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Beating airline baggage fees for bicycles as baggage.
If you've ever had to transport your bike by airplane you've probably encountered some hefty fees. Below are the current fees for airlines in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
In addition to looking at the list below consider another option instead of flying with your bike. Sports Express is a company that offers door to door shipping for sporting equipment. They pick it up at your home or office and deliver it to your destination so you don't have to carry it to the airport and deal with the hassle that goes with it. It costs a bit more in some cases but consider not having to worry about it when you're leaving for your trip.
I checked to see what the fee was to ship it from Minneapolis to Las Vegas because I've brought my bike on a plane to Vegas a few times. From Minneapolis to Las Vegas the fee is about $150 each way. If my memory serves me right I paid $80 each way on Northwest Airlines the last time I did this. $150 doesn't seem out of hand for the service you get.
Sports Express Website
You can also ship your bike via UPS and other companies but there may be some value in going with a company that is sports equipment specific. They may take more care with your bike than other shipping companies.
There are also a number of things you'll have to do when you transport your bike. Most airlines require the handle bars are turned sideways and the pedals must be removed. How I pack my bike up to bring on a plane
If you have air shocks you should let the air out because they will be in a non-pressurized area of the plane and the seals can blow.
The bikes also have to be packaged. Some airlines offer soft cases but not many. It also has to be under a certain size limit. Baggage size limits are generally listed in inches or centimeters as the total size. If you see a size limit it is the total of the length, width and height. This means add them together. If the box is 35" long x 10" wide x 30" high the total is 75" (35 + 10 + 30 = 75). This is how you determine the size.
In the list below you may notice that there is an airline in Mexico (Viva Aerobus) that will not accept bikes with hydraulic brakes or suspension. Hopefully this isn't something that all airlines will do in the future. My guess is that they had some troubles with the seals blowing/breaking and fluid leaking onto other passengers baggage.
Canada
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Air Canada $50 per direction. Counts as one of two allowed pieces of checked luggage. |
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Air Inuit No fee if combined luggage is under the 30 kg (66 lbs) weight limit. Verified info by phone. |
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Air Labrador Mainly a hunting and fishing charter service. No info on site. Contact airline. |
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Air North $25 per direction. |
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Air Transat Currently free. After April 1, 2009 there will be a $30 fee per direction. |
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Bearskin Airlines Call |
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Canadian North $75 per direction. |
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CanJet $65 per direction. |
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Central Mountain Air $50 per direction. |
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First Air $50 per direction. Fee Page Link |
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Hawk Air $50 per direction. |
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HeliJet This is a helicopter air service. Depends on the size and available space. Call ahead! |
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Pacific Coastal No fee if part of standard baggage and under 22.7 kg (50 lbs). Fee Page Link |
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Skyservice Airlines No charge up to 20 kilograms (44 lbs). Not counted as part of standard free luggage either. |
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Sunwing $30 with no return fee. Must be under 20kg (44 lbs). |
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Westcoast Air 11 kg (25 lbs) weight limit per passenger. All planes in this airline are charter float planes with very limited space. You'll have to buy a ticket for your bike because it'll be in the seat next to you. |
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WestJet Free if under 22.7 kg (50 lbs). Considered one of your two pieces of baggage. |
Mexico
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Aero Mexico $65 (USD) per direction. |
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Aeromar No fee if under 25 kg (55 lbs) limit for baggage. |
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AVICSA $100(MXN) per direction if oversized. (exceeds 62 inches) Otherwise free if bike is one of two pieces of allowed checked baggage and under 23 kg (50 lbs). |
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Click Mexicana $150 (MXN) per direction for baggage over 62" and/or over 25 kg (55 lbs). |
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Interjet $150(MXN) per direction if over 25 kg (55 lbs). |
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Mexicana de Aviacion $65 (USD)per direction per direction |
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Viva Aerobus $500(MXN) per direction if bicycle is prebooked on the viva aerobus website. $750(MXN) per direction if done at airport. Airline also suggests prebooking to make sure there is room. Finally This is new "Bicycles with hydraulic brakes and suspensions will not be accepted for carriage " |
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Volaris $550(MXN) per direction not to exceed 50 kg (110 lbs). |
United States Major Airlines
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Alaska Arilines / Horizon Air Free as one of two standard checked bags if 50 lbs or less and under 63" If over 50 lbs - $50 per direction. If between 63 - 80"- $50 per direction. If between 81 - 115" - $75 per direction. |
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America West/ US Airways $100 per direction, if over 62 in/157 cm |
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American Airlines $100 per direction in addition to the applicable checked baggage charge, based on the number of checked bags. Max size 115" and max weight 70 lbs. Exception: If bicycle and container are less than 62 dimensional inches and under 50 lbs., the bike is charged the applicable baggage charge for the 1st checked bag. (currently $15.00) |
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Continental Airlines If the bicycle(s) are packed in a container that is over 50 lbs (23kg) and/or 62 (157 cm) total linear inches (L + W + H), a $100 service charge applies each way. The service charge is in addition to any excess baggage charges that may apply. Bicycle equipment over 70lbs (32 kg) will not be accepted as checked baggage. If the bicycle(s) are packed in a container that is under 50 lbs (23kg) and/or 62 (157 cm) total linear inches (L + W + H), if applicable the first ($15) or second bag fee ($25) applies. |
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Delta Non-motorized touring or racing bicycles with single seats are accepted as checked baggage, bicycles as checked baggage will be $175 (for travel within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico) and $300 (for travel outside the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico). |
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Frontier Airlines $50 (USD) Allow an extra 30 minutes for check-in. |
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JetBlue Domestic Flights: Bicycles are accepted on domestic flights for a fee of $50 per bike each way and will count as one of your checked bags. Please note: overweight baggage fees will not be assessed for bicycles. However, the maximum allotment of 99 lbs per bag still applies. Also note: if bicycle and container are less than 62 dimensional inches and under 50 lbs., the bike fee will not be assessed. International Flights: Bicycles are accepted on international flights for a fee of $80 each way per bike on a space-available basis, and will count as one of your checked bags. Please note: overweight baggage fees will not be assessed for bicycles. However, the maximum allotment of 99 lbs per bag still applies. Also note: if bicycle and container are less than 62 dimensional inches and under 50 lbs., the bike fee will not be assessed. Bicycles are accepted to all destinations EXCEPT to/from the Dominican Republic. |
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Northwest Domestic: $100 per direction. |
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Sun Country $75 each way. |
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Southwest 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). |
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United Airlines Domestic: $175 each way. Between North America and the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico: $175 each way. Between North America and Asia/Australia/New Zealand via the Pacific, Europe, South America. Between North America and Africa, Asia via the Atlantic, the Middle East: $250 each way. |
