Published on : Thursday, May 23, 2019
This should come as great news to anyone who has waited nervously to check bags at the counter, hoping a smile will save you from a significant fee. In the US, leading airlines, such as United and Delta (and previously American Airlines) charge US$150 to transport bikes per one-way flight. It’s quite likely that if this policy change proves fruitful for American Airlines, others may follow suit, too.
American Airlines does still charge for checked-in baggage – typically US$30 for the first bag – and so that same charge will apply for a bike. Keep in mind that weight restrictions still apply, however, so if your bike tips the scales over 50lb /23kg, that will put the bag into the overweight category, and it will be up for the original US$150 fee. And while American Airlines’ updated oversize baggage policy also applies to other common sporting goods and music instruments, those flying with antlers or scuba tanks will still need to pony up.
This will feel like underwhelming news for those flying domestically in Australia, with the likes of Virgin Airlines Australia, and more recently Qantas, offering such a service without fuss. Smaller American carriers, such as Southwest and Alaska Airlines, also already have fairly bike-friendly policies in place as well. Saving money is always a good thing, but you still need to beware of one little tidbit in the fine print that could potentially cost you much more upon your arrival.
Moreover, American Airlines will only consider liability for damages if the cycle is in said hard case, and even then, there has to be visible damage to the outside of the case. It’s a disappointing policy for a variety of reasons, especially as we’re not huge fans of true hard-sided cases. Needless to say, there’s room for improvement here, but it’s nevertheless a positive step.