Which airlines are surcharging for fencing bags?

[foildad]

So far we haven't had to pay a baggage surcharge for fencing bags on Southwest or Delta. We're looking at booking our next fencing flight on United or American.

Does anyone know who is and isn't charging fencing bags as oversized luggage?

Thanks

[oiuyt]

The answer is likely to be dependent on what airport(s) you're using, not just what airline(s).

AirTran last year was, as best I can tell, never (or nearly never) charging at any airport other than Atlanta. In Atlanta it was rare that a fencing bag WASN'T charged an oversize fee (although Temple managed to talk our way out of 17 such fees with a fair amount of work).

I suspect that similar inconsistencies are likely to remain common even with the airlines which do charge fees. And there are likely to be multiple airlines which have such fees in their rules but not in practice.

-B

[foildad]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

The answer is likely to be dependent on what airport(s) you're using, not just what airline(s)...

-B

Good point. If anyone has recent experience flying out of Chicago that would be particulary helpful.

[davesaint]

Originally Posted by foildad

Good point. If anyone has recent experience flying out of Chicago that would be particulary helpful.

Foildad, are you planning a trip to Remenyik? I have found shipping via UPS to work well. United does charge for oversized bags, and I think it's $125. As they are short on cash, I would not expect them to waive it.


Dave

[foildad]

Originally Posted by davesaint

Foildad, are you planning a trip to Remenyik? I have found shipping via UPS to work well. United does charge for oversized bags, and I think it's $125. As they are short on cash, I would not expect them to waive it.


Dave

Yes, and the fares are all over the map. We can fly southwest into Midway cheaply, and with no worry about baggage fees, but the schedules aren't so good and I believe O'Hare is more convenient.

American and United are cheaper than Delta, but baggage fees can more than eat up the fare savings.

Thanks for the info on United.

Anyone know about American?

[MHS Fencer]

Originally Posted by davesaint

Foildad, are you planning a trip to Remenyik? I have found shipping via UPS to work well. United does charge for oversized bags, and I think it's $125. As they are short on cash, I would not expect them to waive it.


Dave

That's their stated policy on the website, but does anybody have any experience with their practice? Did they include fencing bags as one of the allowed items (like golf bags) where they only charged the normal bag fee?

[Fechter1]

Also interesting information might be which airlines charge extra for fencing bags, but not for golf bags... (If that even still happens...)

Solution: Get a hard case golf travel bag, make sure there's a golf club in there, and voila, you're traveling with a golf bag.

[Phrogger]

A list like this would be a good fit for 14meters.com, if I understand the intent of the site correctly.

[tchwojko]

Originally Posted by foildad

Yes, and the fares are all over the map. We can fly southwest into Midway cheaply, and with no worry about baggage fees, but the schedules aren't so good and I believe O'Hare is more convenient.

American and United are cheaper than Delta, but baggage fees can more than eat up the fare savings.

Thanks for the info on United.

Anyone know about American?

https://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do...cess%20Baggage

[dberke]

I've attached a spreadsheet that I put together last month summarizing airline bag fees. I visited all of the airline websites (or at least ones that service Seattle) to compile the list. Of course, it's possible that some of the info has changed since then, but it's probably a good starting point.

As far as I could tell, all airlines considered a bag "oversize" if it exceeded 50 lbs and/or 62 linear inches (width+height+depth.)

Dan

[usafencer]

Kayak.com (really useful website for finding flights; they automatically search for the lowest fares from the airlines websites, as well as Orbitz, etc) has a list of all airline fees, updated daily. Here's the link:

http://www.kayak.com/airline-fees

There are also links there to the airline's policies straight from their websites, I believe, so I'd definitely look at that.

[jjefferies]

Originally Posted by dberke

I've attached a spreadsheet that I put together last month summarizing airline bag fees. I visited all of the airline websites (or at least ones that service Seattle) to compile the list. Of course, it's possible that some of the info has changed since then, but it's probably a good starting point.
Dan

It appears to also be dependent on when you bought your ticket. Frontier for instance was implementing a staged lead in to charging:

NOTE: For tickets purchased on or after September 13, 2008, for travel on or after November 1, 2008, a first bag fee of $15.00 applies to all checked items unless exempt as noted in the chart. Specific fees in this chart cover excess, oversize, and overweight charges. When no charge is specified, the item is subject to all baggage fees. Baggage fees for excess, oversize and overweight are cumulative and all may be assessed on one item.

Fencing Equipment One bag which may include swords, mask, outfit and shoes, cables, screwdriver (or toolkit), electricity tester, gloves, and breast plate, or cup protector. Free - in place of one FBA; for tickets purchased on or after 9/12/08 for travel on or after 11/1/08, a fee of $15.00 applies for the first bag. Checked: Yes Carry-on: No

http://www.frontierairlines.com/fron...ggage-chart.do

[hello?]

Originally Posted by dberke

As far as I could tell, all airlines considered a bag "oversize" if it exceeded 50 lbs and/or 62 linear inches (width+height+depth.)

Some airlines don't consider golf bags oversized (there's a separate link for sporting equipment. Some charge for "checked baggage" regardless of size (of course, that fee is much smaller). I specifically asked United about having fencing equipment in my golf bag. Here's the reply:

I appreciate your contacting us regarding our Baggage Policy.

I understand form your e-mail that you would like to carry
fencing equipment inside your golf bag. Please know that your golf bag
will count towards checked baggage and there will be an additional fee
for first and second bag as well as if your bag weights more that 50 lbs
you need to pay excess fee. For further clarification I request you to
visit the link
http://www.unitedairlines.nl/core/en...e/checked.html and
also please feel free to contact our Reservations Desk at either
1-800-UNITED1 (1-800-864-8331) for Domestic travel or 1-800-JETAWAY
(1-800-538-2929) for International travel.

I hope this information is helpful to you. We look forward to welcoming
you onboard soon.

Regards,

Dosuon Mang
United Airlines Customer Relations

[dberke]

Originally Posted by jjefferies

It appears to also be dependent on when you bought your ticket.

The info in my spreadsheet was based on how much the fees would be if you bought a ticket today. I didn't bother considering the "if you bought your ticket before date X for a flight before date Y" case since those "fee phase-in" dates only apply to a few people at this point.

Dan

[telkanuru]

I flew both Delta and USAir in August with my fencing gear, and wasn't subject to an oversized fee from either, although I was charged the $15 from USAir for checking one bag

[teacup]

Kayak is wonderful though they no longer support American Airlines.
Try Mobissimo or Sidestep
http://www.mobissimo.com/search_airfare.php
http://www.sidestep.com/
Farecast is interesting too.
http://farecast.live.com/?

One thing about American Airlines, besides that they charge for bags, they have no system for tracking bags such as United has. It looks like they do by the bar codes on their tags, but they don't. So if you have to change planes.....

[occasionalfencer]

I am willing to pay a fee for the bag, IF IT GETS THERE. I would appreciate someone collecting information on how to make sure your bag gets there when you need it. On the recent trip to Bratislava, 3 of our (American) JME fencer's bags got left at the Paris airport instead of being transferred to the flight for Vienna as they should have been. One of the coaches told us that he had frequently had bags lost or delayed at the Paris airport. The airline said that they would bring the bags the next day, in the middle of the fencing competition. Fortunately there were enough parents available to help to pick up the bags that night, so everyone got to fence, but I would really rather the airline would take the responsibility. If all we ever select for is the cheapest fares, then it is inevitable that customer service will go down. If we make a point of selecting airlines, or airports, based on whether they actually get our bags there, they will improve that service.

[Inquartata]

I have flown United out of Phoenix, Denver, LAX and Sydney. I checked a hard golf case containing my fencing gear ( no golf club, though ). I was charged only the first-bag fee, not an oversize or overweight fee.

The flights out of LAX and Sydney were international flights, so they are in a different class---you get to check two bags with no charge. Same for Delta out of Cincinnati to Paris, Air France out of Paris to Newark, and Continental out of Newark to Phoenix...

In fact, I have never paid an oversize or overweight fee on this bag on any airline out of any city, including Atlanta, Miami, Chicago ( both airports ), Denver, Charlotte, DFW, Phoenix, etc.

Of course, past experience is not always predictive...

NB When last I flew the fellow at the next station to mine was trying to check a large cardboard box weighing over 150 lbs. He was told that it would cost him over $400 to check! At much lower prices it might well pay to ship via UPS or other freight carrier.

And yes, Air France at Paris CDG failed to get my bags on my plane coming back from France, and Peach's as well. Mine took 3 days to reach me, one of them having to go to Chicago en route for Customs inspection.

[jjefferies]

Southwestern apparently is one of the few airlines not making additional charges for bags. Usual weights and sizes apply, 62 inches and 50 lbs.

However: Knives, dress sabers and swords are allowed in checked baggage only.
So there you know.

[piste off]

Originally Posted by Fechter1

Solution: Get a hard case golf travel bag, make sure there's a golf club in there, and voila, you're traveling with a golf bag.

Or just put a golf ball in there. Add some string and you also have a training device for inexperienced epeeists.

R-