Traveling with your bike on Southwest Airlines? It’s a popular choice for cyclists, but my recent experiences flying with my bike on Southwest “Southwest Bikes” reveal some important considerations regarding fees and potential baggage handling issues. Over the last six months, I’ve taken two bike trips with Southwest, one to San Francisco (SF) and another to Tampa. Using a large SCIcon soft case, which conveniently allows handlebars to remain attached, I encountered a mix of challenges and learnings.
One of the first things to be aware of with “southwest bikes” travel is the cost. Southwest charges a minimum of $75 each way for oversized items. This fee applies even if you are using flight miles, significantly adding to the overall trip expense. On my return flight from Tampa, I was surprised to be charged even more – $125 by a less-than-pleasant agent. Checking their website later confirmed that Southwest’s prices for oversized baggage have indeed increased, impacting the affordability of traveling with “southwest bikes”.
My trip back from San Francisco brought another issue to light: bike damage. Despite using a padded soft case for my “southwest bikes”, it was clear my bag had been dropped upside down. Something sharp had pierced through the bag, padding, and directly into my handlebar, causing a gash. This was a harsh lesson about the vulnerabilities of soft cases when flying with “southwest bikes”. While I was able to patch the bag and replace the damaged handlebar and tape, it was an inconvenience and added cost. For my subsequent trip, I decided to detach the handlebars from the stem for better protection.
Denver International Airport (DIA), a major Southwest hub, presented its own set of challenges for “southwest bikes” and oversized luggage. Upon arrival, passengers are directed to wait for oversized baggage, with staff advising a 15-30 minute wait after regular luggage. However, on my return from SF, I waited for a full hour, only to discover my damaged bike case. Exhausted from a delayed flight, I opted not to file a claim at that moment. The delay seems partly due to DIA’s baggage handling limitations, reportedly involving only a single elevator for oversized items.
On a more positive note, investing in an AirTag for tracking your bike is highly recommended when traveling with “southwest bikes”. For my direct flight to Tampa, this proved invaluable. After landing, I checked the AirTag and discovered my bike was still in Denver! Fortunately, Southwest located it and rerouted it through Dallas, and it arrived later that evening. However, the saga continued when the courier couldn’t fit the bike case in their vehicle and returned it to the baggage counter. I had to return to the airport the next morning to retrieve my “southwest bikes”. As compensation for this significant delay and trouble, Southwest provided a $200 voucher.
In summary, out of four flight segments traveling with “southwest bikes” on Southwest Airlines, two encountered notable issues. While Southwest can be a convenient option, be prepared for potentially high baggage fees, the risk of damage with soft cases, and possible delays or mishandling of oversized luggage, particularly at Denver DIA. Utilizing a bike tracker like AirTag is a smart precaution to mitigate potential loss or delays when flying with “southwest bikes”.
