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Flying with your bike
A flurry of sorts broke out on Twitter yesterday, when Doug Ulman, president and CEO of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, asked Southwest Airlines to be the first airline to carry bikes for free.
Southwest Airlines Tweeted back, saying that bikes do fly for free on its planes.
Doug re-Tweeted the response and thanked Southwest Airlines. So did I. So did a bunch of other folks.
But Austin-based triathlete Mark Cathcart emailed me later, to point out that the airline’s policy isn’t really all that different from most domestic airline’s policies — and that it’s only free to take your bike if it meets very specific requirements. Cathcart has flown more than 100 times with his bicycle, although he says he’s never tried to take his bike on a Southwest Airlines flight.
Southwest’s policy specifies that:
“Non-motorized Bicycles, including Bike Friday and Co-Pilot, will be accepted in substitution of a free piece of checked baggage at no additional charge provided the bicycle is properly packaged and the box containing the bicycle fits within the 62-inch sizing limit and weighs 50 lbs or less . (Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage). The handlebars, kickstand, and pedals must be removed and placed inside the box. A $50 each-way charge applies to bicycles that don’t meet the above criteria. Bicycles packaged in a cardboard box or soft-sided case will be transported as a conditionally accepted item.”
Read the entire policy here.
Cathcart’s response?
First, he points out, you can only take your bike as one of your two pieces of entitled luggage if it’s in a box and measures less than 62 linear (height plus length plus width) inches.
“There are NO standard bike boxes of this size,” he says.
If your frame has couplings that allow it to be taken apart, it can fit in a box that small, Cathcart says. And if you have a frame that is 42cm with 650c wheels, it might fit in a box that size, he says.
Or you could just build your own bike box to fit the specifications.
Cathcart also points out that the policy says cardboard box and soft-sided cases will be accepted conditionally.
Beyond that? It’s a $50 charge each way. Better than many air carriers, but not free.
Read Cathcart’s entire blog on the topic here.
Happily, Cathcart notes that Southwest does allow travelers to pack two small spare gas cylinders — like CO2 cartridges used to inflate bike tires.
“Now that’s news. Thanks Southwest!”
And thanks for the clarification, Mark.
Anyone else have tips for traveling with bikes?
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Comments
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By Rob Sartin
April 4, 2010 4:56 PM | Link to this
I have a DaVinci tandem with a bike case that measures 62 linear inches and a wheel case that also meets airline baggage rules. The tandem itself has S&S couplers to take the frame apart. I have traveled several times with no fee. It also travels nicely inside my car. One more air trip without baggage fee and the extra money for the couples will be repaid.