Originally Posted by BobG

Pete,

Depending on how high I've stuffed the bag it measures 36"+ 17"+ 12"= 65" at the widest locations including protruding dropouts. Deduct the 6' dropouts and it totals 59". If I compress the bag height down to the top of the 9" high trailer frame that's 62" including dropouts, 57" without.

Maybe I've been lucky. I haven't counted trips but around 15 years worth, most recently OR to VA on Alaska/Delta. Before that on a commuter flight from Portland, ME to Syracuse, NY, and flights from Portland, OR to Boston and Boston to Missoula.

I've recently gone back to panniers to lighten the load and avoid the temptation to carry a gallon of fuel! (See "What have you picked up..." thread).

One can always pack the parts separately with the bicycle to shave a few pounds or reduce volume. I guess my point is that if you're flying with a BOB it is not an inconvenience and probably does not need to be shipped in a box. Packaged as posted above it can be carried to baggage check by it's bag handles with the ease of a suitcase. The agent will likely see at as a large duffel bag with a strange frame around it. If one gets charged extra for a few inches of dropouts so be it. You'd be paying that for sure if you boxed it up.

I haven't read the fine print on every carriers policy. I suppose a ticket agent somewhere might insist on a box but this has never happened to me.