Thursday, Michelle and I are flying to Honolulu for her daughter’s wedding on 7/07/07. She is there in the Coast Guard and life is great! We will be there for two weeks, first at the Ko’Alina Resort, then at Sunset Beach on the North shore for the wedding. We’ll be doing a sprint tri on the second and then an open water swim race in Wiamea Bay the morning of the wedding. Hey, the wedding isn’t until 4 o’clock, we’ll have plenty of time. So, the bikes are all packed in their cases, full size bike cases, and each weighs under 50 lbs. Each one is 49.something. lbs. Michelle is going to give it her best shot to get them on the plane for free. Do you think we will make it? Anyone have any secrets for success?
Pretty much no (if I were betting). Most airlines are now even charging on international flights for bikes. But good luck and if it works, let us know the secret!
And congrats to the happy couple.
clm
Magic 8 balls says (rolling) NO. Resaon you have 2 cases. It’s like tossing a bleeding tuna in front of a hungry Great White shark. The airline people are already smelling the blood in the water.
But here is how I have gotten two cases on by myself. Tip the bell hop dude about $30. Plan B - One of you checks in curbside the other checks in inside. Each has a $20 ready to help insure that the person taking the cases can make something on the side. Best thing both get on for free, most likely thing one makes it free.
I’m thinking you’re paying,
but good luck
Secrets for success-buy the 2 bike carrier and you’ll only have to pay one charge. My husband and I have one and it has repaid its cost.
Have fun,
Pat
Sweeney wrote: will we get the bikes on the plane, free?
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
Definitely funnier than the “badass” thread!
Ow. Now my sides hurt. Time for Easy week.
Later!
Brian
Are you flying Continental? If so, definately not! We always fly Continental from Newark because they are usually the only carrier with direct flights. My case is technicaly not even oversized and weighs 47lbs or so with bike and I always get charged. Only pay for the one way fee. Maybe you’ll get lucky on the way back from Honolulu. Flying back from Europe they don’t always charge, so maybe Hawaii won’t either.
i was taking my bike from Indy to SFO. The airline people said they have to charge me $80. So i handed them my credit card. At the moment, there were alot of people waiting to check in and some were on really tight schedules. So the airline lady returned the credit card back to me and said “sorry we are just too busy to process ur credit card so we will just check it in as a regular luggage”.
Good luck!
No hints on getting the bikes on the plane for free, but I think the sprint tri you are doing is on the 1st not the 2nd.
I second checking in curbside and giving the skyhop a big tip. That has worked for me at JFK
One thing to try: if they ask you what’s in the case, tell them “exercise equipment”. I’ve been told that if you call it a “bike” you’ve given the employee virtually no choice because bikes show up - specifically - on their “need to charge extra” list.
Michelle is going to give it her best shot to get them on the plane for free.
Hmmmm. Sounds interesting;)
Sorry about that…be prepared to pay. Good luck and let us know what happens.
Tonight my buddy tried my new technique. Ship a wheels and check the bike I know there is additional hassle but you can say it is not a bike (only a carbon frame) and remain karma neutral. Worked well we are using the soft case so we are already at an advantage. I have never been charged but was saved once by a USAir coupon.
If you are a frequent flyer on the airline that might help. It didn’t help when I flew Southwest to Clear Lake - the agent pegged it as a bike case right off and told me it would cost $50. A bigger surprise was that I couldn’t insure the bike for it’s full value even if I was willing (and I was) to pay for the insurance. Southwest only allows a maximum of $4250 of insurance per piece of luggage; you get $3000 of insurance included and then $1.00 per additional $100 of insurance.
Show some toe cleavage. For the airline workers it’s all about the toe cleavage.