CarryMe Folding Bikes Allowed As Carry-On
by Larry Lagarde

As I reported yesterday, AirTran's response was unclear as to whether folding bikes would be allowed on board their flights as a carry on. I rephrased my question and within 24 hours, I had a much clearer answer.

Basically, if the overall dimensions of the folding bike are 55 inches (Height + Length + Width) or less, AirTran will allow passengers to take the bike into the cabin as a carry on. In other words, if you have an A-Bike, CarryMe 1 spd or Carry Me DS, you can take the bike on and store it in the overhead bin above your seat. Unfortunately, the answer is not so great for other folding bikes.

If the overall dimensions of the bike are more than 55", it must be checked and is thus subject to AirTran's checked baggage regulations for bicycles. Sadly, even if your bike meets the overall dimensions and weight allowances that apply to checked bags in general (61" overall & max wt of 50 lbs), AirTran will charge you $79 each way for checking your bike. Ironically, on October 1, 2009, AirTran will be increasing the overall dimensional limit for checked bags to 70" but this change does not apply if the bag contains a bike.

If you're interested, here's a full transcript of my correspondence today with AirTran:

AirTran's Reply To My 2nd Query:

Dear Mr. Lagarde,

All customers traveling on AirTran Airways are restricted to one carry-on item and one personal item. Personal items include handbags, umbrellas, walking sticks, crutches, coats, cameras, reading material, infant food, briefcases, and laptop computers. Back packs may be considered a personal item, providing the bag is packed in a way that it will fit under the seat in front of you, if you are also traveling with a carry on bag. Back packs will be accepted as personal items subject to gate and flight crew discretion.

No carry-on item may exceed the overall dimensions of 55 inches (Height + Length + Width) and must fit under the seat or in the overhead bin. You may view our complete baggage policy online by following the link below:
http://www.airtran.com/policies/carry-on_checked.aspx

Should you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again. We thank you for including AirTran Airways in your travel plans and we wish you a very pleasant flight.

Sincerely,

Melanie Britt
Customer Relations Department
AirTran Airways

My reply:

Melanie,

Forgive me but I just want to make sure I understand:

It sounds like you're telling me that if the collapsed bike fits in a bag with overall dimensions of 55 inches (Height + Length + Width) and if the bag fits in the overhead bin, I can take it aboard as a carry on at no additional charge. Is that correct?

Regards,

Larry Lagarde
RideTHISbike.com
Practical & Fun Bicycles That Fold For Storage, Travel & Convenience

Final answer from Airtran:

Dear Mr. Lagarde,

Thank you for your reply. That is correct. As long as it fits within our requirements it would be acceptable as your carry on luggage.

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Melanie Britt
Customer Relations Department
AirTran Airways

With AirTran's dimensional limits for checked bags increasing soon to 70", hopefully, AirTran will see the hypocrisy of charging $79 for checked bags that contain a bike yet meet the limit.

If you'd like to fly on AirTran but are put off by this bike fee, TELL THEM TODAY. The more they hear from flyers, the more likely it is that the airline will respond.

Labels: AirTran-Airways, baggage-fees

by Larry Lagarde

This past Tuesday, I contacted AirTran for a clarification on their regulations pertaining to folding bikes. Today I received the following reply from AirTran:

Dear Mr. Lagarde,

Non motorized bicycles with single seat will be accepted for carriage with a fee of $79.00 provided the bike is packed in a box by the customer and the handlebars and pedals are removed and stored to prevent damage. Bicycles must be packed in a box with no part of the vehicle exposed. Bicycles not properly packaged will not be accepted.

Please follow the link below to view our complete baggage policy.

http://www.airtran.com/policies/carry-on_checked.aspx

If you have further questions regarding baggage that are not covered here, please call AirTran Airways Reservations at 1-800-AIR-TRAN (1-800-247-8726), or 678-254-7999 in Atlanta.

Please do not hesitate to contact me again, should you need any further assistance. We thank you for including AirTran Airways in your travels and we look forward to serving you on your flight.

Sincerely,

Melanie Britt
Customer Relations Department
AirTran Airways

Since AirTran's reply did not answer my question, I replied by restating my question as follows:

Melanie,

You did not answer my question.

If an item is not prohibited by the TSA and meet's AirTran's overall dimensional limit of 55" for a carry on, can I carry it on board?

According to AirTran's carry on bag policy web page, Assistive Devices which collapse small enough to fit in the overhead are welcome in the cabin. When this bike is collapsed, it will easily fit in the overhead, taking up just a fraction of space.

Regards,

Larry Lagarde

Using logic and reason, if a carry on meet's an airline's size/weight restrictions and is not prohibited by the TSA, the carry on should be allowed aboard. So will AirTran address my question with a clear answer? I'll post their reply once I receive it so check back in a few days for the answer.

Labels: baggage-fees

by Larry Lagarde

If ridiculously low air fares have you dreaming of flying away to finally take that perfect bike trip, beware. The cost to check your bike may actually be more than the airfare.

Take United, for example.
Right now, United has 5 different airfare sales going with pricing from $47-150 one way to all kinds of destinations but that's just half the story. The fee to check your bike one way on United is $175.

I reported on the $175 fee back in February when I was planning a trip to Los Angeles. I was traveling to a show with 2 folding bikes. Since any bike is subject to United's $175 fee, I would have been socked with $700 in fees for 2 tiny folding bikes (one being small enough to carry on).

Naturally, cyclists are getting frustrated. One called me from an airport today because he had just been fleeced by United for $175 to check his bike. It wasn't a folding bike but that's not the point. Are bicycles such a liability that airlines really need to charge such exorbitant fees? No way!

If you're tired of any of the petty fees airlines are imposing, here's an opportunity to speak out and be heard. Join the new Facebook Group...

Say NO To Bogus Airline Fees

Do it today and be heard.

Labels: baggage-fees

Are Compact Folding Bikes Subject To AirTran's $79 Bicycle Fee?
by Larry Lagarde

This Fall, AirTran Airways will be offering a new non-stop service between New Orleans and Baltimore. I enjoy air travel but hate changing planes so this new flight could be useful to me - especially if I could take my CarryMe folding bike aboard as a carry on (just like Southwest allows).

Looking for answers, I visited AirTran's site and read through all the baggage policies. According to the site, Airtran allows passengers to bring aboard Assistive Devices "being collapsed small enough to fit in overhead bins"; such Assistive Devices do not count toward the carry-on limited either (cool). But what if they don't consider my compact folding bike as an Assistive Device? There were no prohibitions mentioning bikes and the CarryMe met the other published carry on guidelines (item length + width + height must be less than 55" and must fit in the overhead bin)...

Digging deeper, I found a reference to bicycles under Airtran's baggage policies for Sporting Equipment section of the checked baggage regulations; however, the info was vague and appeared to refer to full size, non-folding bikes. Would AirTran really charge $79 each way for a bike that folded so small that it could easily & safely fit in an overhead bin? To learn more, I wrote the following to AirTran using their online form:

I have an unusual piece of sporting equipment that I take when traveling. Smaller and lighter than AirTran's limit for golf equipment, it's a 17 lb bike that folds. When I fly Southwest, they let me carry it on and store it in the overhead.
Can I do this on AirTran too? Would any fees apply to flying AirTran with this?

Shortly after submitting my query, I received AirTran's standard auto reply which states that it can take 48 hours to receive an answer.

Will AirTran answer my questions like United did earlier this year (sending a general, canned response that had absolutely nothing to do with my question) or will I get a definitive answer? I'll let you know what happens in 48 hours.

Labels: AirTran-Airways, baggage-fees

Claims All Bikes Need Special Handling
by Larry Lagarde

Last month, I invited Air Canada to explain why they charge a $50 handling fee (each way) for baggage that meets their dimensional and weight standards for checked baggage but contains a folding bike. Although Air Canada has not replied directly to me, RideTHISbike.com reader L. Goddyn writes that he got a reply. By the looks of that reply, it appears that more cyclists need to voice their disgust with the airline's policy as Air Canada appears unwilling to change it.

Here's what L. Goddyn wrote:

Below is what Air Canada answered to my complaint about extra charges for a boxed collabsible bike. Pretty weak reply, in my view. They have invited me to respond to their message. I am not sure what to say now, except that:

I would hope that AC does not consider a bike-in-a-box to be the most fragile item that people put into checked luggage.

L. Goddyn

-----------Begin Air Canada Response----

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
Folding bike charges

Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Susan Rabbitte) - 04/09/2009 12:34 PM Thank you for your email.

Our checked baggage policy for bicycles applies to all bicycles. Bikes are handled with special care to protect them from damage, regardless if they are collapsible or not. Exceptions are not made for specific brands or container types.

We invite you to learn more on our website at:
http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/sports_equip.html

We look forward to serving you soon.

Regards,
Customer Relations

[---001:001638:28255---]
-----------

In my initial story on this issue, I covered why cyclists have legitimate reason to be upset about this senseless, inconsistent and obnoxious Air Canada policy. Most striking of all is the special handling that Air Canada claims is needed for any bike. That's hogwash. Many folding bike users fly with their folding bikes stored in regular, every day luggage without the airline's knowledge. Although those bikes fly without benefit of Air Canada's "special handling," they arrive without damage...

If you're displeased with Air Canada's bag policy concerning bikes, I cannot stress enough the importance of informing them how you feel. With so many folding bike users being flyers, no airline in their right mind would tell a significant segment of their market to take a hike. Right?

Complain To Air Canada

Labels: Air-Canada, baggage-fees

by Larry Lagarde

Imagine Lloyd Alter's surprise and rage when checking in recently for a flight on Air Canada. He checks a bag that's well within Air Canada's dimensional and weight limits for checked baggage; yet, he's hit with a $50 surcharge because the bag contains a folding bike.

Lloyd's a conscientious air traveler. When he flies, he buys carbon offsets but he wanted to do more. Thus, to further reduce his carbon footprint when traveling, Lloyd got a Strida folding bike to reduce his dependence on rental cars and taxis.

So why was Lloyd upset? Air Canada's baggage policy makes no sense and is inconsistent.

Senseless Baggage Policy
Air Canada imposes a 50 lb weight limit and 62" linear dimensional limit on each checked bag. Some items (such as standard sized bicycles) typically exceed Air Canada's weight & dimensional limits and are obviously subject to an overage fee; yet, the Strida is NOT your typical bike.

When folded, the Strida is very compact, taking up less than a third of the space needed for a full size bike and certainly within Air Canada's 62" linear dimensional limit. Packed inside its padded custom carry bag, the Strida and bag combo weigh about half of Air Canada's 50 lb. max weight limit for checked bags. There are no special handling requirements either; the Strida goes on the luggage belt just like every other checked bag.

Inconsistent Baggage Policy
According to Air Canada, every bike is subject to a surcharge because it would be too difficult for check-in personnel to determine which bikes meet the dimensional & weight requirements (I guess the scale and measuring tape works for everything but bikes). Air Canada also argues that they charge for folding bikes because other major airlines do too. Naturally, Air Canada conveniently forgot that Southwest, Alaska and other airlines DO NOT charge for folding bikes (you can even take certain folding bikes into the cabin on Southwest as a carry on).

Insult To Injury: Air Canada's LeaveLess
Air Canada promotes itself as an airline striving for a greener world. As part of their LeaveLess "environmental initiative," Air Canada brags how they're cutting greenhouse gas emissions by converting some of their ground vehicles to propane, etc. If they were serious though, the airline's policies would encourage fliers to use folding bikes. Instead, they charge a fee that discourages use.

Given that folding bikes like the Strida...
- emit NO greenhouse gases...
- are ideal for use with buses, trains and subways...
- meet airline dimension & weight standards...
the only logical conclusion is that Air Canada's policy towards folding bikes is simply a way to generate revenue.

Convincing Air Canada to change their policy is simple: take action & complain. With all the competition out there and the state of the economy, Air Canada would be crazy not to listen.

If Air Canada wishes to comment on this issue, I'll be happy to post that comment here.

Lloyd Alter's Air Canada Story

Labels: baggage-fees

by Larry Lagarde

If you're taking a commercial flight and want to go cycling at your destination, packing a folding bike into your suitcase is a great way to see the sights and get some exercise too. Beware of the fees some airlines charge for even a folding bike though because they can be ridiculous.

Two weeks ago, I flew to Los Angeles on United. As when I fly on Southwest, I expected that I could carry my CarryMe micro folding bike onto the plane; however, to be safe, I called United. The customer service rep told me that any and all bikes are charged a $175 fee each way and that the bike would have to be checked. Yesterday, a customer flying United to Asia shared a similar story with me.

One of the primary benefits of micro folding adult bikes is that they are small and light enough to meet the baggage guidelines of commercial airlines. When an airline charges prohibitively for bags that meet their dimensional and weight limits, either the airline is simply unaware of the disparity or is greedy and/or desperate.

To make sure United was aware of this disparity, I wrote them the following:

When can United flyers expect to see an updated baggage policy that removes the "Special" status from bicycles that fold within United's weight and size limits for either a checked or carry on bag?

I manage RideTHISbike.com, a blog/website about bicycling that specializes in folding bikes and is read by 600-1100 unique users/day. I recently flew with United to attend a transit symposium in Los Angeles. The flight arrived on time and my experience with all the United service personnel I encountered was positive. Nevertheless, based on United's outdated baggage policy regarding folding bikes, I cannot in good conscience recommend that travelers with folding bikes fly United.

A variety of folding bicycles currently meet United's weight and size limits for checked or carry on bags (some examples: A-bike, Brompton, CarryMe, E-Z Pack); yet, United's baggage policies do not acknowedge this fact. As a result, rather than incur a $175 fee, passengers with these compact folding bikes are flying with other airlines instead of United.

Since folding bike owners frequent my site when planning to travel, I am posting the above info there today. In the interest of fairness and accuracy, I will be happy to post any comment or reply I receive from United Airlines on this issue.

With United's bicycle policy requesting steps that clearly don't apply to folding bikes (like removing the pedals or turning in the handlebars), it's obvious that United bicycle policy was drafted to refer to standard, full size bikes. Hopefully, United will look at the facts and update their bike policy so flyers can rest assured that their compact folding bikes will no longer be subject to special fees.

9:30 PM: Just received United's acknowledgement of my complaint/comment. Unfortunately, it contains neither a direct reference to the issue (flyers being charged $175 for bikes that meet United's checked bag weight and dimensional guidelines) nor does it tell whether United intends to remove this unfair disparity. See for yourself:

Dear Mr. Lagarde,

I understand that you have concerns about United policy for carrying
Bicycles.

We want to understand how policy change feels from your point of view,
so your candid comments will be shared with our management teams
responsible for decisions about products and services our customers most
value. Your feedback will help us evaluate our decisions that impact
your choice of airline.

Additionally, I am delighted to read your report about your experience
with United.

We value your business and hope that you give us an opportunity to serve
you onboard United again soon.

Regards,

Manish Khurana
United Airlines Customer Relations

Labels: baggage-fees, United-Airlines

by Larry Lagarde

One of the great uses for folding bikes is taking them along when traveling. I have flown a variety of times with folding bikes socked away in suitcases that met the checked bag guidelines, allowing me to avoid the extra fee airlines charge for carrying full size bikes. But the rules are getting trickier as airlines struggle with sky high fuel costs.

Recently, the New York Times reported that Delta, United and US Airways will begin charging $50 round trip next month for a second piece of checked luggage. Since that story was published, Airtran, Continental & Northwest jumped on this bandwagon too (Airtran's fee will just be $20 RT though).

While charging for a 2nd carry on may be viewed as un-American (technically, that's true as American Airlines isn't charging the fee yet), Spirit Airlines has been charging $10/checked bag for some time now. Also, European budget airlines such as Ryanair have been charging for checked bags for years.

Ultimately, it's still more convenient to take your own folding bike when you fly but you'll need to research the airlines you're flying and pack more carefully to avoid paying additional fees.

Labels: baggage-fees