Travel Bikes and TSA

[Plum Hill]

The last time I flew with a bike was in 2006. I used a Tri All case that didn't require much disassembly (mainly remove wheels, bars, saddle, and rear dérailleur).
As the bike went through the ticket counter, I saw the agent open the case for inspection. He assured me I could go on as he knew what he was doing. Well...yes and no. He didn't repack as carefully as I packed, so stuff was rattling around when I reached my destination.

An S&S coupled bike recently caught my eye. Since it would require more strategic packing, the thought of that agent rifling through it makes me queasy.

Would anyone care to relate their experiences going through inspection?

Has anyone had an airline agent see one of these cases open and try to ding you for an extra "bike fare"?

Thanks.

[thunderworks]

I took my S&S coupled bike to Italy last Fall. On the way over the case was never opened. The ticket agent put a sticker over the lock and the sticker was still intact on arrival in Pisa. I think the case was opened on the way back, but all was fine inside and the case was closed properly.

I did have to pay an additional $100 each way however, not because it was a bike, but simply as a second piece of luggage. We flew economy on the German airline and they only allow one piece of luggage without additional fees. I thought that international flights had more generous baggage policies, but I was clearly wrong.

[saab2000]

I took my S&S coupled bike to Italy last Fall. On the way over the case was never opened. The ticket agent put a sticker over the lock and the sticker was still intact on arrival in Pisa. I think the case was opened on the way back, but all was fine inside and the case was closed properly.

I did have to pay an additional $100 each way however, not because it was a bike, but simply as a second piece of luggage. We flew economy on the German airline and they only allow one piece of luggage without additional fees. I thought that international flights had more generous baggage policies, but I was clearly wrong.

European carriers are generally more restrictive on baggage allowances.

Regarding the TSA, most of the airports seem to have a TSA baggage screening area near the check-in. I also have an S&S bike and was worried about the same thing.

After checking my bag, they tag it and tell me to bring it to the TSA guy. I explain that I would like to lock the case after they need to inspect it. They have run the case and did not need to open it and allowed me to lock it. They may wish to lock it themselves.

Just request that they whatever they need to do, to please do it in your presence, explaining that it's a bike and it's difficult to pack. Most will be understanding, especially if you get there in time. Leave yourself extra time for this process.

I have checked mine three times last year and had no issues. Each time I watched the process and they were OK with it and allowed it to be locked either before or after they ran it through the screening machine.

I work in the airlines and my wearing a uniform and carrying a crew badge might have made this easier for me, but the folks I dealt with seemed quite reasonable and willing to help me. I just explained the situation and it all worked OK.

[kramnnim]

Flew to and from France with an S&S sized case...I don't think it was ever opened. Kind of surprised.

[sandyrs]

I've taken four total flights with my S&S. Never had a fee and I would contest it pretty vehemently if I did. After all, that's not a bike in that case- it's a bunch of parts!

I'll add that my case has clearly been opened, and having the TSA net is probably the only thing that made it possible for the agent to close the case again. It's a big bike and just barely can be packed due to the size of the frame and length of the fork steerer. The net holds everything in its place while making it possible to search the case anyway.

[rccardr]

i use an EVOC soft side bag and have not had any problems with damage. TSA notice inside the bag, but nothing seems to have been disturbed.

Except my wallet, which is disturbed to the tune of $150 each way. Absurd.

[joosttx]

Never had a problem.

[Louis]

I work in the airlines and my wearing a uniform and carrying a crew badge might have made this easier for me

I was going to mention this very thing. I bet joe-shmoe off the street will not get as good cooperation from them as folks like you. Same thing if you were uniformed military. (in which case you wouldn't be traveling with a bike, but I bet they would thank you for your service ;) )

[DRZRM]

Yeah, I've flown with my bike (well, one of my bikes, I got a second coupled bike, and just can't bring myself to sell off the first one yet)...probably almost 20 times now. I've had TSA inspection notes inside, maybe three times now. I'm pretty sure it was the TSA net that S&S sells that made that possible. It is a mesh net that you strap over the bike once you pack it. It allows the whole thing to be lifted out without changing shape, and it can be placed (crammed) back in. I've never been charged more than I should have been for a piece of luggage, though a guy asked me if it was a bike last time I dropped it off. My answer was "Sports equipment, but why would it matter? It's under standard size and weight." He sent it through.

I've taken four total flights with my S&S. Never had a fee and I would contest it pretty vehemently if I did. After all, that's not a bike in that case- it's a bunch of parts!

I'll add that my case has clearly been opened, and having the TSA net is probably the only thing that made it possible for the agent to close the case again. It's a big bike and just barely can be packed due to the size of the frame and length of the fork steerer. The net holds everything in its place while making it possible to search the case anyway.

[simonov]

Same as the others, I've never been charged traveling with my S&S bike. It's been a few trips a year for the last 5 or 6 years and I've never even been asked what's in the box. I don't have a TSA net either, thought I've thought about getting one. My trick is to remove the tire entirely from the front wheel, which goes on top. When the lid is opened nothing shifts and once they see it's a bike the lid closes back up just as easily. I lay the folded tire on top of the wheel and between that and the compression members, the wheel is protected.

In general, I still find packing the bike to be a pain, but I can get it assembled pretty quickly and it's well worth it to have a bike I ride regularly with me on trips.

[Bob Ross]

The TSA Net is your friend, I can't imagine everything in an S&S case surviving inspection without that net.

I recently was given the opportunity to watch the process and (fortunately) to then assist -- verbally, from a distance -- the TSA agent in reclosing the case. They seem to get most of the info they require from the x-ray machine, because after that the agent just opened the case, wiped a swab around the interior of the case lip (while barely even acknowledging the contents) and then, once the swab came up "clean", closing the case.

[saab2000]

I was going to mention this very thing. I bet joe-shmoe off the street will not get as good cooperation from them as folks like you. Same thing if you were uniformed military. (in which case you wouldn't be traveling with a bike, but I bet they would thank you for your service ;) )

I don't know this for sure. I've also met with more or less outright hostility from some of them, who seem resentful of my position. Some of them have real power and control complexes.

But I have had good experiences with my S&S case checking. So far.

If I travelled more I'd probably buy the Ritchey soft sided case. It's slightly larger and possibly subject to a fee, but I would think packing it would be so much easier. Packing my Serotta CIII is not easy and everyone here who has an S&S bike knows this. It can be done, but it takes time and great precision to get it all in.

[93legendti]

Bike Friday owner...

8 trips to Israel. One to Florida. One to Nevada. A few times tsa has put a sticker in side. No extra charges. No problems.

[572cv]

I fly out of our local airport (Burlington) domestically and out of Montreal to Europe. S&S coupled 56 cm Serotta in the hard case. I use the travel net as well.
At BTV I watch the tsa and offer verbal coaching. Often, the agent needs technique help to 'skootch' the tire on the front wheel into the top cover to get it to close. Otherwise, they are doing better than a few years ago, and things stay together. Domestically, I have to pay for the extra bag, but not for a bike, which is often figured as a surcharge on top. Once recently, the airline counter supervisor made me open the case for him to prove it was bike parts ( they had an extra charge for bikes). He saw the wheels and parts, I didn't have to unpack, just open... and said, yup, parts. No extra charge.
At Dorval, airlines like air France or air Transat just check the case, and put it on the conveyor belt. All the airlines have differing policies for the extra bag/weight. For air Transat, for example, they have an extra space ticket, which also gives you extra weight, a good deal if traveling with a bike. It always pays to check the policy before booking. I've long since saved the cost of the coupling.

[NeauDL]

My S&S case is old, and I wrap a Thule strap around it, through the handle, to keep it from opening inadvertently. It's obviously not locked but a bit of a nuisance for a TSA inspector to open. I suspect it's only been xrayed during the last few years. The TSA net is essential. Without it, the TSA will never get the case closed correctly. I have chronically bent spokes as a result of one trip, fortunately no big deal thus far. I haven't been charged extra because it's a bicycle, but since I'm paying a baggage fee every time I travel these days (not the case when I bought the coupled bike), I often ship UPS a few days ahead so I don't have to lug it around the airport.

[VTCaraco]

Traveled to and from Europe on Lufthansa, Swiss Air and IcelandAir out of JFK and Logan on this side and De Gaulle and Schiphol (Amsterdam) on that side.
No problems at all, even when our weight has been a smidgeon over the limit.
I've thought of getting the TSA bag, but don't currently have one.

Travel is 2 bikes, my wife's is a true S&S in a hard case and mine is a Breakaway Ritchey with the soft-sided bag (that's technically bigger than they allow). Always handed up with our "normal" suitcase and, to my surprise, we're yet to get a second glance or have any sort of TSA inspection tag on the inside. We're pretty good about arriving at the prescribed time and are a family of 3 on "holiday" ~ in other words, a little on the Clark Griswold side of the spectrum.

[Satellite]

Plum Hill,

I travel at least a dozen times a year, with my S&S bike. I don't have a TSA net but I do tie the top and bottom wheels together with twine in 3 or 4 places, it's close to same results as the TSA Net. TSA can generally fit the case through the X-Ray machine, hence the Girth requirement and 26x26x10" airline approved case no upcharge. If it can fit in the X-ray TSA doesn't open the case. If they open the case and see it's a bike they always go for my seat bag, and they look for a CO2 tire inflator. So when I pack my bike I always make the seat bag accessible to them so they don't have to rifle around. I also have a big red sticker in the lid that clearly says NO CO2. I have always had good results with TSA.

Now the baggage handlers NOT so much.

I have had to make a claim against my case being beat-up twice now. Both times the Airline fixed the Case. Once was a total loss, they bought me a new Case, I repaired the original case, but it was just easier for them to pay me out. The bike and contents were fine, that's the point of the case right.

I might start traveling with Mace, NOT because I feel the need too, but you declare it like a firearm. Meaning your bag HAS TO be locked. So if TSA wants to inspect it they have to call you to unlock the case, then you are right there. The second claim on my bag was the lock, TSA said it was locked and they had to bust it, I call BS. Everything about S&S hard cases scream quality, I find it hard to believe the lock, locked it's self.

Anyways go for it, I have two Ti frames both are pretty equal except one is coupled and I can't tell the difference in the ride. In fact if I only kept one it would be the S&S due to the versatility. I can unpack and build in about 30 mins, and repack in less time maybe 20 mins. I also put a lot of clothing/shoes, water bottle and energy food in the case. Obviously my helmet travels separately, I have a Giro hard case, I snap it to my carry-on back pack.

Nothing like getting to my destination and breaking out my custom bike fitted for me and going on a new adventure together. I actually get to ride more when I am out of town, due to family commitments (we have a 4 year old damn thing takes a lot of our time J/K).

Satellite

[11.4]

I ship a pair of bikes at least a dozen times a year, plus probably twice that many belonging to other racers or team members. Sometimes I've traveled with 8-10 bikes and twice as many pairs of wheels. The bottom line is that you get a few good trips and then a bad one. The process isn't consistent and especially if you're going overseas, you have whatever people are doing the return inspection. Some airports, especially going overseas, end up doing intermediate checks as well.

As pointed out above, when TSA sees a bike they are instructed to look for CO2 cartridges and they will tear your package apart to prove they are or aren't there. If there's any elevated alert, TSA also are looking for places where explosives could be hidden, so be sure water bottles are empty, be sure they can see down the seat tube, and it usually helps if you have a recent crankset to remove the crankset so they can say they looked right through the bottom bracket. The point is that they will sometimes tear apart your bag for seemingly nonsensical reasons, but they have specific protocols to follow. So I remove saddle bags, bottles, etc. and have them all in a see-through string bag in the top of a case. The pedals and similar parts that I remove are in clear ziploc bags. All these bags are ziptied to the frame so nothing can get lost. Each bag is individually inspectable and can be handled by the inspector. Don't put foam pipe insulation over your bike -- inspectors have to see what's there. Think about making everything transparent -- there is some great 1/2" transparent flexible plastic sheeting that's soft enough to be great packing protection and lets someone see right through it. A sheet of it between each layer of your packing does great. The less someone needs to pull your frame out, the better the odds you avoid problems.

I've used the TSA net and it helps, up to the point where an inspector really decides to dig. That means to keep the packing really simple -- nothing else except the bare minimum in there -- and also don't put anything in there that might be a candidate for theft. As soon as someone wants to steal something in your bag (and that unfortunately happens more often than we'd like) it causes problems with your bike as well. I've found that if I use the plastic flexible sheeting mentioned above and pull everything together with several nylon web straps, it holds together as well and inspectors are happier.

With track bikes and other bikes that aren't S&S, I get an old Samsonite hard plastic or leather suitcase and install everything inside. The crankset and rear derailleur come off along with the saddle/post and the bars, and everything fits pretty well unless you have a huge frame. Install D-rings inside so you can strap everything to the walls of the case -- TSA can then open it, see everything, and close it again. More D-rings for bags containing pedals and other removed parts, and so on. This is also the ideal way to use a traditional Thule or other hard case. Rivet D-rings into the case so everything is clipped in and the inspector can't just dump everything onto the floor. It works much better that way.

[572cv]

One other thing I hope will help over time is the nexus card I got late last summer. This is the same protocol as the TSA pre check, or whatever it is called, where you get a background check and they scan your eyes and fingerprints and interview you and all. So far it has put us in priority lines. The Nexus variant gets you in and out of Canada more readily. I think ultimately it is supposed to make the process easier on your luggage too. It has already saved me more than enough time to justify the effort of getting it.

[Pbraun]

My wife and I have traveled dozens of times with our S+S bikes. No travel net. Sometimes there's a TSA card inside afterwards, sometimes not. Never noticed any difference in the way the bike looked afterwards. Just not an issue. The TSA guys have seen every kind of luggage container -- multiple times. They know how to handle an S+S box without a problem.

[A1CKot]

The most I've had was at a small airport in Minot that had the x-ray machine at the ticket counter. Bike went through and they asked me to open the case so they could verify something they saw on the screen. Open the case showed them what they need to see and closed it myself and off it went. I've only flown commercial with it 3 time though but all 3 have been international.

As a side. I got to look at the x-ray screen when I was leaving Japan and I asked them if I could take a picture because it looked so cool. They said no but they agreed that it was impressive.