Which Airline Has the Best Bike Fees?
A guide to picking your tri adventure chariot.
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Which airline is right for you? Depends on one almighty question: Are you bringing your bike? Many airlines now let bikes fly as regular baggage—if you can get yours packed in a case weighing less than 50 pounds and measuring no more than 62 linear inches. (To determine linear inches, add the length, depth, and height of your bike box. E.g., A box measuring 29 x 19.5 x 12.5 is 62 linear inches.) If not—and it’s nearly impossible to fit a bike into a case that size—oversize or special bike fees may apply. Pick your partner for flight within the U.S. with these airline bike fees and tips below.
RELATED: A Pro’s Guide to Packing and Traveling With Your Bike
Alaska
Bike Fee (One Way)
None—just standard checked bag fee ($30+)
No oversize fee
% On Time
82
American
Bike Fee (One Way)
None—just standard checked bag fee ($30+)
Up to 50 pounds and 126 inches; $150 up to 70 pounds
% On Time
78
Delta
Bike Fee (One Way)
None—just standard checked bag fee ($30+)
Up to 50 pounds, 62 inches overall; $200 up to 80 inches
% On Time
85
Frontier
Bike Fee (One Way)
$75
% On Time
73
Hawaiian
Bike Fee (One Way)
$100 from mainland to islands; $35 between islands
% On Time
89
Jet Blue
Bike Fee (One Way)
None—just standard checked bag fee ($0-40)
Up to 50 pounds, 62 inches overall; $100 up to 99 pounds, 80 inches
% On Time
73
Southwest
Bike Fee (One Way)
None
Up to 50 pounds, 62 inches overall; $75 above either of those parameters
% On Time
82
Spirit
Bike Fee (One Way)
$75
% On Time
79
United
Bike Fee (One Way)
None—just standard checked bag fee ($30+)
Up to 50 pounds, 62 inches overall; $150 up to 100 pounds, 115 inches
% On Time
77
Special Treatment
Skip the security line and keep your shoes on—for a price.
TSA Precheck (Tsa.gov/precheck)
- Give
- Fingerprints, background check
- Get
- Special line, no need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, and light jackets
- Lasts
- 5 Years
- Costs
- $85
- Use It
- You must enter your KTN—Known Traveler Number—whenever you purchase a ticket. The PRE √ symbol shows up on your ticket.
Clear (Clearme.com)
- Give
- Retinal scan, fingerprints, background check
- Get
- Same as Precheck, with a shorter line (if there is one)
- Lasts
- Until you stop paying for your annual subscription
- Costs
- $179
- Use It
- Arrive at airport (or a handful of sports stadiums), get scanned, pass to front of the Precheck line