How to Save on Bike Fees when You Fly
It’s nearly impossible to avoid paying extra when you fly with your bike. Most airlines add a bike fee on top of what’s already considered oversize or overweight luggage—and it could cost upwards of $400 if you’re not fee-savvy.
Pro cyclists like cyclocross racers Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers spend huge chunks of their year flying with their bikes. Cyclocross is a gear-intensive sport involving multiple bikes and even more sets of wheels, so airline fees quickly stack up. In an effort to cut down on spending in the early days of their racing careers, they decided to become “airport ninjas.”
“It became a game in which we always tried to avoid being charged, even if there might have been an expense-able opportunity following the race… just because,” explains Johnson. While you may not want to resort to all of their stealth tactics, many of their ninja skills are easily adopted. Check out their top tips for avoiding gratuitous bike fees before you book your next flight to a favorite cycling destination.
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Know Your Weights
Knowledge is power. All airlines post policies defining what constitutes “oversized” and “overweight” luggage. Look up the details online for each airline, then invest in a tape measure and luggage scale and do what you can to keep your bike box or bag within limits. You might escape bike fees by simply fitting your bike into luggage of a standard size. Be sure to do your homework on the airline’s site, as policies and fees regularly change and may not be updated as quickly on third party sites.
If you know you will exceed the weight limit with just your bike and box, Johnson says, use the extra space for stuffing clothing and gear–you may be able to avoid checking and paying for another bag.
“If you are a true airport ninja,” Powers adds, “you can cut a box down to the [typically] 62-linear inches maximum size and make it happen for free, every time.” This method typically involves bringing wheels in a separate wheel bag, but means both can be checked as normal luggage, which will be cheaper than most bike fees.
Book with the Right Airlines
Book your flights on airlines with the lowest published bike fees. That way, if you can’t bluff your way through avoiding a bike charge, at least you’re not spending a small fortune in fees.
Pro cyclocross racer Elle Anderson swears by Virgin Airlines because of its $50 fees. Southwest Airlines is another often-reasonable option, because it has a flat bike fee that covers oversize bikes up to 100 pounds.
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Build Status with One Airline
Some airlines like United—one of Powers’ airlines of choice, especially for international flights—have flat rates for bikes and offer perks to frequent flyers. While having frequent flier status with an airline may not technically save you money, it can save you time and headaches via expedited check-in lines, and more importantly, may lead to friendlier, more helpful staff who are willing to work with you rather than charging you double.
Minimize the Number of Bags
If you frequently find yourself traveling with multiple bikes, you may want to consider investing in a double bike bag.
Anderson has spent the past two years traveling the world with both of her cyclocross bikes, and she swears by her Pika Packworks double bike bag. “The bag is always going to get attention, but it’s a great bag,” Anderson says, “and more often than not, it's half the price compared to paying for two separate bike bags.”
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Keep Your Bike Under Wraps
If you are boxing your bike, pick a box without bike logos so as not to attract attention. If you’re bagging it, some bikes will fit in hockey bags or even ultra-large suitcases. With inconspicuous packaging, it might not occur to some airline clerks to ask what’s inside.
Try Being an Airport Ninja
This tip is not for the faint of heart or for nervous flyers, but Powers swears by the trade show display method.
“Saying it’s a trade show display is always a good play, because the counter agents don't want to be told it's a bike,” says Powers. "If they're told it's a bike, they must charge for it. Because that’s their job.”
When questioned about the ethics of this approach, Powers says his bikes are a sort of display because he rides them in public, on display, during a race. If you feel uncomfortable with this approach, consider saying you’re packing “bike parts” or simply “gear.”
RELATED: How to Pack Your Bike, By Weight
Be Nice
Johnson’s best advice is simple: Be nice.
“I generally try to go for the ‘be nice and hope for the best’ approach,” he says. “I understand that the gate agent—especially on United, my typical carrier—hates charging me so much for absolutely nothing... It’s not like the bike charge gets you anything extra care-wise, like you get your luggage faster or they give you a tune-up while they have it. Usually, we exchange understanding nods and smiles, and there is no charge.”
So drop your grumpy post-race mannerisms and polish up your smile; be polite; and avoid getting argumentative, no matter how ridiculous you think the fees are. Getting upset is the fastest way to ensure an oversize bag fee.
The only thing you can count on when flying with your bike is inconsistency. Racers report that they are frequently charged a fee travelling there or back, but not both, or that they are charged fees of different amounts each way. Your ability to avoid bike fees depends more on who is behind the counter than on the airline or airport where you’re checking in.
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