Air Travel with a Brompton
 

I'm loving my new Brompton and want to start doing three or four day trips to explore cities (US for now) on the bike. I've researched packing the bike as check on luggage and I don't want to use the original box or the Dimpa bag with cardboard. I want to find a hard shell piece of luggage that will fit the Brompton, with or without the saddle. I've seen the Samsonite Epsilon 29" and the Samsonite Stryde Glider Long Journey on YouTube, but both have been discontinued and neither seems to be available used. I know that the B & W Case works, but it's a bit over airline size requirements and it's pretty heavy so anything packed besides the bike (a few tools, tubes, etc., can put it close to or over airline weight limits. It's also a little pricey.

Is there any other hard side luggage that you've found that fits the Brompton. I'll do the B&W as a last resort, but would prefer to have options.

Thank you.

Oh, the bitter irony. The Brompton folds a bit larger than the Dahon Curl, but you should be able to use the Dahon Curl Foldable Suitcase.


Sorry, can't give a source link for fear of being banned for life.

BTW, #urbantouring :thumb::thumb::thumb:

Oh, BTW - the cats at Brompton Mafia

https://bromptonmafia.com

fly by taking their Bromptons into the passenger compartment of aircraft as carry-on luggage. A folded Brompton doesn't begin to meet the size requirements of carry-on (Brompton advertised: 23x22.2x10.6; American Airlines: 18x14x8; British Airways: 16x12x6; SWA: 24x16x10), but apparently a select few airlines (or maybe just Southwest?) will wink at those requirements and allow it.

I have only flown Southwest a few times, but when I did I was surprised how few people were taking carry on luggage. The airline free checked luggage policy opens up the carryon space somewhat.

But with free checked bags, the last time I flew Southwest, my folding bike flew as a checked bag in my S&S Backpack case for free.

It does fit in the contraption. Just about. I use a Civita case and check it. It may be a tad oversize too but it is never been questioned.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8d64be56c3.jpg

Uh, Vincita?

Maybe I'm overlooking it, but I can't find the Vincita B132B Brompton soft padded flight bag on vincita.cc

???

Some aftermarket shops show it available; some say 'out of stock'.

The more expensive Sightseer 3.0 soft padded flight bag does seem to be available.

The Sightseer 3.0 with the travel set. It says sold out on the sight.

Moderators, you can close this thread.

I decided to go with the B & W Foldon Case. It appears to give the best protection and I'll just deal with the weight and size.

As for those that put their bike in the overhead storage; although it's rare, I've seen overhead storage doors pop open and I'm not going to put 27 lbs. of steel with pointy edges over my, or someone else's, head.

Thank you to those that replied.

I'd just like to add for others who are curiuos - I use an SKB hardcase. Here is a picture at New Yorks LGA. I have an M2L (began life as an M6L). The entire setup weighed in exactly 50 lbs. This was Delta Airlines and their lower limit is 53 lbs. In addition, bikes have an upper linear length limit of 115 inches (the case came in at 63 inches). You just emphasize that this is a bike case - not a suitcase.

If you make a serious mistake and call it a suitcase,
you will get charged $200. As a bike case, it's only $30 if this is your only checked item.

Case is incredibly sturdy.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0fb4d0cbca.jpg
Next to LGA Delta excess luggage office.

The SKB case does not seem to have any wheels, which makes it cumbersome to handle particularly at this day and age. I think that 2 wheels in the B&W are already a serious flaw. However the Foldon seems to have 4. The whole premise of hard over soft is misguided in my opinion as life operates on compromises. In real life my Brompton suffered more damage in the hard B&W case than in the soft Vincita. Sightseer and B132 are one and the same, just Sightseer comes with a garment bag. The model evolves over time and its model number can evolve too.

...as does the Dahon Curl flight case (see the video in post no. 2). As a bonus, the four wheels on the Dahon Curl flight case are detachable (see the video in post no. 2).

The Vincita wheels are detachable too. Incidentally, a case without wheels may be equipped with detachable ones in many cases. However, such DIY can be costly, rising overall cost by up to 50%, especially if you do not get your parts right the first time.

The SKB has two well protected wheels, and a handle that retracts along the side.

Here's why I went with a hardcase,



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f3eda77d8.jpg

All parts are also available (if in stock of course) for replacement.