Activism Change

Airlines

Question:

Both are injustices; it’s all a matter of proportion.

Isn’t this closer to throwing tea in Boston Harbor?  The outcome determines the moral justification.  If we start a revolution to lie and deceive the air lines and eventually they relent and admit they were wrong then we are bold heroes.  Otherwise, we’re common liars and thieves. If someone lies to avoid the unfair charge, I have no problem with it. Personally, I wouldn’t lie for that reason.  But I understand how others could do so OTOH, if the person was caught lying and subsequently punished, I would be equally unsympathetic.  I guess it looks like mutual combat to me. Larry

Response:

punishment would come in form of a baggage-claim gorilla….. trInIc

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Both are injustices; it’s all a matter of proportion. Isn’t this closer to throwing tea in Boston Harbor?  The outcome determines the moral justification.  If we start a revolution to lie and deceive the air lines and eventually they relent and admit they were wrong then we are bold heroes.  Otherwise, we’re common liars and thieves. If someone lies to avoid the unfair charge, I have no problem with it. Personally, I wouldn’t lie for that reason.  But I understand how others could do so OTOH, if the person was caught lying and subsequently punished, I would be equally unsympathetic.  I guess it looks like mutual combat to me. Larry

Response:

I once told the airline guy that the box contained most of the parts to a bicycle.  When he didn’t charge I got a fit of conscience and asked him if he’d like to know which parts were missing.  I told him it was the pedals.  He liked that and still didn’t charge.  I always look for him at our little airport and if he’s there, I’m not charged, but I don’t say that anymore to anyone because such a statement is either cute or dishonest and I know for sure I’m not cute. Ruth Kazez

Response:

Civil disobedience!  Rosa Parks!  Civil Rights Movement!  Bikes Fly for Free? Using "civil disobedience" in an ethics comparison to stop the airlines from charging us for traveling with our bikes seems petty next to Civil Rights (and an insulting comparison). I agree that paying $75 each way (that’s UAL’s latest charge) is insane.

Both are injustices; it’s all a matter of proportion.  Guy walks into a bar, sits down next to an attractive young woman, and asks if she would sleep with him for $1 million.  After some hesitation, she decides she would.  He next asks if she would do so for $20.  Indignant, she asks "What kind of woman doyou think I am?" He answers "We’ve established that; we’re just haggling over price now."

Response:

I once told the airline guy that the box contained most of the parts to a bicycle.  When he didn’t charge I got a fit of conscience and asked him if he’d like to know which parts were missing.  I told him it was the pedals.  He liked that and still didn’t charge.  I always look for him at our little airport and if he’s there, I’m not charged, but I don’t say that anymore to anyone because such a statement is either cute or dishonest and I know for sure I’m not cute.

Yes you are.

Response:

Lying about luggage to save a few bucks… Is it worth it?? Guess it depends on how irritated you get being jacked

NO It depends on your ethics. Every one knows beforehand that there is a cost for bicycles. Disagreement with this does not support lying. If you want to weasel out of it, then a convincing argument to the counter people might be legit. I get irritated in a tri if I see drafting, but I do not then do it myself. I guess it is based on the kind of person you are. I don’t see where Peggy needed to elaborate at all.

Response:

Guess it depends on how irritated you get being jacked by airlines. Why should you be happy about arbitrary charges, esp if you put your bike in a hard case?  Certainly with dive gear, the airlines have tended to a don’t ask, don’t tell policy with the $75 charge for scuba gear.  They know as well as anyone else that 95% of the people on the flight to cozumel are carrying dive gear.  So long as your luggage doesn’t flash DIVE GEAR in bright letters, they don’t care.

Which is closer to how it should be.  Baggage restrictions should be content neutral, and address size and weight only.  It’s not just about saving a few bucks, it’s an act of civil disobedience (and Jason knows how hard it is for a member of the vast right wing conspiracy like me to be comfortable with THAT term.)

Response:

NO It depends on your ethics. Every one knows beforehand that there is a cost for bicycles. Disagreement with this does not support lying. If you want to weasel out of it, then a convincing argument to the counter people might be legit.

If it is an act of civil disobedience, that can be different.  Rosa Parks knew beforehand that she was to ride at the back of the bus. I guess it is based on the kind of person you are. I don’t see where Peggy needed to elaborate at all.

Peggy didn’t say her dissent was based on ethics.  That was all I was asking – was she speaking of ethics, fear of getting caught, or what?

Response:

Tell them that it’s your blow-up doll.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – NO It depends on your ethics. Every one knows beforehand that there is a cost for bicycles. Disagreement with this does not support lying. If you want to weasel out of it, then a convincing argument to the counter people might be legit. If it is an act of civil disobedience, that can be different.  Rosa Parks knew beforehand that she was to ride at the back of the bus. I guess it is based on the kind of person you are. I don’t see where Peggy needed to elaborate at all. Peggy didn’t say her dissent was based on ethics.  That was all I was asking – was she speaking of ethics, fear of getting caught, or what?

Civil disobedience!  Rosa Parks!  Civil Rights Movement!  Bikes Fly for Free? Using "civil disobedience" in an ethics comparison to stop the airlines from charging us for traveling with our bikes seems petty next to Civil Rights (and an insulting comparison). I agree that paying $75 each way (that’s UAL’s latest charge) is insane.

Response:

Camera Equiptment, Wheelchair, tuba, harp …… ……Rob www.TTUniversity.com Online Coaching www.TransitionTimes.com Triathlon Magazine Original Message: Anyone have advice on how to get free shipping on my bike when I travel with it. I have heard of people telling the airline that the bike is actually climbing equipment, etc. Any suggestions? Thanks, Joe Braun

Response:

You can tell the airlines anything you want, but if I were you I would have that $50 ready to pay. The fact that it is a bicycle has nothing to do with the charge. It is an OVERSIZE luggage charge. Would not matter if it was golf gear or not.

Response:

You can tell the airlines anything you want, but if I were you I would have that $50 ready to pay. The fact that it is a bicycle has nothing to do with the charge. It is an OVERSIZE luggage charge. Would not matter if it was golf gear or not.

Sometimes that is true, other times it isn’t.  If you can get away with claiming it is display material they don’t typically charge you. However, Northwest will sometimes charge for oversize regardless of the item.  If you are lucky the sky cab will accept it w/o charge if you give a nice tip and don’t tell them it is a bike.  However, most sky cabs won’t take oversize luggage.  It seems to me that almost all of the airline personnel know that it is a bike anyway, unless they are new. You can lie but don’t believe you are fooling them.  It’s just that some don’t care as much about the rules as others.  One even told me she didn’t think it was fair that just b/c it was a bike I should have to pay extra, so she didn’t charge me. Delta has (or at least did) a policy that you can substitute a bike for the 2 standard pieces of luggage. However, their size requirements are such that no hard case bike boxes meet the specs.  The good thing is that most airline employees don’t seem to realize this and if it is busy they don’t have time to measure the case.  I’ve found it really is a crap shoot as to whether you can get your bike to fly free unless you have a coupon. -hug

Response:

You can tell the airlines anything you want, but if I were you I would have that $50 ready to pay. The fact that it is a bicycle has nothing to do with the charge. It is an OVERSIZE luggage charge. Would not matter if it was golf gear or not.

Numerous people here have experienced not being charged for golf gear and other things of equivalent size to the bike case.  In the scuba newsgroups, the same gfoes for dive gear that fits into a normal carryon bag when the security people spot it on the xray.  If there’s a specialty item that isn’t carried by enough people that the loss of their business to a competitor would really hurt, the airlines will attempt to slap a fee on it.

Response:

You can tell the airlines anything you want, but if I were you I would have that $50 ready to pay. The fact that it is a bicycle has nothing to do with the charge. It is an OVERSIZE luggage charge. Would not matter if it was golf gear or not. Numerous people here have experienced not being charged for golf gear and other things of equivalent size to the bike case.  In the scuba

Skis and golf clubs are the obvious exceptions.  Both are well oversized (esp skis) and do not result in luggage charges.  The reason is obvious – aside from having good member lobbying, those sports result in a lot of travel.  That makes it a bit harder to accept a fee for shipping a bike in a bulky container, and even harder to accept fees for scuba gear in regular sized luggage.   Certainly justifies lying, if you want to do it.  I think the weight limit is the one that really applies.   — Rec.scuba strokes pics page: www.jor.com/strokes Aquashot page: www.jor.com/dive/aquashot

Response:

Skis and golf clubs are the obvious exceptions.  Both are well oversized (esp skis) and do not result in luggage charges.  The reason is obvious

-aside from having good member lobbying, those sports result in a lot of travel.  

Good member lobbying is it? Maybe we should put our faith for that in USAT and get free bike transport without having to go through their onerous, restrictive USAT travel desk.

Response:

I once told the airline guy that the box contained most of the parts to a bicycle.  When he didn’t charge I got a fit of conscience and asked him if he’s like to know which parts were missing.  I told him it was the pedals.  He liked that and still didn’t charge.  I always look for him at our little airport and if he’s there, I’m not charged, but I don’t say that anymore to anyone because such a statement is either cute or dishonest and I know for sure I’m not cute. Ruth Kazez

Response:

I’d have to agree with Peggy, although her statement is brief. Lying about luggage to save a few bucks… Is it worth it?? I’ve been randomly pulled

Guess it depends on how irritated you get being jacked by airlines. Why should you be happy about arbitrary charges, esp if you put your bike in a hard case?  Certainly with dive gear, the airlines have tended to a don’t ask, don’t tell policy with the $75 charge for scuba gear.  They know as well as anyone else that 95% of the people on the flight to cozumel are carrying dive gear.  So long as your luggage doesn’t flash DIVE GEAR in bright letters, they don’t care.   — Rec.scuba strokes pics page: www.jor.com/strokes Aquashot page: www.jor.com/dive/aquashot

Response:

<< Certainly justifies lying, if you want to do it.  I think the weight limit is the one that really applies. — well, i’d like to register a fairly strong dissent to that. peggy

But you wouldn’t like to elaborate on it?

Response:

<< Certainly justifies lying, if you want to do it.  I think the weight limit is the one that really applies. — well, i’d like to register a fairly strong dissent to that. peggy But you wouldn’t like to elaborate on it?

I’d have to agree with Peggy, although her statement is brief. Lying about luggage to save a few bucks… Is it worth it?? I’ve been randomly pulled out of line at a few international airports to have my baggage X-rayed and opened whilst I stood there… Don’t think the large man with the scowl on his face would have been too happy about finding a bike if I had told him it was camera equipment.  "What else has this scrawny bloke lied about?" Airport security in the USA is oft’ times a joke. Slacked-jaw-locals barely checking things out. But I’ve been to a few airports overseas and the security has guns and dogs. Wade

Response:

<< Certainly justifies lying, if you want to do it.  I think the weight limit is the one that really applies.   — well, i’d like to register a fairly strong dissent to that. peggy

Response:

Anyone have advice on how to get free shipping on my bike when I travel with it. I have heard of people telling the airline that the bike is actually climbing equipment, etc.

I check mine outside with a $10 bill in my hand (held obviously), this has worked 6 for 6 so far.  I use an ironcase which is fairly compact and not to heavy, I’m sure this helps. Tim buaidh no bas

Response:

The last times I flew out of the following airports on United, the sky cap would not take my bike (and I had vouchers).  This probably has to do with Union rules on the amount of weight they can lift. Colorado Springs San Francisco Seattle Dallas-Fort Worth San Diego Your results might vary. Of course it does not help that the thing had BikePro slapped on it….

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone have advice on how to get free shipping on my bike when I travel with it. I have heard of people telling the airline that the bike is actually climbing equipment, etc. I check mine outside with a $10 bill in my hand (held obviously), this has worked 6 for 6 so far.  I use an ironcase which is fairly compact and not to heavy, I’m sure this helps. Tim buaidh no bas

Response:

Anyone have advice on how to get free shipping on my bike when I travel with it. I have heard of people telling the airline that the bike is actually climbing equipment, etc. Any suggestions? Thanks, Joe Braun

Response:

Anyone have advice on how to get free shipping on my bike when I travel with it.

If you become a USA cycling member, you can get two free bike vouchers on United airlines.  A membership will set you back approx $30-40 I think.  There are some other groups taht can also get you free bike travel if you use go through their travel agents (league of American bicyclists i think??)  Other then that, that big box is filled with golf clubs. BEDIN rant Last time I traveled with my bike, I saw some very disgusting bike neglect.  I was coming home from a bike tour, so there was an obscene about of bike boxes in the airport.  They called the baggage handlers to cary all bikes to the back.  There was an assortment of hard and soft cases and cardboard boxes.  Common sense tells one to put the hard cases down first, and then maybe put one cardboard box on top of that.  This guy decided to do just the opposite.  He put the cardboard box on the bottom and the (heavier) hard cases on top.  If I am going to have to pay $50 to get my bike on a plane, they better treat it with a little more respect. <<<END rant — Jed http://3athlete.com – News for the 3 sport athlete!

Response:

Filed under: Civil disobedience

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