Originally Posted by
alhedges
There also seemed to be a certain amount of stress associated with each stage of the check in process
I admit it, I was a bit stressed out at SFO
But that was because a) it was the first time I'd flown with a Brompton & tried to gate check, and b) nobody could confirm if the H-type would even fit through the security scanner. But on the remaining two check-in/security processes I wasn't worried about it, since I knew it could be done.
Originally Posted by
alhedges
I'm not sure what the logistics of your trip were, but it seems like it would have been easier to have put the bike in a hard case and checked it.
Yes and no. I had expected that when I gate checked the bike I'd have to claim it at LAX, lug the bike through the airport, and repeat the security process. So when United checked it right through from the gate I was a bit surprised, but it sure was relaxing not to deal with it in LA.
Putting the bike in a case would have given me some peace of mind regarding damage to the bike, but I don't own a case and there was no practical way for me to store a case on this trip. Suppose I could maybe have paid to leave it at Narita.. I'm not to worried about the scratches - I bought the bike as a workhorse, not a museum piece. But if/when I fly again, I'll try to come up with padding for the exposed parts that got scratched this time.