My solution: Pack only bike and seatpost in case
Message-ID:
From: "Bill Hoffman"
Subject: Re: yak Digest #602
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2003 16:43:36 -0500
I'll throw in my two (or three) cents' worth of experience flying with my
Friday in the Carlton suitcase. I've made 3 round trips since the stricter
baggage rules were imposed by TSA. On my flights out of Harrisburg, I am
able to stand by while my baggage is screened. The suitcase has never been
opened, and I've heard the screeners remark that there's a bicycle inside.
This confirms what a TSA guard at that airport told me: as long as they
don't suspect there are explosives inside, they won't open your luggage. I
too now only pack the bike and the seat/seatpost in the case, so that if it
is opened, there are only two "pieces" inside. Following advice I got on
this list, I now tie all the parts of the bike together so if it's lifted
out, it comes out as one piece.
Last month I flew out of Denver, where the bags are screened out of sight
of the passengers. I asked the Northwest Airlines counter agent if I could
observe the screening and she said no, it's done in a secured area.
Once leaving Harrisburg, my soft bag, which contains all the parts that I
no longer put in the suitcase, plus my panniers in which I pack my clothes,
was opened because there was a hodge-podge of sizes and shapes in there.
They left their "calling card", the tag saying the bag had been opened, and
then they put on the seal that shows if the bag was subsequently re-opened.
I carry a can of Halt that could be suspected of being an explosive, and
the x-ray may have seen it packed inside my rear rack bag.
So my advice is, as others have opined, to put only the bike and maybe one
or two other pieces in the suitcase--pieces that don't cast any doubt as to
what they are. Put everything else in a bag or case that you don't mind
having opened. And to stay within the weight limits, stuff as much as you
can into your carry-on piece.
Bill Hoffman
Lancaster, PA
Re: My solution: Pack only bike and seatpost in case
To Bill Hoffman:
Thanks for the very helpful info.!! Ive only suitcased my 1995 New World Tourist bike once (to England in '97 -- all OK)and have been concerned about potential bike damage or packed components loss due to the post 9/11 airport security screening/opening/closure procedures. (I have worried about the TSA staff potentially damaging the bike thru rummaging or pulling the bike out of the Carlton case and not putting the bike back in the case properly,since there is not a lot of leeway space). I am going from Seattle to Wash.DC Natl airport in Oct.'04 with it. Your suggestion about tying the bike "pieces" together sounds great -- in fact I am surprised that is not in my BF packing video-- but it sure should be post 9/ll! Your other observations and tips are great, too. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and suggestions, Bill!
Happy cycling!
Dennis Neuzil
dennisneuzil@foxinternet.com
Re: My solution: Pack only bike and seatpost in case
To Bill Hoffman:
Thanks for the very helpful info.!! Ive only suitcased my 1995 New World Tourist bike once (to England in '97 -- all OK)and have been concerned about potential bike damage or packed components loss due to the post 9/11 airport security screening/opening/closure procedures. (I have worried about the TSA staff potentially damaging the bike thru rummaging or pulling the bike out of the Carlton case and not putting the bike back in the case properly,since there is not a lot of leeway space). I am going from Seattle to Wash.DC Natl airport in Oct.'04 with it. Your suggestion about tying the bike "pieces" together sounds great -- in fact I am surprised that is not in my BF packing video-- but it sure should be post 9/ll! Your other observations and tips are great, too. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and suggestions, Bill!
Happy cycling!
Dennis Neuzil
dennisneuzil@foxinternet.com
Re: My solution: Pack only bike and seatpost in case
I just returned from taking my Pocket Gnu to Ireland in September 2005. It was tricky to keep the weight in the suitcase down to 50 pounds flying in the U.S. and I had to put the seat post, saddle, kickstand,trailer axles and some small items such as spare tubes in my duffel bag. On the way back, the suitcase weighed about 55 pounds. The clerk at Shannon told me that since it was under their 70 pound weight limit, she would ticket it through to my final destination--and it would not be reweighed once it got to Philadelphia. And, she was right.
The TSA opened the bike twice in Philadelphia---on the way over and on the way back. I had a small bungi cord net from Harbor Freight so that the bike was securely trussed up. It helped, but they still broke the click shifter cover--and removed the broken parts so I wouldn't notice, I guess. The bungi cord came in handy while touring because I could put it outside the suitcase trailer and tuck some items it in (I had taken an extra tire) without opening the trailer.