Originally Posted by
LuckySailor
I realize I am a little behind on this one, but I thought that I would weigh in anyhow. The newest problem that has been created for us that have S&S couplers or those with break aways, is I get asked several times, "are you carrying sports equipment?" The carrier is only liable for $500 (some slightly more or less) for each piece of luggage or package that you carry. If you answer yes, they will want you to pay for extra insurance $10/$100 of insurance. I don't see a way around this one. That is an insane amount of money! If you don't claim it as sports equipment and they loose it or damage it, you're screwed. I'll buy a used bike for my annual trip to Florida and leave it at my parents house.
Several credit card companies will also cover lost luggage, and probably damaged luggage. It is worth looking into.
I'm not a real frequent traveller, but I've lost luggage twice. I think both on international flights. On both occasions, it showed up a few days later. At least one time, the elastic band hang-tag fell off, so the new sticky tape tags should be significantly more secure.