Experience with soft bike travel cases on airplanes

[Alan]

Does anyone have experience with soft cases like the Sci Con Model 52 (see at
http://www.cbike.com/scicon.htm ) or the St Johns Cycles Thorn padded bike bag described below? I am
headed on a plane trip soon and I'd like something fairly light to drag around the airport but I
don't think I want to use one of the cardboard cases or the heavy hard-sided cases.

Thanks!

Alan

Thorn Padded Bike Bag 25% cheaper than other equivalent brands. It has a fully waterproof outer
skin with an anti-corrosive zip. 6mm high density foam padding, supplied with two quality foam
padded inner wheel bags. Durable carrying handle and shoulder strap. Bag dimensions 135cm x 105cm x
17cm, logo measures 360mm wide x 350mm high. Weight 3.5kg Made in UK. Bike not included.Our best
selling bike bag

 

[Hardwarelust]

"Alan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Does anyone have experience with soft cases like the Sci Con Model 52 (see at
> http://www.cbike.com/scicon.htm ) or the St Johns Cycles Thorn padded bike bag described below? I
> am headed on a plane trip soon and I'd like something fairly light to drag around the airport but
> I don't think I want to use one of the cardboard cases or the heavy hard-sided cases.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Alan
>
Hi Alan:

I've traveled with my road bike to many countries using a bag similar to this:
http://www.bikebags.com/travelbag.html (not this particular brand, though. I believe I got it
originally from either Nashbar or Performance, IIRC) No metal frame, just cordura and foam. Been on
and off both military and civilian airlines, trains, buses, taxis, subway's, you name it. Never had
a problem.

The only bad thing is the cost if you're only going to use it for one trip?

 

[Werehatrack]

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:28:29 GMT, "Alan" <[email protected]> may
have said:

>Does anyone have experience with soft cases like the Sci Con Model 52 (see at
>http://www.cbike.com/scicon.htm ) or the St Johns Cycles Thorn padded bike bag described below? I
>am headed on a plane trip soon and I'd like something fairly light to drag around the airport but I
>don't think I want to use one of the cardboard cases or the heavy hard-sided cases.

Possibly relevant:

http://tinyurl.com/27g5a

(that's http://www.gfonline.org/BikeAccess/Articles_db.cfm?Search=box%2Cbag%2Ccase&Article=Hard%20v-
s%20Soft%20Cases)

If you have somewhere to stash a hard-sided case at your destination, it would be safer to use one
of those, in my opinon. Baggage is not always handled gently, and often has many other things
stacked on top of it. Air carriers will routinely deny responsibility for damage to checked items in
soft-sided cases. Having seen several friends' guitar necks broken by airline baggage handling over
the past 30 years, two of which were in hard cases, I think I'd treat a soft bag as being more
appropriate for bus or train travel. Bikes are tougher than guitars, but baggage handlers are not at
all gentle.

Also, as is pointed out in several online articles, most any bike case will officially be
considered "oversize" by some airlines...but many do not check the dimensions of items that look
like regular luggage. This may be a consideration to keep in mind, though it's no guarantee of
dodging an oversize-bag fee.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something,
it's also possible that I'm busy.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[Jeffbonny]

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:58:12 GMT, "HardwareLust" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I've traveled with my road bike to many countries using a bag similar to this:
>http://www.bikebags.com/travelbag.html (not this particular brand, though. I believe I got it
>originally from either Nashbar or Performance, IIRC) No metal frame, just cordura and foam. Been on
>and off both military and civilian airlines, trains, buses, taxis, subway's, you name it. Never had
>a problem.
>

How have airlines been about letting it go as regular luggage? I've got a Neil Pryde soft bag and I
gotta fly at the end of the month.

jeffb

 

[Tbgibb]

In article <[email protected]>, "Alan"
<[email protected]> writes:

>Does anyone have experience with soft cases like the Sci Con Model 52 (see at
>http://www.cbike.com/scicon.htm ) or the St Johns Cycles Thorn padded bike bag described below? I
>am headed on a plane trip soon and I'd like something fairly light to drag around the airport but I
>don't think I want to use one of the cardboard cases or the heavy hard-sided cases.
>

If it's only one trip consider taking the pedals off, turning the handlebars and wrapping it in
plastic. It is commonly opinioned that bagage handlers will respect it more if it is an obvious
bicycle. I've done it that way with no trouble.

Some airlines will require a box or hard case, and from my reading most are going to tack on an
extra $50 to $100 charge for the oversized item. Some of this varies from ticket agent to
ticket agent.

Going to fly the bike often? Consider S&S couplings. The bike will go into an airline legal
suitcase with no extra charges. It will take several trips to pay for the couplings, instalation
and case though.

Tom Gibb <[email protected]

 

[Carl Fogel]

"Alan" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Does anyone have experience with soft cases like the Sci Con Model 52 (see at
> http://www.cbike.com/scicon.htm ) or the St Johns Cycles Thorn padded bike bag described below? I
> am headed on a plane trip soon and I'd like something fairly light to drag around the airport but
> I don't think I want to use one of the cardboard cases or the heavy hard-sided cases.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Alan
>
> Thorn Padded Bike Bag 25% cheaper than other equivalent brands. It has a fully waterproof outer
> skin with an anti-corrosive zip. 6mm high density foam padding, supplied with two quality foam
> padded inner wheel bags. Durable carrying handle and shoulder strap. Bag dimensions 135cm x 105cm
> x 17cm, logo measures 360mm wide x 350mm high. Weight 3.5kg Made in UK. Bike not included.Our best
> selling bike bag

Dear Alan,

You may already use them, but the pre-slit foam insulation for hot-water pipes found in hardware
stores is easily cut to length, slips onto frame tubes, and provides wonderful additional padding.

Carl Fogel

 

[Terry Morse]

jeffbonny wrote:

> How have airlines been about letting it go as regular luggage? I've got a Neil Pryde soft bag and
> I gotta fly at the end of the month.

This is for USA-originated flights:

Generally, international flights count a packed bike as one piece of luggage, allowing up to two
pieces of checked luggage without an extra charge. On domestic flights, a bike is considered
oversized and extra charges apply.

If you have an S&S-coupled frame, and you can fit the bike in a case that isn't oversized, they
won't charge you the oversize fee. Oversized luggage that doesn't get charged: skis and golf clubs.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://www.terrymorse.com/bike/

 

[Werehatrack]

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 11:34:36 -0800, Terry Morse <[email protected]>
may have said:

>Oversized luggage that doesn't get charged: skis and golf clubs.

Ah, yes. The MHIP factor.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something,
it's also possible that I'm busy.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[Rick Onanian]

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 20:48:08 GMT, Werehatrack
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 11:34:36 -0800, Terry Morse <[email protected]> may have said:
>>Oversized luggage that doesn't get charged: skis and golf clubs.
>
>Ah, yes. The MHIP factor.

Acronymfinder says MHIP is "Missile Homing Improvement Program".
--
Rick Onanian