Originally Posted by
tomtomtom123
...
KLM won't charge extra fees if the luggage is under the weight and size limit.
Air France will still charge a bicycle fee, even if the luggage appears standard. ...
I have never been asked what is in the S&S case, but if asked I would say bicycle parts but not a complete bike. (I pack the saddle and sometimes a few other parts in a different bag.) But based on your comment, if I was flying Air France I would be more inclined to say I had sports equipment.
I usually have a bike helmet with me that I carry separately onto the plane, when it is strapped onto the outside of my carry on it is pretty obvious that I am probably biking. I have never tried to hide the fact that I am flying with a bike.
Twice I flew to Europe from USA with a bike helmet, bike pedals and saddle, but no bike. Those trips were for van supported bike trips where the tour company provided the bikes. In those cases I was never asked if I had a bike either.
I have never heard of an airline inspecting the inside of anybodies luggage, the govt security people do the inspections and they do not care what fees you were charged.