scicon AeroComfort cases.  With this case, you only have to remove the wheels and pedals.  You don't need to adjust the handlebars. In this case, an airline can refuse to accept your bike for transport on your flight. It's possible that the airline can assess an oversized charge.   We haven't seen it happen yet where a bike has been refused as luggage but it's something to be aware of so that you can consider a contingency plan.

6.  Last but certainly not least:  your outbound and return flights might well be on different airlines so you might have reference the fee schedules for more than one airline in order to estimate your total baggage fees.  And when you have connections with different airlines on one leg of your journey, your booking agent should be able to confirm to you which airline's fees will apply.  Normally, it will be the fees for the airline with whom you are checking in.  Safe travels!

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We've put together a list of some of the airline baggage fees for bikes.  Make sure you factor these into the price of your ticket when you are looking at your travel options.  But if you don't want to take the time to read the rest of the article, we'll save you some time. The 3 least expensive airlines for bike transportation remain:  

           BEST VALUE:  Air Canada, Alaska Airlines & Westjet              

Air Canada

This remains one of the best deals going in bike travel. Air Canada charges a $50 to $59 CAD/US handling charge for a bicycle as long as the packed bike appropriately (see above).  And the weight and size allowances are more than sufficient to accommodate most bikes:  oversize/overweight charges will not apply as lot an the packed bike is less than 70 lbs and less than 115 dimensional inches.  This handling charge could be interpreted as being in addition to the checked baggage fee ($31.50 for the first bag, $31.50 for the second).   

WestJet

WestJet doesn’t specify a separate fee or category for bikes but they can assess regular checked baggage fee as well as either overweight or oversized bags, as applicable.  Westjet does not specify a bike travel fee but they will allow a packed bike that is under 115 dimensional inches and under 100 pounds.  But, Westjet's "overweight" and "oversized" fees apply when the packed bag is over 50 lbs or over 62 linear inches.  Again, you can come in under the "overweight" limit with well-packed bag but your bag will be oversized by their definition (over 62 linear inches). Thus the additional fee will kick apply.

-   The first checked bag is $30 to $35.40, the second (your bike) is $50 to $59.00 Cdn.

-   The overweight fee is $75 to $88.50 Cdn (assessed for bags over 50lb so a well chosen and conservatively packed bike travel case can avoid coming in as overweight).

-   The oversized fee is $75 to $88.50 Cdn (assessed for bags over 80 dimensional inches and all of the bike travel cases we sell will exceed this limit).

  

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines assesses fees for oversized and overweight items in addition to the regular checked bag fee of $25.  Oversized fee of $75 applies on baggage up to 115 linear inches (most bikes will be oversized).  Overweight fee of $75 is assessed on pieces over 50 lb. Most bikes packed in a soft-sided case like the BIKND Jetpack or Heliums cases or the EVOC bike carrier will normally be under 50 lb. So, the fee would likely be $100. 

American Airlines (now incorporation US Airways)

American Airlines charges $150USD unless it manages to be both under 50 pounds and under 65 dimensional inches, in which case, just the regular checked baggage fees will apply.  Since there is no regular bike travel case that will be under that size, the fee will most likely be $150USD. 

Delta Airlines

Delta assesses a $150 fee for bike transport.  No additional oversized or overweight fees apply as long as the packed bag is less than 115 dimensional inches and less than 70 lbs, both of which are more than generous enough to cover a bike packed for airline travel.  

Icelandair

Icelandair charges variable fees of $83 to $116 fee for bike transport, depending on the trip destination.  What currency is being charged wasn’t clear so I assume it is USD.  No additional oversized or overweight fees apply as long as the packed bag is less than 115 dimensional inches and less than 70 lbs, both of which are quite feasible with most bike travel cases.  

United Airlines

Likely, the oversize fee is still $150. -but it is difficult to find reference to the rate on their current website.  The disclosure regarding overweight and oversize baggage is says that fees are charged for bags over 50 lbs and/or over 62 linear inches (and all commonly used bike travel cases are over 62 dimensional inches. 

Charter Airlines

If you are traveling with a chartered airline, you need to check their service fees as they can sometimes be more bike-travel-friendly than the usual air carriers.  Here's an example:

Sunwing –

Sunwing charges $30 for bike transport. (Yes, just $30!) but the weight limit is only 20 kg (44 lbs).  Careful packing in a softshell travel case should be able to get you there.  They charge $10 per kg for each kg over 20 kg. 

Air Transat –

Air Transat also charges just $30 for bike transport. (Yes, just $30!) but they are more generous in their weight limit than Sunwing. The maximum weight for a packed bike is a generous 70 lbs (approx. 30 kg).  

Ready, Set, Go

Airlines will sometimes waive any special baggage fees for your bicycle travel case if it meets standard size and weight restrictions. However, this is unfortunately not always true. It may also depend upon the person checking you in and their perception of your bag and its dimensions.  Just accept the gift graciously when it happens - it can help pave the way for another kindred spirited cyclist or triathlete travelling with their bike.

We can pack your bike for travel for you and we also work with you to find the best solution for a bike travel case that meets your needs. If you have a trip coming up where you need to take your bike, call us. We can help.