Originally Posted by
Doug64
I'm wondering if the bags' "fragile" appearance is incentive for the baggage handlers to treat a little more gently

Once I was on BA flight to Nice. That was the time my bike was beat upon by who knows who. A bunch of Italians noticed my beat upon bike. They asked did I fly in from Heathrow. ? I bought four panniers by Bike Packer made of polyster fabric. Two of those will suffice as my luggage on my flight to Australia along with a backpack.