"Official" IATA policy (not specific airline policy) is that on "International" flights, bike can travel in lieu of 1 of 2 total pieces of BAGgage. Turn handlebars, remove pedals, part deflate tires. Airline can require BOX, BAG, nothing. Airline will not necessarily supply required BOX at the airport. On "domestic" flights, a surcharge can and usually does apply.

Both OneWorld alliance and Star alliance airlines will follow these IATA rules.

What is important to check is whether your flight is classified as "international". This is left to the individual airlines. For example, Canadian airlines considers flights between Canada and USA as "domestic" and will charge for a bike unless there is a direct connection with no stopover to an onward international destination. Qantas will consider a domestic flight in Australia for a stopover as "international", with no bike fee, if it is part of a larger international ticket. On my ticket, Qantas considers a flight from Australia to NZ as international for this reason, whereas they may consider this as domestic for other tickets. Apparently flights between European countries part of the EU are often considered domestic and subject to a fee.

Each of the airline reps said it is best to get all of your flight plans issued as one big ticket, including the international leg. If the international leg is on the same ticket, you will sometimes not pay for a domestic leg.

The other exception to this international/domestic rule will come about if you purchase certain cheap package, charter, or consolidator type fares even if on one of the airlines above. For certain of these fares, the airline limits BAGgage allowances for everyone (below the typical 2 piece, 70 lbs each). If this is the CASE, and it should be printed on the ticket (but always ask), you'll likely have to pay extra for the bike.

In terms of web links that provide this info, you might be able to find the BAGgage policies for international and domestic luggage. However, the only way to clear up the issue of whether you are on an "international" flight is to ask the airline directly with your ticket/itinerary in hand.

I had the airline reps. check out all of my flight segments to make sure I will pay no fee. This is still the best method. A travel agent can usually provide you with the same info, but I prefer to get it straight from the source.

My only problem now is that my flight segment from Nadi, Fiji is on Air Pacific which requires a BOX. Air Pacific will not provide a BOX. Do other airlines sell BOXes there? Any friendly LBS's to try? Good hostel with storage too? Any other suggestions?

Adam in Vancouver

In Canada you can get the international tariff from Canadian Transportation Agency (which is the legislative authority responsible for the economic regulation of air carriers).The CTA's responsibility is to ensure that the provisions of the Canada Transportation Act and of the Air Transportation Regulations are adhered to by persons and companies in air transportation. They are quite helpful here in explaining how it all works or figuring out the contents of the tariff.

BTW the international tariff requires airlines to have a current copy of their tariff at their business office. From my experience this has not been the CASE, the tariff book is usually out of date if in fact the clerks know what it is. But you could always try.

If you have a complaint or require clarification in Canada concerning the carriage of bicycles on International flights by Canadian licenced airlines you can contact the:
Canadian Transportation Agency
15 Eddy Street, 17th Floor
Hull, Quebec
K1A 0N9
tel: 819-997-0344
fax: 819-953-8353

The agency will investigate it, the Airline will have the opportunity to respond and the CTA will rule based on the Acts

If anyone knows the U.S., N.Z., Australian etc. equivalent, it might be helpful to publicize this information.

Cheers
Margot