Montague Paratrooper in an Airline-Approved Case?

[toodman]

Has anyone tried/succeeded in packing one of those full-size folders by Montague (Paratrooper, Hummer, etc.) into a case/box that can fly without additional charges? Most airlines have a 62" (LxWxH) limitation. Montague's website says it "Folds to 36” x 30” x 12” in under thirty seconds without the use of tools." but I assume that's with the wheels on.

[yangmusa]

Has anyone tried/succeeded in packing one of those full-size folders by Montague (Paratrooper, Hummer, etc.)
I haven't tried, but it strikes me that the problem will be the wheels - regardless of how small the frame may happen to fold. The Montague bikes use 26" wheels, so the suitcase would need to be minimum 26"*26" inside dimension. Let's say it's an extra inch each side outside dimension, so already 56 linear inches. Then you would have another 6 linear inches to go on, so say 4" internal space.

So if you could find a suitcase that had internal dimensions 26" * 26" * 4", and if the bike can fit in that, then it might be airline legal. But somehow I doubt both those assumptions..

Magnus

[bookishboy]

The 26" folders don't seem too public-transport-friendly, even though they do fold. I've seen articles online about how some folks will build travel-cases out of cheap materials (particleboard, double-wall cardboard, packing tape, whatever works) and then consider the case a throwaway when they're done with their trip. This may be the best bet in your case.

[DaFriMon]

Just FWIW, and I know it's not exactly what you asked, the Dahon Airporter suitcase, (http://www.dahon.com/us/accessories/luggage/airporter.htm) would probably hold a Montague with the wheels off, although I won't guarantee it; Dahon says their own 26" bikes will fit with the wheels removed and next to the frame. It is definitely oversized, but Dahon's reasoning seems to be that you'll probably get away with it. I tried it a few times with 20 inch bikes, before going back to the Samsonite Oyster case. I was charged an oversized fee once, given one warning along the lines of "if I measured this I know I'd end up charging you extra", and they checked the weight every single time. I could still see using it for long distance train travel, if they don't have size limits too. ;)