Subject: RE: Any ideas on shipping my bike????? There is a GREAT chance that the TSA baggage screeners will open up your cardboard box to inspect it, even after it goes through the big x-ray machine in the back. They'll be nice enough to put a note in it saying that it was inspected, but you'll already know that because your carefully strapped down parts will no longer be carefully strapped down properly.
After the careful packing job has been undone by the TSA, now the airline ramp personnel get their chance with your bike. Each surface your poor bike box touches, it'll be thrown onto. It'll probably be chucked right into whichever space it'll fit into the cargo compartment, regardless of the 'UP' arrows, probably underneath a few pieces of luggage. In Cali, it'll be chucked into the loading cart after it comes down the belt out of the cargo compartment. Finally, it'll be tossed onto the carousel belt at baggage claim and shoved sideways correctly to it goes through the hole into the terminal.
Unless your frame is super small and light, and packed subcompactly, you have to pay an oversize cargo fee, approx. $80.
I'm NO EXPERT, but that was my bike. At the airline I work for.
Did you try calling UPS?
You might have to start pedaling now if you love your bike. The only way I see around avoiding the crush factor is to get a hard-sided case. Look around - my tri store rents them reasonably cheap.
Good luck |