airline travel with bike (Page 2)

Spoke to my cousin last night (he works with TSA). If and only if you are a witness to the personnel causing the damage to your stuff (i.e. you witnessed them drop your camera while in their hands), will they immediately take full responsibility for it. Papers are made up, etc. on the spot.
On the other hand, once that piece of equipment is out of your sight, both the airline and TSA will point fingers at each other and there is no protocol (SURPRISE!), for damage done to your stuff while it is out of your sight. In other words, you get stuck with what could turn into paper weight.

Just to add a little humor to this dicsussion... I just stopped by the UPS store.  Including insurance, UPSing my bike (in my own box) from DC to Zurich.....$692....each way. 

dang !!!! if airlines weren't an option, you might as well buy one there and leave it.