Originally Posted by
baldingeagle
My concern with a bike is that anything with total linear measurements over 62" is treated as oversized, and a typical cardboard packing box definitely exceeds 62". Or did I read it wrong and a bike is specifically exempted from the linear measure rule?
Yes, bikes are specifically exempted from the 62" rule... if you click through a maze on the pages regarding baggage, you'll find
this site
, which was linked a few pages back. Sporting equipment (bikes, surfboards, ski+boots, etc...) is subject to the 2m rule to determine if it is oversized.
Bike boxes are well under 2m, and nearly all skis made since the turn of the 21st century are less than 2m. Hence Alastair is correct that the 2m sports equipment rule was chosen to tag large surfboards/Stand Up Paddleboards with the extra charge.