If your bike is damaged, the airline will deny that they caused it and drag it out as long as possible.

Probably. So I’ll pack nicely and take pics

But what’s their liability in the event the bike is broke in transit?

I know they will make you sign a waiver if you have a soft case

Can you tell me more? Does the waiver limit their liability?

If you use a soft case, the airline might have zero liability.

Yes, they will only cover a certain amount. Check with your homeowners as that's your best option should something go wrong.

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Kiwami Racing Team

 

Some bike shops have hard case rentals. It may be worthwhile to rent one.


.

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Once, I was fast. But I got over it.

Years ago I had actual bike insurance.

Carbon frame was damaged falling off a rack. Insurance paid almost $4000 for a new one. It was many years ago. As I remember it was only something like $50 a month

Maybe a google search will find something

Texas HOI has deductibles of 1% of home value

Unfortunately not an option

I’m asking what the airline liability is

I fly Southwest almost exclusively and have a soft case. I have resigned myself to the understanding that if my bike is damaged, they will likely have no liability. That is what the waiver states. BTW, they make me sign the same thing for my golf clubs and I believe I have the best travel case available. My only other choice is to fly someone else, but I assume other airlines are the same

having such expensive bikes deserve an expensive and safe case so you don't have to worry about these questions (at which you ll not find the answer)
Get Bike Box Alan, yes it is expensive but still less expensive of one of the 2 wheels i use for racing

Appears to be $3,800.00 for domestic travel.

Source: https://www.southwest.com/...hecked-bags-pol.html

Technically, the BBA (and most hard sided cases I think) are over sized and cannot be checked. The limit is 80 linear inches on SWA. The BBA is 97 linear inches. I don't know of anyone who has ever been denied checking a hard bag, but there it is.

Last September after Utah 70.3 I was on Southwest from Las Vegas to LAX. bike box Alan triathlon version, no issue at all
I think there are a lot of myths around from people who actually never flew with bike boxes
I have been traveling around the world in the last 25 years with my road or TT bike from south east Asia to North America, Middle East and Europe and never ever a single issue. The only point I suggest to check is that you don't have a super small aircraft for short flights which can not take too much luggage on. But from A320 onward, no problem. If aircraft is small, give them a call in advance just to be sure.

I see them all the time in airports at events, so clearly there is no enforcement, but potential buyers should be aware that one over zealous ticketing agent can be a problem.

This isn't a myth, the limit is a fact. It just isn't enforced.

from Southwest
Sports Equipment - Special Items
The items listed below will be accepted as Checked Baggage for a $75 each way charge.

• Bicycles (defined as nonmotorized and having a single seat) properly packed in a bicycle box or hardsided case larger than 62 inches in total dimensions will be accepted as Checked Baggage. Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other Baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft sided cases will be transported as limited release items. "

Bike Box Alan Triathlon is 52 x 37 x 20 (inches)


so what isn't enforced, sorry?

SWA's web site is good example of inconsistent information.

Weight and Size Allowance
Southwest will accept the first two checked bags for free provided that the bags do not exceed 50 lbs and 62 inches (L+W+H). Overweight items from 51 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches will be accepted for a charge of $75.00 per item one-way. Only one $75.00 charge applies if the piece is both oversized and overweight, regardless of the weight as long as it does not exceed 100 lbs. Excess baggage which is also overweight or oversized will be charged excess baggage plus the applicable oversize or overweight charge.

Like I've said repeatedly, I see these bike boxes in use, so clearly they are being checked.

I don't understand: are you worried that they refuse to load your box or that they overcharge you?

Then bring your cheaper bike, get a hard case or find a place to rent a bike in your destination. Zero chance I'd put a frame worth 'way more than $3500' in a soft case for air travel.

I spent 20 years with FedEx and I am still confused by dimensional size.


It is generally length plus width plus height.


Southwest it appears will ship bikes under this policy:


Sports Equipment - Special Items
The items listed below will be accepted as Checked Baggage for a $75 each way charge.

• Bicycles (defined as nonmotorized and having a single seat) properly packed in a bicycle box or hardsided case larger than 62 inches in total dimensions will be accepted as Checked Baggage. Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other Baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft sided cases will be transported as limited release items. "

• Bicycles (defined as nonmotorizedand having a single seat) properly packed in a bicycle box or hard-sided case from 51 to 100 pounds in weight or 62 to 80 inches in total dimensions will be accepted for an overweight and oversize baggage fee of $75 per item. Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other Baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft sided cases will be transported as limited release items. Bicycles over 100 pounds in weight and 81 inches in total dimensions cannot be checked as baggage and can only be shipped as Cargo if the Customer is a known Shipper.

I can't find a maximum limit on liability for sports equipment shipping.






There's always Brian Regan's hilarious take on Dimensional Weight!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89frRi8GgGA

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Fast-Finishes.com
Triathlon and Running Race Timing
Athletic Event Management

Have a look at this recent thread, near the end for SWA:https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...g=southwest#p7658977. The key, apparently, is the use of 'AND' and 'OR' (for SWA). The policy is as clear as mud. Intentional or not - hard to know. But the way *I* read it: Under 50 pounds and under 62 linear inches = fee-free luggage. Over 50 pounds but less than 100 pounds and under 62 linear inches = overweight luggage ($75 fee). Under 50 pounds and over 62 linear inches but less than ??? linear inches (not clear) = oversized luggage ($75 fee). Over weight (50-100 pounds) AND oversized (more than 62 but less than ??? linear inches) is not allowable as checked baggage, but could be cargo if the passenger is a registered SWA cargo shipper. This last part is the concern - few bike boxes will be under 62 linear inches, so to be confident about checking the bike box on SWA, you need to be under 50 pounds. I think. Other airlines are clearer in their bike policies...

My daughter races draft legal all over the county. Because of the companion pass we fly SWA almost always. This mean we have done at least 25 round trips (50segments) over the last few years. Bike is packed in an evoc soft case. I have never signed a waiver, unless it’s the small print when you pay the $75 fee. As others have said, I doubt there is any coverage, but we have had no problems. I think the biggest danger is TSA. When we open the bag, it has been rifled through and often times the straps are left unbuckled and padding has not been replaced properly.
There’s another thread about flying with a bike that touches on SWA so I’ll include my experience here. My bag is 103 inches and has never been questioned. I have never worried about weight so I don’t know what we generally come out at. It’s very rare that the bag gets weighed. Generally, they just have you wheel it over to a place for oversized bags.
As security, I take a picture as it’s being taken away and try to get one as it’s being loaded on plane. I also have an Apple air tag in the bag.

>> I think the biggest danger is TSA.

Yes. They have opened my Trico Ironcase every time I've flown with a bike.

The advice from someone who's been doing this a long time: get a hardshell case that is easy to open and close. No air bladders or straps that have to be loosened to unbuckle them or anything like that. TSA will not take the care necessary to reclose the box. Make it easy and the bike will probably arrive undamaged.

When I pack up my Trico Ironcase I leave the straps slightly loose so they are easy to put back together with no adjustment required.

A few years ago I received my case with the straps really loose, I think the TSA was just too lazy to tighten things back up when they were done inspecting. I make it easy for them now.

Also, I've had broken buckles the last few times I've flown, it's probably from the handlers.

This is what I've replaced the broken ones with:
https://www.rei.com/...wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'm going to fly Southwest in a couple months for the first time with my bike. I purchased a BBA Triathlon case for the journey, so hopefully I won't have any size issues. One thing I am curious about is if the bike bag gets gate checked or if I will drop it off at the ticket counter?

At every airport I've been in my bike gets checked at the ticket counter.

I don't think you'll get your bike through the security checkpoint.

Plz make sure that you report back on what your experience was with the BBA & SW. Thx.

Bgjwoody—
Not an exact answer to your question as I didn’t see a BBA, but I just flew SW into San Juan with a layover in Baltimore. The plane had a ton of larger hard and soft cases, to include that giant soft Scicon that doesn’t require disassembly of the front end or fork removal. In my case (no pun intended), I paid my $75 at the kiosk, got asked to show the receipt at the counter, and off it went.

I roll with a SciCon Tri 2.0. Have flown SWA multiple times with it and not a single issue. SWA in PHX seems to see a lot of bikes, or that's the feeling I get every time I fly out of Sky Harbor.

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

I paid $150 oversized bag fee both ways. The agents were not in the mood to negotiate on either flight

What's there to negotiate? They have a standard fee for specialty equipment which a bike is. I've paid that fee on at least four trips and all was good. You already get two bags on SWA, so you're saving bag fees. I suppose there is a way to do it and check a dual hard case like the B&W INTL and pack your clothes in the cases with your bike. But that's a chore and a half.

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

Below is what the SW website says. Bikes fly free if they are under the size and weight limits.

The first time I flew SW with a bike I was inexperienced and they told me to wheel the bike around the back instead of putting it on the scale to be weighed. I thought they had a larger scale in the back they wanted to use but when I got it to the back they said that it was a bike and there was a $100 charge. I knew that wasn't right because I had read that any oversized bags was $75 (and though that if I was under the limits there might not be a charge, but didn't really know). I called them out on the $100 and they backed down quickly to the $75 charge for oversized baggage that I quoted from their website. They never weighed the bag though and I know for a fact that it was well under the limit.

When I got to where I was going I found that I was the only person on the team that got charged for a bike. Going back I put that bike right up on the scale and they saw it was under the limit for size and weight and checked it no problem. SW has the no hidden fees motto. Hold them to it because I guaranty that most of their employees don't know the ins and outs of all special items they have listed on the page I copied the below information from and I can guarantee that most of them don't know that a soft bag with a race bike it is is going to be way under the weight limited where hard case, mountain bike, etc. won't be. So make them weight in and verify the size or they will just assume what ever the last guy checked is the same thing you are checking.

Know what the size weight limits are and what the charges are and you will get through no trouble. If you don't know the limits and charges they are going to make you pay extra for anything that doesn't look standard to them.


Sports Equipment - Baggage Allowance
Any of the items listed below may be checked in substitution of one piece of the free Checked Baggage allowance for each Passenger at no charge on a one-item-for-one-bag basis. If the item of sporting equipment exceeds 50 pounds in weight or 62 inches in size (outside length plus height plus width), excess weight and size charges may apply.

• Bicycles (defined as nonmotorized and having a single seat), including Bike Friday and Co-Pilot, properly packed in a hard-sided bicycle box that fall within the dimensions and weight limits established for normal Checked Baggage, (i.e., 62 inches or less in overall dimensions and less than 50 pounds in weight). Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other Baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft sided cases will be transported as limited release items.
  
  Note: See below for information regarding bicycles that exceed our checked baggage size limits. Additional charges may apply.

A Sci-Con Tri 2.0 isn't a normal bag dimensions, thus you need to pay the fee. I'm like 5-9, your bike must be tiny!

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

Yup. My bag was over the size limit, hence I had to pay

I did stay under the 50lb limit, but didn’t matter

The size limit is 62". My Sci con bag with the aero bars sticking out was 60". The weight limit is 50 lbs. My bag was under 40 lbs.

Like I said, know the limits and fees and you will get right through. If you don't know them they will make you pay for anything that doesn't look standard because it is easier for them to charge you than for them to look up their regulations and to verify if you meet them. I flew to a Tri Team Camp and I was charge on the way out because I didn't know what I was doing. When I got to camp I talked to others and the only person that had any problems with his or her bike at check-in was a guy who was one pound over the limit. He removed his seat post from the bike bad and put in in his carry-on and they let his bike go through free. Everyone else I talked to had their bike go through free with no problems.

Gate checking is for items you might need in the airport but don't belong in the cabin, like a stroller.

I just flew with my BBA Triathlon Easyfit to Texas and was charged the $75 oversized baggage fee. He also weighed the box at my request and I was at 53.5lbs with only a Cervelo P2, Flo 60 and Flo 90. He did inform me that since I was paying the oversize fee I would be allowed to pack up to 99lbs in the oversize box.

I just flew to Vegas and back with my Cervelo P2 in a Pika Packworks soft bag. Made connections both ways. I paid the $75 fee each way. No damage at all, I have flown lots with my bikes and I worry less each time. I carefully pad the frame with extra new bike wrap I got from my LBS.

I flew with my bike 3x RT flights since I posted this

The last flight, the towels that I wrapped around the frame (and taped) were no longer attached to the bike. My best guess when tsa inspected, they pulled towels off frame?!

As a result, paint on a ~3inch section of downtube has some very deep scratches / rub marks as a result

I thought I wrapped / taped everything extra good… but somehow the towels were all off the bone when it arrived. Either expensive mistake for me (doubtful?) or careless handling by TSA

Any report on how this went? Were you able to check your BBA Tri Case on Southwest?

I'm flying next week and just read the restrictive Southwest dimensions. I am not sure if that's super rigid or I'll be ok. I'd hate to get to the airpor and have nothing to do with my bike if they won't take it.

I've flown with BBA Tri case on SW at LEAST 20 times. Never had an issue. They do charge $75 but never a problem.

I was able to check the bag without issue.

I flew round trip on SWA with a BBA in April. They seemed eager to collect my $75...

Others have responded with the exact language on SW website about liability and amounts. One thing to note is that domestic travel liability is required to be at least $3k. However, international travel is required to be at least only $1k according to U.S. law. The airlines can of course go above that amount, but that's all that they are required to offer. And, it's not necessarily the airlines who you would be dealing with if there was an issue -- it's their insurance company, and they're job is to *not* pay out so they will drag their feet every time. You have to keep escalating.

Also, check your credit card to see if it has travel insurance. (BoA Visa did the last time I had an issue.)

Finally, your renter's or homeowner's insurance may not cover this. When I had an issue, State Farm specifically has a rider that when your luggage gets to the baggage handlers, they are considered 3rd party to the airline and therefore are not covered. (This was on my renter's insurance.) If my bike had been lost completely, State Farm would cover it on my renter's insurance. But damage due to baggage handling is not covered. That might be only State Farm, but it's worth checking.

Coming back from Cabo 70.3, Alaska destroyed my P5 -- I mean, something had been dropped on top of it to crush the fork and seat stays beyond repair. It was in a soft case that I'd flown about 15 times both domestic and internationally and never ever having had any issues with damage. (Scicon triathlon soft bag with frame covered in padding.) My bike shop wrote an assessment of the damage for Alaska's insurance company. The dude from the insurance company that I dealt with was doing stupid crap like looking up a triathlon bike and sending me links where I could get one for $2k though I kept responding about the exact type of bike with all of the after market upgrades I had added. They were doing things like denying forms because the title of the form was wrong (though the insurance company had sent me the forms to fill out). Finally, I emailed every Alaska Board member (found their emails through some sleuthing) about the constant run-around I was getting. The response from one Board member got the claim going - it took another month, but they ended up paying me $3k instead of the minimum $1k. Not enough to buy another P5, but it got me closer to getting a new bike. It's the only time I ever had a connecting flight with a race trip...and that was a big mistake.

After that, I find it's worth it to use TriBikeTransport and/or book a direct flight with no chance that the bike would be mishandled at a non-US connection.

Another data point, I flew roundtrip from Phoenix to Oklahoma City with SWA, used Scicon soft bag. Got charged in Phoenix the $75 fee, but wasn't charged in OKC.

@triproftri might have been specifically worried about a connecting flight outside the US - not 100% sure. But I do point out that USAT Multisport Nationals in 2022 and 2023 were in Dallas - lots of direct flights. In 2024? Omaha. For me that will be a domestic connection and I'm not thrilled about that. 11.5 hr drive otherwise. No great options. Will probably fly and cross my fingers!

Just replying here. Just had a buddy at O'Hare where the gate agent refused to check his bike bag because it was over the 80" limit. Would....not.....check it. Had to go back and put his bike bag in his car. Doing some research, he's not the first but doesn't seem to be crazy common. somthing to think about when booking flights.

Verbiage on SW's site seems to give them that ability to outright refise and no ones box is fitting under that 80" limit: Article (southwest.com)

• Bicycles (defined as non-motorized and having a single seat) properly packed in a bicycle box or hard case from 51 to 100 pounds in weight or 63 to 80 inches in total dimensions. Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft-sided cases will be transported as limited release items. Bicycles over 100 pounds in weight and/or 80 inches in total dimensions cannot be checked as baggage and can only be shipped as Cargo if the Customer is a Known Shipper.

Hmmm...flying with my bike in a box on SW this Thursday. Certainly not under 80 linear inches. I have used the same box on SW a few times previoulsy w/o a problem. Now I wonder what to do / say if my box gets refused. Maybe this is a recent 'enforcement' strategy? Or maybe just a cranky agent?

Some of the background

I don't fly Southwest, but I'm curious if they take surfboards, which would often exceed that length limit except for the shortest boards.

By comparison, Delta's limit it 115 linear inches.

https://www.delta.com/...s/sporting-equipment

I haven't looked at other airlines but I'm sure Southwest is on the low end.

Also, side note: some of them allow more weight if you're in an upgraded class. Worth reading the fine print so they don't nickel and dime you.

This is interesting! I don't think SW had the 80" limit before-- I flew my bike on Southwest many times in a Trico case and paid the basic $75 per flight, but haven't flown with my bike in several years.

I wonder if any of the internet sleuths on here can figure out when that webpage changed.

I fly often on SW and use the Scicon AeroTT bag. Over 80in and never had an issue, but always under 50lb. Last time i flew was Oct 2023

Flew out of San Diego in April (Oceanside) with BBA on SW. Checked curbside paid the $75. No issues at all.

I have a couple of upcoming flights, one domestic round trip on Delta and another international on United (70.3 Cozumel!), and am planning to take my carbon tri bike. I have borrowed a friend's Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 TT bag. I'm a little scared the bike is going to get damaged and I'll be stuck with a large expense for replacement (and no bike for two upcoming 70.3s). Any thoughts?

Folks out there comfortable with the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 TT for checked bag air travel? It's no Bike Box Alan...

Any best practices to protect the bike in the Scicon bag? I have packed my bike in this bag once before (for a road trip) and since the bike is a large frame, I need to remove the seatpost from the frame, and adjust the front end to fit the bag which isn't the "easy" way the company's marketing says it should be. Am I doing something wrong?

Anyone get bike insurance before air travel? Has it given you the financial coverage you needed when your bike got damaged in transit?

I have flown around 10x with the Scicon and never more than a bent shifter. I have off/ slide down my aero bars so theres little contact in the front end, take off the chain and rear derailleur. I am lucky to have a bunch of Albo pads (if you know, you know), toherwise wrap the frame up in buble wrap or pool noodles. I drape and old yoga mat over the frame right before zipping it up.