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#11
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
Chuck Anderson writes:
Sergio SERVADIO wrote: On Sat, 28 Feb 2004, Chuck Anderson wrote: Better say: 'That's none of your business, safety assured'. Not in this day and age. That answer would get you bumped off your flight as a possible terrorist. I can't imagine that answer as ever having been acceptable. What's wrong with assuring that it is a safe parcel, and possibly letting them inspect it, at request? Saying, "That's none of your business. It is a safe parcel." is hardly *reassuring* to a baggage inspector, .... wouldn't you think? In a similar vein, a brain-injured client of mine once, for reasons known only to himself, sent several pounds of newspaper clippings to a Federal judge in Missouri. This was shortly after the McVeigh bombing. In his child-like scrawl on the front of the thick manilla envelope, he wrote a statement claiming "it's not a bomb." The mail department at the courthouse was *not* amused. Neither was the FBI. |
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#12
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
Ken wrote:
Janet wrote in news:7wU%b.51506$aH3.1578865@bgtnsc04- news.ops.worldnet.att.net: Can someone explain this, or is the airlines policy so illogical that it defies explanation? They charge you $100 because they can. Yup, I think that's the bottom line. Matt O. |
#13
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
I've read some of the threads about bikes on airlines. I just don't
understand why bicycles are such a problem for the airlines. Usually they are not. We always box our bikes in the type of box the bike shops use and have so far flown back and forth to India, Thailand, Singapore, Geneva, twice to Mallorca once to Teneriffe and to Denver. Has always worked out fine. Per http://lowdin.nu |
#14
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
No, it doesn't. The charge is punitive and meant to discourage you
from bringing your bicycle on their plane. Depends on how much other weight you got. We have never paid on transatlantic flights as the bikes have gone as our second pieces of luggage. The most we paid has been with SAS which charged as 100 USD, Stockholm - Delhi, http://www.lowdin.nu/MTB/MTB-Himalaya.html considering what the over-weight charges would have been we thought it was perfectly reasonable. Per http://lowdin.nu |
#15
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
Usually they are not. We always box our bikes in the type of box the bike shops use and have so far flown back and forth to India, Thailand, Singapore, Geneva, twice to Mallorca once to Teneriffe and to Denver. Has always worked out fine. Yeah, that's what many people say they do. But what do you do with the box when you get there ? |
#16
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
Yeah, that's what many people say they do. But what do you do with the box
when you get there ? Depends, last year, when we flew from Stockholm to Denver we left the boxes there with some friends, we had all our stuff in boxes as we had two BOBs too. Then, we used the same boxes on our return trip. When we went to India we did the same. Bike boxes are not easily avaiable there. Same for Mallorca and the Canary Islands. Well boxes are probably available but one uses the same box going in and out. On the other hand when we have flown to SEA we have just left the boxes in the hotels we spent the first night. Then, we got new boxes in Bangkok. When we landed in Geneva we unpacked right next to the conveyour belt or whatever it is called where you pick up the luggage, put on the pedals, mounted the steering bar and the panniers, dumped the boxes in a place for trash, and then we cycled through customs and migration. Boxes are safe, you can protect the bike quite well, and they tend to be available almost anywhere, takes five or ten minutes to get the bike unpacked and ready to go. Some send their bikes as they are, perhaps with just some cardboard wrapped around, seems to work too, but our bikes are just to good for us to let them be handled like that, we also have a fascistoid tendency (our only!) about wheels. I just can?t tolerate wheels that are untrue. Per http://lowdin.nu |
#17
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
The bike charges or 'freight fees' are simply excessive and at times
extortionary. My limited experience is similar to Mikes. For a flight from STL to LA, American Airlines charge me 80-100 dollars per bike, per leg of trip, for transporting my bike. Even though I purposedly flew on a Tuesday morning at 6am, to avoid a crowded situation. I arrived at the gate 2 hours aherad of time. I was nice and patient with the airline employee. The flight was empty. It was an MD80 that had 30 people on it. Yet the American Airline employee informed me that American charges freight fees on bulky items--160 dollars for 2 bikes--CHA CHING. THIS IS A COMPLETE RIP-OFF!! Ive flown small carriers, ie Frontier, and they have waived these charges. Airlines such as American are not bike friendly, nor passenger friendly. My questions a International flighjts the bike rides free--why? Because competition makes it necessary?? Why is it that other countries bikes ride free, especially in SE Asia? Why is it when planes are empty, meaning 30% capacity, do they still charge fees? Why is a handling fee of 80 dollars charged? My solution is hammer the airlines with customer service emails and letters voicing your displeasure. Second start flying airlines that charge zero for bikes--there out there but we need to hear others experiences, so we now who they are. Third send a letter to your congressman demanding more competition and better services from airlines, especially for domestic flights. I would love to see China airlines running some domestic flights in the US. I would like to know if there is somewhere out there, in webland, that lists bike-friendly airlines, and non-friendly ones. We need a site like this. Lyle Mike Vermeulen wrote in message . .. Can someone explain this, or is the airlines policy so illogical that it defies explanation? Not completely illogical, but certainly a patchwork that is (1) fairly inconsistent (2) large price increase in last few years. An airline is going to charge "what the market will bear". A bike can be a large bulky item needing special handling. Despite disclaimers everyone has to sign, a potential exists for an expensive claim. Airlines will also charge for other special cases such as pets. The airline market is an ogilopoly and if some carriers establish fees, others can follow. There has always been some inconsistency, but five years ago it felt like the pattern was more like: -- domestic flights charge ~$50 -- international flights count bike as one piece of luggage as well as may base things on total weight -- smaller/regional/economy airlines either don't make provision for bikes or have unique rules (e.g. free, or by weight or not allowed or ...) -- ticket agents had discretion; approximately 1/3 of time I went they'd look at that $50 fee and find a way to be sympathetic and not charge the fee. Less true at large carriers with much traffic. This has been fairly stable from 15 to 5 years ago. During the past few years, several of the fees have risen quickly so that $80-$100 is closer to the price I see. At that rate, the inconsistent comparisons with other things that fly free (oversize trade show materials, skis,...) as well as to ticket price for a passenger becomes more visible. Though an airline is going to price more based on what the market bears than on such comparison... [in same way that you and I might have nearly identical seats on the plane but pay very different amounts for the journey]. I've flown 30 times with a bicycle and have paid more $$ for my touring bike to United Airlines than I paid to Cannondale...I'm still paying what market bears here, though have also shifted more to trains or rental cars in some cases due to increased costs. --mev, Mike Vermeulen |
#18
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
I'm used to the bike charges on flights within the US. On transatlantic
flights, the carriers don't charge specifically for the bikes. I guess if you're under the bag limit or weight limit you're OK? What happens if you're flying to Europe with a bike but are flying to the departure point? Will you be charged for the US flight if you're on the same carrier overseas? lanny "Ken" wrote in message ... Janet wrote in news:7wU%b.51506$aH3.1578865@bgtnsc04- news.ops.worldnet.att.net: Can someone explain this, or is the airlines policy so illogical that it defies explanation? They charge you $100 because they can. |
#19
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Why are bikes such a problem on airlines?
What happens if you're flying to Europe with a bike but are flying to
the departure point? Will you be charged for the US flight if you're on the same carrier overseas? I have had the bicycle flown for free in that situation. However, it has taken a conversation with the gate agent, along lines of "Isn't this an international flight?" Also, on return may need to pick up the bike, carry through customs and redeliver to US domestic transfer. I generally try to be polite (e.g. not impatient, demanding, allowing lots of time), but also politely asking or even being surprised at the large fees. That has helped me in a number of situations where I've been given some leeway). --mev, Mike Vermeulen |
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