Airline Legal Travel Case

[Mira!]

Whoops!  I missed this post!  Wow, the North Star!  I have aspirations for that one, but at this point I think that's way beyond me.  I'm trying to decide whether or how to do Great Parks North and / or Glacier-Waterton.

And yes, it was Alan.  I have the Nor'Wester.

Have a blast!  Tell me about it when you get back, if you're willing.  My e-mail is on my profile.
Nancy

[don quixote]

I have flights in April 07 on Northwest and on Continental with my Co-Motion Americano and I see that their baggage tariffs say an extra charge for bikes, with no exception stated for foldables that fit within the 62", 50 lb, parameters. We'll see if they really mean no exceptions. Other airlines, eg, American, specifically note that exception. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THE AIRLINES CHARGING FOR FOLDABLE BIKES THAT MEET THE WEIGHT AND DIMENSION PARAMETERS?
I can easily meet the 50 lb. limit, but my soft bag always has a few bulges that technically put it over the 62" limit, but so far no problem with the airlines on that. I have observed that the airlines often jump to impose an extra charge whenever they can, even by the baggage handlers at the curb.

George Olmstead
San Diego

[cyclesafe]

Just don't volunteer what's in the bag.  If you tell them its a bicycle you're setting yourself up.  I have never been asked what's in the bag, just whether I was carrying something that shouldn't be checked in a bag.  Also, you might want to not wear bicycle clothes when you check in...

[Mira!]

In my limited experience, it really, really seems to depend on who happens to be behind the counter.  One woman, when I asked her to mark my bag "fragile" looked at it differently and really seemed to be ticked when my case turned out to be within the regulations for size.  (That was the time it clearly was searched - did she have anything to do with that?)  But on another occasion, when I was 4# over, the gal was so very kind and was intrigued by the whole rig. When she saw that I really didn't have anywhere to juggle things, she slipped me by without charging me the $50 overweight charge.  The last time I flew was September 2006, so things may have changed.  Good luck, and I look forward to hearing how it goes.

[bikeguysocal]

The case I had for sale has been sold.

This message was edited by bikeguysocal on 2-3-07 @ 9:21 AM