What’s everyone paying for Southwest Airlines for bike boxes over 50 lbs? 90% of the time it’s just the flat $75. On my last trip, they charged $75 for the bike and $75 for overweight. I’m curious what others are paying for bikes > 50 lbs, as I’ve heard different things from different agents.
I paid 75 to fly mine to IMAZ. I’m not sure it was over 50# though–I had a bike bag.
What’s everyone paying for Southwest Airlines for bike boxes over 50 lbs? 90% of the time it’s just the flat $75.We haven’t flown with bikes since SWA raised the fee but I have to ask why is your box over 50 lbs? I ask because the past two seasons, I have flown to cyclocross races using EVOC soft sided back loaded with a CX bike including two CX tubular wheelsets - 3 wheelsets if you include the wheelset I carried aboard and packed in the overhead - in the case and it was never over 50 lbs.
Yikes! You put a wheelset in the overhead bin? Have you seen how they cram everyone elses bags in there?
They were listing $75 on their website.
I’m thinking myself of getting one of those bags to fits within the size limits and you check it like normal luggage. I’ve seen glowing reviews on the Ruster Sports bag. They had a booth at Hyvee. I was fairly impressed.
We haven’t flown with bikes since SWA raised the fee but I have to ask why is your box over 50 lbs? I ask because the past two seasons, I have flown to cyclocross races using EVOC soft sided back loaded with a CX bike including two CX tubular wheelsets - 3 wheelsets if you include the wheelset I carried aboard and packed in the overhead - in the case and it was never over 50 lbs.
Ditto.
Have traveled extensively using Biospeed Aerus bag, and all in the whole thing is no where near 50lbs ( 58cm Cervelo R3). Our travel style now is, a one small compact carry-on, and then the bike bag is the ONLY piece of checked luggage. The bike in the bag is usually light enough to just sling over the shoulder and the carry-on bags are rollers, so we are reasonable mobile.
We typically fly Air Canada and the bike fee is $50 each way. Occasionally, a nice check-in agent will waive this, as the bike bag is the only piece of checked luggage and you are allowed one piece of checked luggage on AC. But if I have to pay I don’t mind this as this is a reasonable amount to pay for a bike. I have given up trying to fake them out at check-in any more. Those days are long gone.
My wife and I just flew on South West for the Nation’s tri and they didn’t even weight our boxes (Serfas bike boxes that were probably under 50 lbs. anyway). But the website says that bike boxes still need to be less than 50 lbs. otherwise additional charges apply.
We were also displeased to find out that South West jacked up their rates for bikes since our last trip. As a (relatively) frequent flier in the North East Corridor, I am not pleased with the merger of South West and AirTran; it has only resulted in higher prices as far as I am concerned.
I throw everything race related into the box. Bike, shoes, helmet(s), duffle bag with nutrition, pump, wetsuit, spare tubes. My TT bike is fairly heavy, too, because of a Powertap rear wheel with a wheelcover. It adds up very quickly.
My wife and I just flew on South West for the Nation’s tri and they didn’t even weight our boxes (Serfas bike boxes that were probably under 50 lbs. anyway). But the website says that bike boxes still need to be less than 50 lbs. otherwise additional charges apply.
Where does it explicitly state this? It even seems contradictory online, at least to me.
Here is a link to the special baggage page where I got my information from.
It states at the top of the page:
“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.”
Regarding bicycles, specifically:
“**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 conditionally accepted items.”
Farther down it goes on to modify the bicycle policy; effective earlier this year:
“**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 softsided cases will be transported as conditionally accepted items.”
On a second reading, the answer is a little less obvious than I previously thought. But my interpretation is that if the bike box meets the standard size and weight restrictions (62 in. and 50 lbs.) it can be checked as normal luggage. If it does not, it’s a flat $75 fee regardless of dimensional size but must still weigh less than 50 lbs. But as I previously said, the lady at the South West desk didn’t even bother to weight our boxes last Friday.
I guess my suggestion would be go ahead and pack it full, but if it’s over 50lbs. be prepared to either pay more than $75, or have space in your other luggage to remove weight from the box.
P.S.: If you haven’t already purchased tickets, you should check out Jet Blue. They fly a lot of the same routes and their policy is more clearly stated. Also apparently more lenient, weight wise (up to 99lbs.). The ticket prices are a bit more expensive though. But depending on the flight you may make up the difference in the costs for the bike.
I throw everything race related into the box. Bike, shoes, helmet(s), duffle bag with nutrition, pump, wetsuit, spare tubes. My TT bike is fairly heavy, too, because of a Powertap rear wheel with a wheelcover. It adds up very quickly.
Why do you do that? Over stuff the bike box. In addition to facing the overweight charges, theres just more chance of things getting knocked around and damaging your bike.
I also read this as:
Hard case = the pretend to care and might consider a damage claim… but otherwise your are stuck wot you HO or credit card as insurance.
Soft case = we take no responsibility just like any other item packed into a suit case.
Funny they don’t define “hard case”. So a nylon case with ABS plastic reenfoced sides like the Ruster “armored” version, I would take as being a hard case since the funciton is to prevent collapse of the case and penetration by sharp objects. Remembe,r a hard case provide no benefit to shock resistance, vibration resistance or reduce deaccleration. It prevent only deformation of the case by drop or compression loads. Shock and impact may actually be higher.
I’ probably only put bulky but light items like helmet, shoes, bottles in the case and leave out clothes and wetsuit. I’d use a hand pump.
The heavier a case it the more damage it suffers when dropped too.
Because I’ve always assumed (and been charged) the same whether it is 40 lbs or 75. It’s easier for me, too, as we travel with my daughter to races. Having one less suitcase makes things much easier. And when it is all packed together, the foam compresses more and seems to hold things together better. That is, until TSA rummages through the bag and repacks how they see fit.
I’m in talks with SW to clarify the policy.
Here is a link to the special baggage page where I got my information from.
It states at the top of the page:
“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.”
This is pretty clear to me.
Bike = $75
Bike ($75) over 50lb ($75) = $150
If you happen to get a nice gate agent you might not have to pay the extra $75 but it looks like it’s within their policy to charge extra if over 50lb.
Also, with Southwest not charging for regular checked luggage I’m not sure why we are stuffing our bike boxes? Just put the extra stuff in your other checked bag to avoid the drama, no?
I’ve never paid more than $75 on Southwest for a bike, and it’s probably always over 50lbs. My case is the Trico which is 30-31 itself, plus my road and TT bike are each probably 18 lbs, then add in other gear, which I always do.
The only airline I’ve ever been careful about it with is Frontier, where their policy is a lot clearer that >50lbs means more money.
Because I’ve always assumed (and been charged) the same whether it is 40 lbs or 75. It’s easier for me, too, as we travel with my daughter to races. Having one less suitcase makes things much easier. And when it is all packed together, the foam compresses more and seems to hold things together better. That is, until TSA rummages through the bag and repacks how they see fit.
I’m in talks with SW to clarify the policy.
Let me know. Seems silly that they discriminate against a dsiassembled bike compared ot other sports equipment. I don’t see a fee for golf clubs, hockey gear, a bag with 5 or 6 tennis rackets, etc. That being said, the transportation world is sometimes stuck is these special definitions that have roots in sea transport 500+ years ago… or at least the rail transit industry starting 150 years ago. Basically someone bike got broken, they sued and we are all paying for it.
Again, its’ not like they are going to cover any damages anyway without a legal battle. So you pack it to survive the environment and roll the dice just like you would with your bike on your car.
I had planned to just tell them it’s sports equipment if they ask and that I don’t need special handling.
Tell them it’s a new type of tennis racket.
Yeah, I’ll definitely keep the thread updated. I don’t think many of the SW reps even understand the policy. My aunt (from my wife’s side) works for SW and says it should have only been $75. I called this morning and the rep on the phone said $150. Most ticket agents have said $75, except for the one that charged me $150. Ooph!
The biggest thing I want now is clarification for the future.
We are a hard case family with a wheel box too…but recently we read this on
https://www.facebook.com/Team.Marsh.Tri
And are looking into it.
"Brandon used this bike case to travel to Mt. Tremblant last weekend and had NO excess/bike fee charges! He saved $330 round trip with this case.
Hen House - Bicycle Travel Case
www.rustersports.com
Avoid excessive airline baggage fees with the convenient Hen House, a bicycle travel case."
I fly with SWA almost exclusively.
They’ve never charged me a double fee for oversized and for overweight. It’s just one $75 fee to check in the trico ironcase.
However it can get better. Once the lady told me she would not have charged me at all if the box were under 50lbs (it was 50.5… I had tools in there… so she charged me), and one other time they just took it and didn’t charge me anything.