Shipping Boxes as Luggage
 

After I enjoyed riding my Dahon Piccolo in St. Louis, I wasn't able to check it as luggage. My brother is going to ship it back to me from his office, and bill me. The only box I had was 5 linear inches too long, to check as conventional luggage. The requirements are 61 linear inches (L+W+H), but the box was 66 linear inches. Although it tight, it looked like I could get by with a smaller box, and probably get it under this requirement. The box seemed a little wider than it needed to be.

Does anybody have any experience with this? It would be nice to check it as luggage on any future trips.

I own a Piccolo, too. I use a large soft duffel bag to both store and transport it. If I were to ship or use it in a baggage section of a commercial plane or train, I would spend some money on the best-and hardest-type of suitcase that I could find and fits within (or closest to) the roughly 62 linear inches that these companies require it to be. I might have to take the seatpost, fenders, rack, or even the pedals off to fit it within the compartment, but I am willing to do so. The wheels are another thing entirely. I like to keep as much of the bike together as possible. Boxes are not acceptable to me except as an emergency (unexpected purchase of bike at the visiting location) or one time use.

You're probably right about the suitcase. Dahon sells one. If I remember correctly, it costs about $200, which I thought was too much. Has anybody used these? Does it fit within the 62 inches (I think United Airlines is 61 linear inches)?