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Checking bike
Hi all, I recently purchased a hard travel case for a bicycle because I am very tired of paying money to rent crap bikes when on vacation when I could just bring my own. I have multiple AMEX cards that offer waiver of checked bag fees. I looked on the website and it shows a bicycle as a special item however if you looked at the case, you wouldn't instinctively know it was a bike. Assuming it wasn't above the 50lb limit or the 62 inches, would I be able to check this as my one free checked bag? I am hesitant to purchase a $300 hard case without knowing for sure it will work. Thanks.
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What would you answer if asked by the agent......"What's in the case?"
Be prepared to pay the bike fee..... $150 each way....if you decide to take it with you. |
Check out DCRainMaker if you haven't. Amazing resource for all things biking and biking tech (trainers, cycling computers, garmins, etc.), focused on triathletes. The author used to travel a TON (200k miles/year) and traveled with his bike a lot. Here's an older article, but probably just as good today. If the airline knows it's a bike, they'll charge you. Read the below post for tips and suggested cases.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/02/...h-my-bike.html Good luck! |
Originally Posted by OHDL1
(Post 30894653)
What would you answer if asked by the agent......"What's in the case?"
Be prepared to pay the bike fee..... $150 each way....if you decide to take it with you. |
Originally Posted by 3Cforme
(Post 30894676)
If it's in a hard case and meets weight and size requirements why does DL care? IMHO the flat fee for bikes cover dimensional and weight non-compliance.
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Making false statements (or failing to make truthful statements) is a good way to wind up with $0 coverage if your bicycle is damaged. OP says that he purchased something he likes because he does not like the quality of what is on offer when he travels. I presume that he has spent some money to do so.
DL requires the payment of a fee and a limited liability waiver for bicycles. Excess coverage, e.g. travel insurance, is almost always void where there has been fraud. So, the question is less what happens when everything goes well than what happens when it does not. |
Doesn't Delta allow up to 115 linear inches with no oversize fee and up to 70lbs with an overweight fee for bikes?
Hard case = no limited liability signature. Soft case = a signed limited liability form. |
There is a bunch of incorrect information in the above posts: 1. If you case is within the size and weight requirements there are no extra fees (even if you tell them it’s a bike). 2. If it’s in a hard case designed for bikes a waiver is not required. One is required for soft sided cases. 3. If it is overweight and/or over size there are special bike fees (that are the same or lower than oversized bag fees). 4. If it weighs over 100lbs they won’t take it no matter what. You have to ship it as cargo. Here is the source: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ial-items.html I bring my bike with me a lot and never lie when asked. My case is about 70 linear inches and sometimes have to pay the oversize fee and sometimes don’t. It’s a soft sided case and I am rarely asked to sign the back of the bag tag. DL has never damaged it. Pro tip: if your case is hard to reclose and/or pack include your cell phone number in a really obvious place along with some wrapped candy. Without except the TSA has opened my case and has frequently called for instructions on how to repack and close and I am very glad they did. If they can’t figure it out they will just shrinkwrap everything together and you have to file a claim with them if it gets damaged. |
Originally Posted by kenn0223
(Post 30894716)
There is a bunch of incorrect information in the above posts: 1. If you case is within the size and weight requirements there are no extra fees (even if you tell them it’s a bike). 2. If it’s in a hard case designed for bikes a waiver is not required. One is required for soft sided cases. 3. If it is overweight and/or over size there are special bike fees (that are the same or lower than oversized bag fees). Here is the source: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ial-items.html |
Right, no extra fees so if you have to pay a regular checked bag fee (elites and AMEX cardholders exempt) then you still have to pay that. There is no “bike fee” if the bike with case is under the weight and size limits for a regular bag. |
Originally Posted by kenn0223
(Post 30894733)
Right, no extra fees so if you have to pay a regular checked bag fee (elites and AMEX cardholders exempt) then you still have to pay that. There is no “bike fee” if the bike with case is under the weight and size limits for a regular bag. bike fee (you should have too...but, we all know...YMMV). There is no exemption for the bike fee....YMMV. Check with Chisholm....see what they say. |
Originally Posted by OHDL1
(Post 30894744)
Say you have 1 bag....that bag contains a bike and have AMEX....are a DM...etc. You still have to pay the
bike fee (you should have too...but, we all know...YMMV). There is no exemption for the bike fee....YMMV. The $150 bike fee is intended to be a catch all for both oversized and overweight bags that have a bike in them. It represents a DISCOUNT from the normal oversized fee of $200, is $50 more than the domestic overweight fee, and is the same or less than the various international overweight fees. I check my bike frequently at MSP in a case that is just over the size requirements and RARELY pay anything (even though it’s clearly a bike). The outstations are 50/50 but usually only charge after measuring it and seeing it is oversized. |
Originally Posted by kenn0223
(Post 30894769)
No, you absolutely do not have to pay ANYTHING IF the bag + bike is less than 70lbs and less than 63 linear inches. Read the first sentence of DL’s sports luggage policy (that says the fees only apply IF the bag is oversized or overweight). The $150 bike fee is intended to be a catch all for both oversized and overweight bags that have a bike in them. It represents a DISCOUNT from the normal oversized fee of $200, is $50 more than the domestic overweight fee, and is the same or less than the various international overweight fees. I check my bike frequently at MSP in a case that is just over the size requirements and RARELY pay anything (even though it’s clearly a bike). The outstations are 50/50 but usually only charge after measuring it and seeing it is oversized. |
Originally Posted by OHDL1
(Post 30894811)
I respectfully disagree.
Edit: I read the delta.com page again just to be sure. The first section talks about acceptance and weight/size limits and when additional fees for weight will apply. The second section talks about the $150 fee to transport a bike. Nowhere does it say that the $150 fee only applies after a certain weight or size. It literally says: There are no other conditions for those fees above that I can find. |
Originally Posted by jackvogt
(Post 30894338)
Hi all, I recently purchased a hard travel case for a bicycle because I am very tired of paying money to rent crap bikes when on vacation when I could just bring my own. I have multiple AMEX cards that offer waiver of checked bag fees. I looked on the website and it shows a bicycle as a special item however if you looked at the case, you wouldn't instinctively know it was a bike. Assuming it wasn't above the 50lb limit or the 62 inches, would I be able to check this as my one free checked bag? I am hesitant to purchase a $300 hard case without knowing for sure it will work. Thanks.
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