Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,727
Likes: 2,105
From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
If you do proceed with panniers for checked baggage, the lower hooks could hang up on things in the luggage handling process. You should remove them first. Upper hooks, it would depend on the bag design if they could hang up or not. You don't want anything that can catch on their automated luggage handling equipment. Upper hooks are designed to be strong enough to carry the weight, but the lower hooks are often pretty fragile.