My Letter to VirginAmerica Airlines Regarding Bicycles as Baggage
Hello,
It seems that you all are trying to create a different kind of airline that exceeds customers’ expectations. For all the folks out there that are trying to live a green lifestyle and minimize their use of cars, bringing your bike with you when you travel is ideal. However, most airlines — yours included — charge $50-60 each way to check a bicycle. In contrast, checking oversized ski equipment is often free. Bicycles are primary modes of transportation for many people particularly people with limited means, whereas skis are a luxury item.
Please consider allowing cyclists to check bicycles onto your planes for free, or for a reduced price such as $10 each way, which would be comparable to what trains and buses charge. You would immediately win the loyalty of all the cyclists and green-living folks out there and would likely get a lot more money in ticket sales from those types of travelers.
Thanks for listening!
Sally Carson
…I encourage every cyclist to write a similar letter to any and all airlines. Email VirginAmerica about this, you can copy and paste my text if that helps.
January 8th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
amen sister.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:34 am
You tell em, Sally!
Hope things are going well…
January 9th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Is there a way to just tell them it’s ski equipment? If they question, tell them it’s “experimental”.
January 16th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Hi Sally! great idea. Southwest on the other hand doesn’t charge, as long you box it…
January 17th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Thanks Mike. I checked Southwest’s policies on bikes, and your boxed bike still has to fit within the standard 62″ dimension requirement (length + width + height). I usually can’t get my bike to pack down this small into a bike box, but I’m told that with a bike bag it can be done. So, thanks!
February 1st, 2008 at 2:59 am
I usually just lie and say its “trade show equipment” (a little trick Jim C taught me). As long as you are under the max size limit, its free.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I complained about this to American back in 2003.
They gave a pretty poor reply, so I wrote back.
Turns out they pretty much don’t care.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
awesome!!