Originally Posted by chimblysweep
probably a good idea.
all i've learned, really, is it depends whether the person checking you in is a hardass.
--Yup!
There should be no charge on international flights, or the US legs of a flight oversees. Even then the counter folks sometimes try charging anyways. We get charged interstate simply because they can.
Originally Posted by pwarre20
I'm thinking of taking mine on a plane next week, but in a cardboard bike box... should I cover up the bike logos on it?
Another option would be to turn the box "inside out". Considering that you should re-enforce a cardboard bike box anyways, this isn't as crazy as I make it sound. Duct tape is your friend.
Ideas to help re-enforce a regular cardboard bike box include using coroplast to line the inside and make structural "cross beams" out of. Coroplast should be available at an arts-n-crafts store (it's also the same stuff that political posters that folks stick in there lawns are made of).
Your box should be "strong enough" to lay flat under everyone elses luggage-chances are that's where it will end up.
Make the box relatively easy to be opened by TSA folks by labelling spots "CUT HERE TO OPEN" with arrows. Tape an extra roll of duct tape to the inside, on that side.
Don't forget to make handles, either re-enforce the original ones, or fasion using that fabric type tape.
Label with your name/address on all sides (flight#'s couldn't hurt).