Flying with a bike: airline rules for triathletes
What 21 airlines charge and allow for a bike, with the official page we got each rule from, plus 7 we haven't confirmed yet. Checked Oct 21, 2026 · verify before you travel.
The short version
- The airline flying each leg sets the rules. If your trip has more than one airline, the bike must meet the rules of every airline on every leg. Codeshare and partner flights can differ from the airline you booked with.
- Avoid self-transfer tickets. On separate tickets, nobody checks your bike through. You collect it, re-check it and pay again, and a delay on the first flight can strand it.
- Book the bike when you book the flight. Many airlines want sports equipment registered in advance and carry it only when space allows. Adding it later can cost more or be refused.
- Deflate your tires. Let air out of the tires (partly or fully, as the airline asks), turn the handlebars, take the pedals off and pad the frame.
- Buy CO2 cartridges at the expo. Rules vary and many airlines do not allow CO2 cartridges in checked luggage. Buy them at the race expo or a local bike shop instead of packing them, and check your airline's rule.
Airline bike policies
Showing 28 airlines
| Airline | Fee | Counts as | Size and weight | Pre-book | Embargoes and aircraft | Packing, tires, CO2 | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedNorth America | Not yet confirmed on the airline's official page. Check with the airline. Official page (not yet checked by us) for United, opens in a new tab | ||||||
| American official policy page (opens in a new tab)North AmericaRelated page 2 (opens in a new tab) | Normal bag fee up to 23 kg; overweight fee 23–32 kg; no oversize fee | normal bag | Size: 292 cm. Weight: 32 kg. Depends on aircraft size | Not verified |
|
Turn handlebars, remove pedals | |
| Delta official policy page (opens in a new tab)North AmericaRelated page 2 (opens in a new tab) | Normal bag fee $45 / $55 domestic (from Apr 8, 2026) | normal bag | Size: 115 in. Weight: 100 lb. Over 50 lb = excess fee; 100 lb or more refused | Not verified |
|
Soft case requires a liability waiver | |
| Southwest official policy page (opens in a new tab)North America | $45 / $55 (booked from Apr 9, 2026); oversize 63–115 in waived; +$100 for 51–70 lb, +$200 for 71–100 lb | normal bag | Size: 115 in. Weight: 100 lb | Not verified |
|
Remove pedals and handlebars | |
| Alaska / HawaiianNorth America | Not yet confirmed on the airline's official page. Check with the airline. Official page (not yet checked by us) for Alaska / Hawaiian, opens in a new tab | ||||||
| JetBlue official policy page (opens in a new tab)North America | Unclear — check JetBlue | special item (hard case) | Over 80 in or 100 lb refused; $150 oversize for 63–80 in | Not verified |
|
Remove pedals and handlebars | Verify before you rely on this |
| Air Canada official policy page (opens in a new tab)North America | CA/US$50–60 each direction (includes Rouge and Jazz); waived for Business, Premium Economy, Latitude and Aeroplan Elite (charged each way) | counts as 1 bag, plus the fee | Size: 292 cm. Weight: 32 kg | Register when booking; space-available | Not verified | Partly deflate tires | |
| WestJet official policy page (opens in a new tab)North America | CA$50–59 handling fee each direction, plus oversize/overweight (charged each way) | counts as a bag, plus the fee | Size: 292 cm (website). Weight: 45 kg (website). Tariff: over 203 cm refused. Website and tariff differ | Not verified |
|
Partly deflate tires | Verify before you rely on this |
| Lufthansa official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | Free inside allowance (not Economy Light); otherwise €70 domestic, €80 Europe, up to €250 long-haul | allowance or fee | Size: 280 cm. Weight: 32 kg | 72 h before, must be confirmed |
|
Not verified | |
| SWISS official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | Free inside allowance; otherwise CHF 80 domestic, 90 Europe, up to 285 long-haul, per leg. Free bike boxes at Zurich and Geneva (charged each way) | allowance or fee | Weight: 32 kg. Case required | As early as possible | Not verified | Not verified | |
| Austrian official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | €70 / €80 / up to €250, plus €10–20 service fee | allowance or fee | Size: 280 cm. Weight: 32 kg | Carried only once confirmed | Not verified | Not verified | |
| British Airways official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | Counts as a bag | normal bag | Size: 190×95×65 cm | Tell BA more than 72 h ahead |
|
Not verified | |
| KLM official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | Depends on route | special item | Not published | 48 h | Not verified | Deflate tires; no e-bike batteries | |
| Air FranceEurope | Not yet confirmed on the airline's official page. Check with the airline. Official page (not yet checked by us) for Air France, opens in a new tab | ||||||
| Iberia official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | Fee by distance band (about €30–130 online); Vueling-operated €45 | special item | Weight: 23 kg (overweight to 32 kg) | Booking code SR SPEQ | Not verified | Deflate tires, pedals off | |
| TAP official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | About €45 / US$57 | allowance or extra bag | Size: 158 cm stated. Weight: 32 kg | 24 h | Not verified | Handlebars turned 90°, pedals off | |
| SAS official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | Inside allowance (Economy Light pays) | normal bag | Weight: 23 kg | 24 h |
|
Not verified | |
| Ryanair official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | €/£60 online, €/£75 later or at airport, per flight (charged each way) | special item | Weight: 30 kg. Box or bag required | When booking |
|
Not verified | |
| easyJet official policy page (opens in a new tab)Europe | £50 online / £55 at airport, per flight (charged each way) | special item | Weight: 32 kg. Weight can't be pooled with other bags | Add in booking |
|
Pedals off, handlebars flush | |
| Aer LingusEurope | Not yet confirmed on the airline's official page. Check with the airline. Official page (not yet checked by us) for Aer Lingus, opens in a new tab | ||||||
| TurkishEurope | Not yet confirmed on the airline's official page. Check with the airline. Official page (not yet checked by us) for Turkish, opens in a new tab | ||||||
| Qantas official policy page (opens in a new tab)Oceania | Inside allowance | normal bag | Size: Box 140×30×80 cm. Weight: 32 kg | Manage booking | Not verified | Deflate tires; CO2 needs dangerous-goods approval | |
| Virgin Australia official policy page (opens in a new tab)Oceania | Inside allowance; overweight fee above 23 kg | normal bag | Weight: 32 kg. Manufactured box | Check in at least 1 h before departure |
|
Deflate tires | |
| Air New Zealand official policy page (opens in a new tab)Oceania | Inside allowance; boxes sold for NZ$35 | normal bag | Size: Box 144×31×80 cm | Not verified | Not verified | No need to deflate; CO2 cartridges under 50 ml OK | |
| Emirates official policy page (opens in a new tab)Middle East | Inside allowance | normal bag | Over 203 cm refused (300 cm on Americas and Africa routes) | 24 h | Not verified | Not verified | |
| Qatar official policy page (opens in a new tab)Middle East | Inside allowance | normal bag | Per allowance | Not verified |
|
Deflate tires | |
| CopaLatin America | Not yet confirmed on the airline's official page. Check with the airline. Official page (not yet checked by us) for Copa, opens in a new tab | ||||||
| LATAMLatin America | Not yet confirmed on the airline's official page. Check with the airline. Official page (not yet checked by us) for LATAM, opens in a new tab | ||||||
Fees are shown as the airline or source states them, in the currency given, and change often. "Not verified" means we did not find the rule on the page we checked. An airline's name links to the page we read. Airlines marked "not yet confirmed" are listed without fees or limits until we have read their official page.
Report what you were charged
Paid something different from what's listed? Email the airline, route, date and fee, and we'll check the airline's page and update the row. Email a bike fee report
Checked Oct 21, 2026 · verify before you travel. TriRaceWeek is not affiliated with any airline. Airlines change rules and fees without notice; the airline's own page and your booking confirmation are what count. How we check.
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