Southwest Airlines Community

Jcanon81, I am currently on my trip. Although I do not have a clear answer to the question about the interpretation of the policy, I do have some encouraging news: I got my bike bag through without any questions. In fact, they didn't charge me for a 3rd checked bag, so I only had to pay the bike fee. The guy didn't even look at my bike - just weighed it and entered it in the system as "special equipment." It came up as 70lbs because I stuffed some bike gear and tools in there, but it didn't raise any eyebrows. I cannot guarantee that you will have the same experience, but I think you are fairly safe considering that between us both, we have seen zero reports of this arbitrary rule actually being enforced, and SWA staff have proven to not actually have knowledge of it. Personally, I don't think I'll ever take my bike on a SWA flight again until that rule is eliminated or changed, but I think you'll be fine. I would recommend not even mentioning the rule or talking to customer service before hand. Just go straight to check-in and say you've got a sporting equipment that you want to check. ... View more

@jcanon81 wrote: Well, I’ll be interested to know what happens in your case. I don’t have the luxury of being able to turn around and ship mine with my timeline. My trip is specifically to go riding. I’ve heard from people who have traveled on SWA as recently as May with a bike bag and no issues, but it’s unclear as to when this policy was changed or updated. I’ve found iterations of this policy from last year that do not include the 81” stipulation. The “OR” and “AND” pieces in the description are what cause the confusion.  I will definitely give you an update tomorrow. There's nothing we can do at this point but try. I have also seen people say they've gotten through with bike boxes about the arbitrary limitation without any issues.     Sorry, dfwskier. I am going to try it, no matter how much that hurts you. I think you'll be ok, though. But you can't say "I told you so" later because I know it's totally possible that I won't get through. ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: @worstbikepolicy wrote:     I don't disagree with your top part. It's true, unfortunately. I'm gonna chance it and hope that they don't really understand the policy. I don't have time to put it into a smaller box and I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it on an airplane. If they don't take it, then I'll have my friend ship it and simply never fly with SWA ever again. Ahh so you'll be bitter about the airline enforcing  a policy that you are fully aware of.   Hey, that's your choice.   Don't expect other airlines to be any different. Holy crap, dude. Are you that big of a jerk in person too or just on the Internet? There's absolutely no reason for you to be like that. I already got my answer, partially from you (although I was able to find that on my own before you did), but you've been condescending this whole time and I don't appreciate it. It's not unreasonable to be upset about an unreasonable policy. And it's not unreasonable to not want to ride on SWA again because of it. At this point you aren't being helpful at all, you're just being an ass for no reason. Do you just go around on forums looking for people to talk down? Does it make you feel better about yourself acting like that?   I don't expect other airlines to be different. But I never run into problems with other airlines like this. Of course I am going to try to see if they'll make an exception - I have no reason not to. Why wouldn't I at this point? In any case, I am not using SWA again unless the policy is changed. I wasn't the one who bought these tickets, so that's why I am using it this time (figured I'd get that out of the way before you give me another snarky response).   I'd prefer that you don't reply on this thread anymore. I don't need anymore input from you. ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: @worstbikepolicy wrote: jcanon81, I just got off the phone with a customer service representative and I got a very different response. She pointed out that the oversize charge is for bikes that are in boxes over 62 inches OR 100 pounds while the chdck baggage limit is for bikes in boxes over 80 inches AND 100 pounds. So as long as it doesn't go over the 100 pound limit,( which is virtually impossible), then it should be fine. It's a bit worrying that you got a different response, but her explanation did make sense and it can be argued that the oversize requirement says OR while the checked baggage requirement says AND.   That IS NOT going to fly (no pun intended).   The rule says    1) Not over 81 inches 1a) If over 62 inches pay a fee 2) If over 50 pounds,  pay a fee 2a) Not over 100 pounds   For the record NOTHING over 100 pounds can be checked   Don't believe me? Read it yourself. It's in the FAQ section. (bold is mine)     For Free Shipping:   "  Bicycles (defined as nonmotorized and having a single seat), including Bike Friday and Co-Pilot, properly packed in a hard-sided bicycle box that fall within the dimensions and weight limits established for normal Checked Baggage, (i.e., 62  inches or less in overall dimensions and less than 50 pounds in weight). Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other Baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft-sided cases will be transported as conditionally accepted items." ...   The items listed below will be accepted as Checked Baggage for a $75 each way charge. Bicycles (defined as nonmotorized and having a single seat) properly packed in a bicycle box or hard-sided case from 51 to 100 pounds in weight or 62 to 80 inches in total dimensions will be accepted for an overweight and oversize baggage fee of $75 per item. Pedals and handlebars must be removed and packaged in protective materials so as not to be damaged by or cause damage to other Baggage. Bicycles packaged in cardboard or soft sided cases will be transported as limited release items. Bicycles over 100 pounds in weight and 81 inches in total dimensions cannot be checked as baggage and can only be shipped as Cargo if the Customer is a known Shipper.   edit add: If I were you, I would believe the written stated policy. Sure you could get to the airport if you happen to run into a benevolent employee. However you are just as likely to run in to a rule enforcer.   FYI, it is almost impossible to "get away" with an overweight bag since all bags are weighed. Most bags are not sized, but anything way out of spec would be noticed. Yes, I now see the bold part. I was initially just going off what the SWA customer service representative explained to me. After having read it again, I noticed that she was wrong. At this point, I have one day before my flight. I am going to try to get away with it. There's no reason to try not to since there's LITERALLY no way to get my bike into a box within 80 inches TLD. Also, I don't mind paying the $75 at all and I don't intend to try to get away with an overweight bag. If I get a rule enforcer, then I'll just leave my bike with my friend and have them ship it. ... View more

@dfwskier wrote: @jcanon81 wrote: I’m in the same boat and struggling to get a clear answer from SW. I have called to speak with a representative, but despite doing this for “22 years” she wasn’t too familiar with the bike policy and had to reread it a couple of time. She then said nothing over the 81 inches could be check, to which I explained the same policy allows other things over 81” to be checked. She then gave me the number to the check-in at the airport I plan to fly out of who was really busy and just said, “bring it and we’ll take care of you.” That’s not exactly reassuring. What happens when I show up with my bike in a travel bag and they say, sorry, we can’t check that? You either leave the bag and take your flight  .or.   you and your bag leave the airport together -- but not on a plane.   I did a quick look, and most of the carboard bike boxes seemed to be 54 inches long. So it seems that the box makers expect users to to remove at least one wheel.  From bicycleuniverse.com:   "Most bike boxes are 43x11x32, but others can be bigger, such as 53x29x9 or 54x28x8."   None of these fit within the SWA's 80-inch total dimension policy, even with wheels off, which is the standard practice for packing bikes. The 54 inch one that you were referring to also doesn't fit within their policy as it comes out to 86 inches total dimensions. And these are standard cardboard boxes, mind you. There are very few bikes that can actually SAFELY fit within these dimensions, which is why it is a ridiculous policy. Not to mention that they don't have the same limitations for kayaks, surfboards, etc.   I don't disagree with your top part. It's true, unfortunately. I'm gonna chance it and hope that they don't really understand the policy. I don't have time to put it into a smaller box and I wouldn't feel comfortable taking it on an airplane. If they don't take it, then I'll have my friend ship it and simply never fly with SWA ever again. ... View more

But then again, the first sentence says:   Bicycles (defined as nonmotorizedand having a single seat) properly packed in a bicycle box or hard-sided case from 51 to 100 pounds in weight or 62 to 80 inches in total dimensions will be accepted for an overweight and oversize baggage fee of $75 per item.      This suggests that 80 inches is out of the checked bag limit. Well, back to square one. It's amazing how the customer service agents themselves don't understand their own baggage policies. Well my flight is tomorrow and a standard bike box is above 80 inches, even with wheels and handlebars taken off, so I am going to chance it and see what happens. It's impossibe to safely package a standard adult bike within those dimensions. If they give me trouble, then I'm just going to tell them that their customer service agent told me differently and see what happens.     Also, I did not mean to mark this as solved. I'm still new here and idk how to remove it. ... View more

jcanon81, I just got off the phone with a customer service representative and I got a very different response. She pointed out that the oversize charge is for bikes that are in boxes over 62 inches OR 100 pounds while the chdck baggage limit is for bikes in boxes over 80 inches AND 100 pounds. So as long as it doesn't go over the 100 pound limit,( which is virtually impossible), then it should be fine. It's a bit worrying that you got a different response, but her explanation did make sense and it can be argued that the oversize requirement says OR while the checked baggage requirement says AND.   ... View more