COPA Airlines Bicycle fee $177

[kd_ca]

Been doing some international bike touring and feel like COPA Airlines charges quite a bit for bicycle fee.  When I bought ticket online and checked out their website about sports luggage etc, no mention of the $177 fee.  Bike box was 22Kg (under < 23kg limit), Lima Peru back to USA. 

2023 Dec LATAM charged me $80 for bicycle fee from Santiago Chile back to USA and their charge was indicated on their website .  I have no issue with upfront disclosures.

[John Nettles]

So sorry to hear that.  Just this past spring, I almost booked a ticket on Air France that said (upfront), the airline wanted to charge a much $200(??) fee each way for a bicycle even if the bike was packed into a standard 62-linear inch suitcase using couplers compared to a similar sized weight and size "non-bicycle" suitcase that would have been free.  When I called about it, they said that was the fee for a bicycle.  I asked if the rate would apply if it was only bicycle parts (pack seat & pedals in a different bag) and they couldn't say what the fee would be. 

I ended up not going on that tour but would have avoided Air France on principle.

Tailwinds, John

[horses60]

If we want to continue...

Flight Quebec-Toronto-Venice (Italy) with an Air Canada ticket. Bike 50 CAD(or 50 USD). On the return flight is Venice-Zurich-Toronto-Quebec. The Venice-Zurich flight is operated by Swiss. I arrive in Venice and have to pay for the bikes at the Swiss price they asked me something like 250 EUR. Three months of complaints, but they finally refunded me.

For me the best company is United, if they didn't lose luggage Air Canada would also be good, but they are in a pitiful condition as a company.

[John Nettles]

Horses,

You got lucky with a refund.  By international convention, the trip's (each direction) luggage fees are based on the originating OPERATING airlines.  Even though you bought the ticket on Air Canada, since your return originated by a Swiss Airlines operated plane, Swiss gets to charge the fees.  The reason is once the baggage is accepted, all other airlines are just supposed to transfer so no money to subsequent flights. 

Part of me longs for the "good old days" when flights were regulated (at least in the USA) where if you wanted to change your flight even after it was booked, you could without penalties, fees, etc.  Baggage was included though I can not remember if bikes were a surcharge in the 70s. 

Glad it worked out for you.  Tailwinds, John

[kd_ca]

I'm learning to decipher these airline luggage lingo. 

I'll be catching a flight to central Asia on Emirates + FlyDubai where they don't charge for luggage that meets the included allowance (number of pieces, weight & dimensions). Bike Box at 101 inches exceeds the included allowance of 62 inch dimensions, but is within the 23kg weight limit and 118 inch dimension limit, so I will have to pay extra for the oversize bike box. My return will be FlyDubai+Emirates, so need to check FlyDubai's fees too.

[BikeliciousBabe]

Pfft.  US Airways was $300 back in 2013 from Philly to Venice.

[John Nettles]

Even if fees were outrageous in the early teens, that does not mean they can still be relatively outrageous now.