Jumpseating or passriding with a bicycle

[Fly2Scuba]

Any advice? How about any success stories on bringing a bicycle through security and checking it at the gate?

 

[propsarebest]

You cant gate check a bike, you have to check it like a regular piece of luggage. And be prepared to pay a fee.

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

You cannot gate check a bicycle. However, I have done a few out of town Triathlons and have checked it through as baggage; I listed as a non-rev and travelled in uniform. Ordinarily it is $200 for mortals but Delta didn't charge me being an employee. I have a hard bike case that protects the bike; the wheels, pedal, and handle bars have to come off.

Now as crew member; I plan to do a Tri in DC on a layover in Sept. As a crew member, I cannot check it like previously mentioned because there is no reservation. I asked the accomodating folks w/ TSA at LGA. They said just give myself additional time and they will open it up and hand check it so I can get it through as a crew member. I can then drag it through and throw it in the belly much like I would for any crew bag I chose not to keep in the cockpit.

 

[StopNTSing]

Maybe try jumpseating on one of the cargo boys?

 

[dalad]

Don't forget your guitar.

 

[PaulFooley]

How about a unicycle?

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

use your discount and fedex it!! Then jumpseat on said fedex flight!!

Genuis!!

 

[ATRCA]

use your discount and fedex it!! Then jumpseat on said fedex flight!!

Genuis!!

Thats what I was thinking. The Fedex deal we all get is so good. Just ship it and don't worry about it.

 

[DX Jake]

whatever you decide to do, make sure you use a hard case if you love your bike. I checked my old bike on airways back in 2000 from phl to san. It was one of those us air bike boxes. long story short, the rims were bent worse than a 1986 buick century. i cried like a little girl.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

FEDEX Ground

use your discount and fedex it!! Then jumpseat on said fedex flight!!

Genuis!!

FEDEX Ground is often cheaper than the discount rate for airlines.

If I were a regular airline PAX, I would consider packing my bags and Fedex Ground it to my destination. No TSA, No dragging it through the airport, etc.

 

[regionaltard]

I'd ship it if I were you. I had a great experience on FedEx that involved a trip to Europe and me showing up at planeside with a ton of gear, but that was before Arab D-bags decided to practice their religion by flying airliners into buildings.

 

[IBNAV8R]

Don't forget your guitar.

Too funny!!

 

[FLYLOW22]

What about a couch?

Can I COMAT it?

Thank in advance.

 

[C-150ETOPS]

What about bringing my 4 cats? Would the Captain be a big meany just because he's a dog person? They also just can't sleep anywhere, can I bring their 3 level kitty-condo with the built in scratching post?

 

[phr8dawg]

Go check out "Bike Friday." They fold into a hardshell Samsonite and that becomes a trailer. Very spendy. I bagged a used one on Ebay. They are the best quality folder I could find. I just can't find anywhere around the big hotels to ride it without being run over. Its a jungle out there.

 

[beam_d]

I think you will find if you ship it on FDX and use 3rd day air (it has to go Fdx Express for the 75% discount) it will be cheaper than Fdx ground.
Just an educated guess though.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

Go check out "Bike Friday." They fold into a hardshell Samsonite and that becomes a trailer. Very spendy. I bagged a used one on Ebay. They are the best quality folder I could find. I just can't find anywhere around the big hotels to ride it without being run over. Its a jungle out there.

Good call. Or a Brompton.

CE

 

[billystack]

several times...

I've jumped 8 times with my bike. I have a large bike bag from Pricepoint.com that works pretty good. I've packed it in a bike box from the bike shop as well, and have a buddy that uses a Thule box, probably the best way to go. I've Had had bent rotors twice, but other than that it was fine (its a downhill mtb).

As far as who to jump on, I'd call and make sure you're not gonna get an overweight fee on top of the bike fee. UAL will do this. F9 and SW are $50 which is the cheapest I know of (each way), and won't ding you for being overweight. I've not been charged by both of them as well. Being polite sometimes does go along way.

I looked into shipping FedEx once, and it didn't seem to be any cheaper than taking it with me, but I was going to Canada, so that may have made a difference.

Here's a link to the bag:
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/15...es/Sette-Padded-Bike-Travel-Bag-w_-Wheels.htm

Good luck...

 

[ultrarunner]

Here's my drill...your mileage may vary...

1. I use a bike-specific hard case.

2. I have a FedEx account.

3. I call FedEx, and they pick the bike up at my house.

4. If travel involves a hotel destination, I either have the bike held at the FedEx destination depot for pickup, or I send it to the hotel c/o the GM and have it addressed accordingly. If I go the latter, I call the GM or Asst. GM and set this up before hand, and ship it with their specific signature required.

4. Show up and grab the bike at the airport, or head right to the hotel depending upon my method.

I can look on my BB for each time it is scanned, etc...just to keep me up to speed.

I do the reverse for the way home.

This is how I handle taking the bike when on vacation, etc...

I'll likely hit an Ironman event this year, and one next, and for those events, I'll use Tribiketransport.com

have fun