Duragrouch

That center support is smart. I'll have to remember that. Even better if the parts for such, can serve another purpose on the tour. I think my folder seatpost and seat, over 60cm, would be too long, otherwise I could use that and fab a flat part and plug to fit in the lower end.

PedalingWalrus

To be clear…I have4 bikes with S&S couplers and 4 S&S suitcases and my goto bike travels packed in those but this case is for two touring bikes I left in Europe years ago and I want to bring them back hone

Duragrouch

For a one-time transport, I would "rinko" both bikes, pack well, as two checked bags. Basically, pull off both wheels, place one on each side of frame, pull off handlebars and pack, pull off fork and pack. Either bag each bike or wrap up each bike. Details:

https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2...ing-your-mind/

https://www.rossmancycles.com/rinko

https://www.bantambicycles.com/blogg...ko-vs-couplers

That last link says that rinko will not get you below max checked bag size for airlines, but the airline may fly bikes as oversize without extra charge (although perhaps only one per passenger), and rinkoed, they are certainly easier to carry than full-boxed bikes.

gauvins

For me, Rinko is the way. Thing is, reading this thread raises the question of conformity. Transparent plastic bags used to be widely accepted, now boxes are becoming officially mandatory for most if not all airlines.

I am not worried about damages to the bike - our bikes are old school steel tanks and cardboard provides marginal additional protection over padded bags as illustrated by anecdotes in this thread.

But I start to worry about the possibility of being denied boarding by a zealot who believes in the sanctity of the rules book. I'll read again this and other threads because I don't recall instances of actual denials. But if this were to be a thing, it would mean more time and energy for little if any gain.

[re-read this thread - no mention of denial; googled and nothing came back]

Duragrouch

I think rinko, in combination with an airline that is bike-friendly (no oversize charge), should mean it gets accepted. If not, you can politely and nicely say you packed it down small to take up less space, versus putting it in the typical bike box, which takes up a lot more room, and you did this to be considerate of others, because you would not have been charged for the large bike box. Put on your friendly face and communicate only the best of intentions.

dreamy

My worst experience was not with an airline but TSA in the US. They ripped my carefully packaged bike box open and of course didn't make any effort to repack it properly, so just shoved it all back in with half the bike sticking out and a few bits of tape and TSA stickers holding it together. When I went to complain and ask how to claim compensation if anything was damaged they laughed and gave me a piece of paper that basically said that under some terrorism act they can pretty much do whatever they like to luggage, with no recourse

Duragrouch

Low education and with the power of authority. Unsurprising, and embarrassing to my country.

Tourist in MSN

Write a letter to your congressman. They get flooded with e-mails because computers can easily generate them. Letters have to go through screening first (do not include white powder), so letters are not handled quickly either, but probability is high someone will actually read it.

simonthread

If your goal is to minimize packing duties, check if Air Baltic flies on your route. A few years ago I needed no packing at all - my bike survived it completely without a problem.

S.

Duragrouch

Their profile says they are from Oz (I assume Australia). That's why I said I was embarrassed for my country. But otherwise, good advice.

imi

From Air Baltic’s website:Are cardboard boxes becoming more available at airports nowadays?

simonthread

Not sure. The GDN and RIX airports didn't need it then.

dreamy

Yes, i am in Australia. This happened a few years ago and as my bike was undamaged and I was at the end of my trip and going home soon I didn't take it any further.

But it does raise the interesting argument that if it is not packaged well and they can clearly see that it is fragile they will handle it carefully, whereas if they just see a big solid box they will chuck it around

djb

luck of the draw I reckon, not to mention stuff can fall off conveyor belts all by themselves, no humans involved.

Duragrouch

Oh, I had perceived this as them going into the box because they didn't know what was in it, or x-rayed it, and pulled it open to see if anything was being smuggled inside the frame or tire tubes, had a dog sniff around. But in any case, things should be packed back the way they were. They'll rationalize that they don't have time for that, but to me, if you mess something up, you clean it up. I don't know if that would be better with clear wrap instead. A zippered bag with things individually padded, they might have pulled out everything, but perhaps, could just unzip, have a dog sniff around, zip back up.

If I ran the world, I'd have inspection be first right inside the doors, then have a secure area downstream with tables for people to repack, or take down or fold their bike there for packing, then directly to airline baggage check. The problem is the airline ticket counters are first, where they take checked luggage, and then that is screened somewhere in the bowels of the airport, while you then proceed to security check of you and your carryon baggage. This is stupid. Screen everything first, with the passenger there to undo any locks, repack, etc, proceed to checkin and baggage check or directly to departure gate. Not that hard to figure out, if they wanted to make things better.

Honestly, I wish it was like in the soviet union, they didn't have baggage handling systems; You brought all your luggage to the gate, and handed off directly to baggage handlers, or, on some soviet aircraft, you brought it all into the passenger compartment and it was lowered by hand into the cargo space space below; From wiki for IL-86:

imi

Possibly, but that question becomes irrelevant if the airline refuses to take your bike because it's not in a suitable box as specified in their baggage policy... One hour before check-in closes, what will you do with your bike then?

djb

this is all that matters, what a specific present or current airline policy is.

tpuglisi

Emirates offered me plastic bags when I turned up to the airport with a loaded touring bike once.

Duragrouch

My perception is that Emirates has been rapidly expanding as much as possible in the past decade, well beyond their traditional routes, and that may mean they are trying harder to accommodate passengers. Other large corporations, when in growth mode, seemed to try harder, only later when their growth leveled off and management and/or stockholders demanding higher profits, did they start cutting corners in service and benefits, like going cheaper on flight meals or eliminating them altogether, charging for checked luggage, etc.