experience taking bike on AirFrance?

Hi,

I'm flying on AirFrance and intending to take my bike. When I asked they said "Policy is no charge
for a bike as long as the three dimensions add up to less than 62 inches. Otherwise 62-80 inches is
$90 each way."

At first I thought they had a decent policy, not charging for bikes. And then I realized that
nothing but a tricycle will fit into a box less than 62". And my bike case actually measures about
83", enough to make me worry that they wouldn't even let me take it for the $90 fee.

Has anyone flown AirFrance to Europe with their bike? Any experiences to share?

Thanks,

Chuck Waterfield

Chuck Waterfield <waterfield@microfin.com> wrote:
: I'm flying on AirFrance and intending to take my bike. When I asked they said "Policy is no charge
: for a bike as long as the three dimensions add up to less than 62 inches. Otherwise 62-80 inches
: is $90 each way."

that's interesting and kinda funny. 62" is the (free) checked-in baggage limit of almost every
airline and not coincidentally exactly the size of my S&S coupled bike in its soft case.

they gave you a line.
--
david reuteler reuteler@visi.com

I guess they have to add all the dimensions to avoid arguments over which way is the height, and
taking volume would run into people shipping window panes.

Shipping a tetrahedron would at least give them pause over how to measure it.

Point out that it's not fair to add any of the diameters because they don't add _any_ diamaters of
boxes, just sides; and it's not fair to add sides pointing about the same direction more than once.
Use the idea that a very slightly irregular box causes them to add only a set of nearly orthogonal
edges, not any old edges.
--
Ron Hardin rhhardin@mindspring.com

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

For some time I've been collecting information on user experiences taking bikes on planes, trains,
buses, boats, etc. There's lots of stuff on rentals, folding bikes, boxing, AIRLINES, and railroads
around the world and how to ride in/out of about 120 airports.

See it at http://www.BikeAccess.net

Chuck Waterfield wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'm flying on AirFrance and intending to take my bike. When I asked they said "Policy is no charge
> for a bike as long as the three dimensions add up to less than 62 inches. Otherwise 62-80 inches
> is $90 each way."
>
> At first I thought they had a decent policy, not charging for bikes. And then I realized that
> nothing but a tricycle will fit into a box less than 62". And my bike case actually measures about
> 83", enough to make me worry that they wouldn't even let me take it for the $90 fee.
>
> Has anyone flown AirFrance to Europe with their bike? Any experiences to share?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck Waterfield

thanks, George. Great website!

The AirFrance comments are everything from "$900 charge for an oversized bike case" to "free if the
bike is unboxed, they just wheel it onto the plane." I may take my old bike and risk the unboxed
shipping. Think I will call AirFrance and ask them to clarify and also to type the agreement into my
electronic ticket comments area so that when I get there I won't face any surprises. (This was a
suggestion I found elsewhere.)

Chuck

"George" <GeorgeF@GFonline.org> wrote in message news:3E804A4E.9060003@GFonline.org...
> For some time I've been collecting information on user experiences taking bikes on planes, trains,
> buses, boats, etc. There's lots of stuff on rentals, folding bikes, boxing, AIRLINES, and
> railroads around the world and how to ride in/out of about 120 airports.
>
> See it at http://www.BikeAccess.net
>
>
> Chuck Waterfield wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm flying on AirFrance and intending to take my bike. When I asked
they
> > said "Policy is no charge for a bike as long as the three dimensions add
up
> > to less than 62 inches. Otherwise 62-80 inches is $90 each way."
> >
> > At first I thought they had a decent policy, not charging for bikes.
And
> > then I realized that nothing but a tricycle will fit into a box less
than
> > 62". And my bike case actually measures about 83", enough to make me
worry
> > that they wouldn't even let me take it for the $90 fee.
> >
> > Has anyone flown AirFrance to Europe with their bike? Any experiences
to
> > share?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chuck Waterfield
> >

"Chuck Waterfield" <waterfield@microfin.com>
> The AirFrance comments are everything from "$900 charge for an oversized bike case" to "free if
> the bike is unboxed...

Why not fly another airline? Why AirFrance?

In article <Io0ga.7447$U5.5793@fe01.atl2.webusenet.com>, "F. Golightly" <no.mail@ok.tuvm> wrote:

> "Chuck Waterfield" <waterfield@microfin.com>
> > The AirFrance comments are everything from "$900 charge for an oversized bike case" to "free if
> > the bike is unboxed...
>
>
> Why not fly another airline? Why AirFrance?
>
>
>
>

Why back when.....

We used to have a slogan: ³Take a chance, fly Air France!²

HAND

--
³Freedom Is a Light for Which Many Have Died in Darkness³

- Tomb of the unknown - American Revolution

I flew Air France to Europe last summer with my bike in a Performance hard shell case. I was not
charged extra, though on the return from Charles de Gaulle airport I was taken out of the boarding
line and accompanied by a charming attendent down to the baggage area, where I had to unlock the box
and remove the bike for inspection - the box didn't fit into X-ray machine. JAZ

"Chuck Waterfield" <waterfield@microfin.com> wrote in message
news:qyQfa.6090$Nm1.1264@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
> Hi,
>
> I'm flying on AirFrance and intending to take my bike. When I asked they said "Policy is no charge
> for a bike as long as the three dimensions add
up
> to less than 62 inches. Otherwise 62-80 inches is $90 each way."
>
> At first I thought they had a decent policy, not charging for bikes. And then I realized that
> nothing but a tricycle will fit into a box less than 62". And my bike case actually measures about
> 83", enough to make me
worry
> that they wouldn't even let me take it for the $90 fee.
>
> Has anyone flown AirFrance to Europe with their bike? Any experiences to share?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck Waterfield

I'm just back from my trip and thought I would share what happened to close out this thread.

I had confirmed with two phone calls and they were very clear about the "rules" of $90 for cases
between 62-80" and $180 for over 80". Yet, when I arrived to check in, first in Philadelphia, and in
Barcelona on the return, I quickly said "It's just my bike" when they looked at the size of the case
(a Performance Cargo Case). In both instances they didn't even hesitate. They allowed me to check
the case as my second piece of luggage, no charge. What a relief!

Chuck Waterfield

"bikerjaz" <biker.jaz@verizon.net> wrote in message news:EM5ga.2370$783.652@nwrddc01.gnilink.net...
> I flew Air France to Europe last summer with my bike in a Performance hard shell case. I was not
> charged extra, though on the return from Charles de Gaulle airport I was taken out of the boarding
> line and accompanied by a charming attendent down to the baggage area, where I had to unlock the
> box and remove the bike for inspection - the box didn't fit into X-ray
machine.
> JAZ
>
>
> "Chuck Waterfield" <waterfield@microfin.com> wrote in message
> news:qyQfa.6090$Nm1.1264@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I'm flying on AirFrance and intending to take my bike. When I asked
they
> > said "Policy is no charge for a bike as long as the three dimensions add
> up
> > to less than 62 inches. Otherwise 62-80 inches is $90 each way."
> >
> > At first I thought they had a decent policy, not charging for bikes.
And
> > then I realized that nothing but a tricycle will fit into a box less
than
> > 62". And my bike case actually measures about 83", enough to make me
> worry
> > that they wouldn't even let me take it for the $90 fee.
> >
> > Has anyone flown AirFrance to Europe with their bike? Any experiences
to
> > share?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chuck Waterfield
> >
>