So I know of a few airlines that waive normal baggage fees for active duty military (US Airways, Frontier off the top of my head). Some of them are a bit cagey on their websites as to how this translates to bicycles, it seems. For example, normally I know for Frontier your best bet is to pack your bike lightly (under 50 lbs) and pay for the “Classic” fee, which is usually about $20 more than a normal flight but includes two checked bags, one of which can be a bike. For this, I am wondering if perhaps you can still book the economy level, which doesn’t include checked bags, if you’re active duty. I’m also just curious for some of the less bike-friendly airlines (meaning not Southwest, JetBlue, or Frontier) and your luck with it. No way in hell am I getting my bike below 62 inches, but I can get it below 50 lbs, nto sure if this makes any difference.
On another note, I don’t have any plans to race internationally in the near future, but has anybody out there tried flying with a bike on a Space-A flight? I’m just curious because a coworker of mine just got back from Europe and is ranting and raving about how great it is to travel for next to nothing, but I am wondering if it’s doable with a bike. I can’t imagine that if I’m on the same aircraft as tanks and trucks, my little toys are going to be much of an issue, but I could be wrong.
Having flown United on orders, the rest of my luggage including bags over 50 pounds were free but I paid for the under 50 pound bike box. Have done this twice on orders, 2007 and 2008. Not tried it more recently, but don’t really expect them to behave any differently. The airlines really don’t like bike boxes. Haven’t tried Space A.
I wouldn’t go in “expecting” anything from the airlines, regardless of who you are (Military/FD/PD/ frequent flyer/plain old civilian) many of the agents seems to take pleasure in charging fees or oversize/weight bags (regardless of contents) add a bike to the mix…
That being said, if you go in expecting to pay full price and they do offer you an accommodation then be happy with that.
There’s also the “cleverly disguising” your bike in a bike bag and calling it something else that a lot of the agents and curb side check staff are wise to now as well.
Probably not the answer you’re looking for, but unless it says something specific on their website that you can print out go in expecting to pay, and be happy if you don’t.
Not the answer I was hoping for, but certainly what I was expecting. Thanks.
As it pertains to Frontier, this is what I’m seeing on the baggage fees page: Active duty military personnel with ID (not including family members or traveling companions) will not be assessed bag fees. However, Special/Fragile item fees still apply.
Then, on the Special/Fragile Items page, for bikes: Bag fees, including excess, are charged based on fare option purchased. Overweight charges apply if item is 50 lbs or more. Oversize charges do not apply.
Drawing the connection between those two statements leads me to believe I can maybe book the economy fare and not have to pay, provided I can keep my bike box under 50 lbs. What the hell, I’ll give it a shot.
I wouldn’t go in “expecting” anything from the airlines, regardless of who you are (Military/FD/PD/ frequent flyer/plain old civilian) many of the agents seems to take pleasure in charging fees or oversize/weight bags (regardless of contents) add a bike to the mix…
That being said, if you go in expecting to pay full price and they do offer you an accommodation then be happy with that.
There’s also the “cleverly disguising” your bike in a bike bag and calling it something else that a lot of the agents and curb side check staff are wise to now as well.
Probably not the answer you’re looking for, but unless it says something specific on their website that you can print out go in expecting to pay, and be happy if you don’t.
I completely agree with some agents take pleasure in charging fees, I just raced Augusta and I showed my Military ID flying out of JFK and didn’t have to pay for my bike box, but on the way back at Augusta airport as soon as I walked in an agent that wasn’t even at the counter saw the box and tried to whisper to the agent working with me that I had a bike I had to pay, the agent didn’t hear him and asked him to speak up and he repeated it louder and walked away. Now like you said I had no expectations on not paying but I just tried to explain that I didn’t pay getting it down there and a completely different agent butted in in the midst of taking care of his own customer that it didn’t matter and i still had to pay. It was $200. SO yea some agents get a hard on from having people pay fees
If sometimes feels as if they are actually getting a cut of the fee they’re charging, I’ve seen some horrible behavior. A buddy of mine checked an EMPTY bike box and the agent was giggling smiling about the fee she was levying, then telling him how it was going to be so much more on the way back with a bike in it, giggling the whole time about it.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re talking about some agents here. Some get a thrill out of charging people, some just do it as part of their job, others feel bad about it, and a few look the other way. Not all agents are bad people that enjoy other’s misery, they’re just the ones we tend to remember the most.
It is always best to read and carry a copy of the airline regulations concerning baggage. On a recent return flight from Guam I overheard the lady at the counter tell a young airman that she was only allowed one bag and had to pay $50 for the second bag. I spoke up and politely advised the clerk that active duty military were authorized two bags when traveling. The clerk then stated that was only while on orders, to which I countered that with orders active duty are authorized five bags. She spoke to a supervisor who stated I was correct and the airman was not charged. This is on Guam, which is a major hub for military arriving and departing. Point is, you need to know the rules because the people at the airlines often don’t.
With regards to Space A, you are authorized 2 bags totaling 70 lbs and not to exceed 62 linear inches. If the bag exceeds 62 linear inches it will count as two bags. There are more strict baggage requirements depending on the type of airplane you will be flying on also.
I’m active duty Navy and have flown 6 times to different races with my bike in a Thule 699. I’ve been hassled about half of the time, but never once had to pay the fee for oversized or “bike”. My most recent trip I was greeted by a Delta agent that said qoute “I bet you think you’re getting those bags for free”…he continued to make a comment about the military…I asked for a manager…my bags were taken at no charge and my fiance and I each recieved a $50 voucher for our next flight.
Bottom line…if the bag agent gets snippy I just politely ask to speak a supervisor and have never had an issue.
In 2009 my bike went Pensacola->Dallas->Tokyo->Hong Kong->Haikou China->Tokyo->Los Angeles->Dallas->Pensacola which was broken up into 4 different flying days and only once was I charged for the hard bike case while showing my active duty ID card (on an interior China flight from one city to another).
Also had a full 50 pound suitcase with all my other tri gear (IM China) and wasn’t charged for that at all. This was on American, Cathay, and Air Japan.
If they said something about a fee, I would throw out a casual “Is that true for active duty members?” and they usually responded with “oh yeah probably not” and moved on.
If they said something about a fee, I would throw out a casual “Is that true for active duty members?” and they usually responded with “oh yeah probably not” and moved on.
This seems like a good approach to take, but I would imagine the agents at Newport News and Norfolk both have quite a bit of experience with military folks and their baggage fees
.
Active Duty here as well. Different experineces depending on the airline, the agent, and whether you are on orders or not. When I travel for pleasure, I assume I will be charged for the bike, and take that into consideration for the final price of the flight. That being said, I almost always can get flights on Southwest, which is $50 for a bike and this charge will never be waived by an agent (in my experience). Other airlines, the agent might waive the fee, but might not. If not, the fee is upwards of $200. So, I usually go for the guaranteed $50 charge instead of maybe getting out of $200. If I have to travel on an airline with a high bike fee, I take my best guess with which agent I think I can sweet-talk into waiving the fee. I’ve been 80% successful getting bike fees waived with my ID card, a nice smile, and some friendly chit-chat.
And for what it is worth…never lie to the TSA agents. They don’t care that you have a bike, but they do care if you lie to them.
And for what it is worth…never lie to the TSA agents. They don’t care that you have a bike, but they do care if you lie to them.
I think the scope of the discussion is talking about avoiding bike fees when dealing with gate agents employed by the airline vs.interactions with the TSA agents employed by the government (who to the best of my knowledge do not access fees).
I don’t think anyone here suggested lying to a TSA agent. I did imply that the days of subterfuge by using bike bag to avoid fees with gate agents and curbside check-ins are probably in the past.
I just flew Alaska Air to Kona from San Diego today. Printed out their baggage rules, esp for military. The woman was going to charge me. I quoted their policy and showed her. They allow 4 free bags, a higher weight limit of 70 vs. 50lbs, and a larger dimensional limit for oversized. 3 checked items all flew for free!!!
I just flew Alaska Air to Kona from San Diego today. Printed out their baggage rules, esp for military. The woman was going to charge me. I quoted their policy and showed her. They allow 4 free bags, a higher weight limit of 70 vs. 50lbs, and a larger dimensional limit for oversized. 3 checked items all flew for free!!!
Which kinda sucks that you had to do this. It’s a shame that the ticket agents don’t know the rules and apply them unilaterally.
To you and the rest of you military peeps, thanks for what you do.
Not the answer I was hoping for, but certainly what I was expecting. Thanks.
As it pertains to Frontier, this is what I’m seeing on the baggage fees page: Active duty military personnel with ID (not including family members or traveling companions) will not be assessed bag fees. However, Special/Fragile item fees still apply.
Then, on the Special/Fragile Items page, for bikes: Bag fees, including excess, are charged based on fare option purchased. Overweight charges apply if item is 50 lbs or more. Oversize charges do not apply.
Drawing the connection between those two statements leads me to believe I can maybe book the economy fare and not have to pay, provided I can keep my bike box under 50 lbs. What the hell, I’ll give it a shot.
Sure sounds like the bike would be free for you. But if not, with Frontier, it is only $20 if you keep it under 50 lbs, so the next best thing to free.
For anybody who was wondering besides me, yes it works on Frontier. No need to buy the upgraded “classic” fare if you are military because military members are not subject to checked bag fees and there are no oversize fees on bikes…so still make sure you keep it under 50 lbs
What was funny was that at Newport News, the Frontier desk was actually staffed by extras from the US Airways Express desk, both of whom had kind of a look of shock when they looked at the Frontier policy and realized they wouldn’t have to charge me
With regards to Space A, you are authorized 2 bags totaling 70 lbs and not to exceed 62 linear inches. If the bag exceeds 62 linear inches it will count as two bags. There are more strict baggage requirements depending on the type of airplane you will be flying on also.
Good to know - I hope to catch a Space A flight back to the US in April for a century and a 140.6 (on back to back days) and was wondering if my bike was going to make I back with me. I have an identical bike lined up as a rental just in case (and will bring my saddle and pedals), but I would certainly prefer to have my own bike!