When taking a Brompton to a conference, that time in a case, I put nearly as much effort to conceal the bike from other conference participants as from the airline. I was pretty sure to encounter some random participants in the check-in line and potentially run into situations such as above. Those few who knew for one reason or another were asked to keep their mouth shut.

Gosh, all this makes me wonder why there is so much lack of uniformity (i.e., inconsistency) in the system of commecial carrier travel. Every trip to the airlines or bus service would be/is stressful when you don't know what to expect. You don't want to get stranded, pay high fees, or have your bike damaged because it gets placed in a spot for transport that you weren't prepared for.

On our local transit I am asking the question - "do you allow folding bikes on and if you do what are the restrictions?" Many on this forum say just don't ask (cover it or just bluff your way on etc.), but I think the only way to have it consistent from driver to driver and route to route - so that you can count on getting home or getting to your destination - is to ask the question so that the answer can be disseminated throughout the system. In addition, I have offered to demostrate boarding and stowage options to the "powers to be" and have linked them to some good resources and successful examples of other transit agencies that allow folders.

Ok, similar situation as everyone above.

I am actually moving from Southern California to Seattle. Since this is a work relocation, they are paying for the move. They are providing temporary housing for 2 months while I look for permanent housing. They are going to move all of my stuff over there but it will be in storage until I find a permanent house so I won't have access to the majority of my stuff.

So all of my bikes will be in storage except for my Brompton. I plan to bring that with me on the plane when I relocate so that I can have a bike up there.

I have the Brompton B bag so I am thinking of packing up my bike with bubble wrap and filling up the bag with clothes and other stuff so that the bike is relatively secured. But as all of us have seen, those baggage handlers like to grab bags and toss them from one location to another. I don't know if the bike will be good when those guys tossing it from belt to cart, to belt with other big bags on top, etc.

But it looks like the success rate in recent years on gate checking has been iffy at best. I am flying Alaska Air if that matters.

Anyone have any more info on bringing a Brompton onto an airplane for travel?

fyi, I usually travel with my xootr scooter on planes. It works well and there's never a problem.

Brompton's marketing of the B Bag make it sound like it's designed for flying with your bike.. If you add bubble wrap & clothes you're probably pretty safe, if you choose to check it in.

Based on my experiences flying to and from Japan (above), I think that I'll still gate check the bike next time. But I will try to get some clear plastic hose from the hardware store that is big enough to cover 1) the main frame tube, 2) the right fork blade, and 3) the handlebar riser. Those were the only places that got scratched last time. Using tough, clear plastic hose will not add any significant weight or bulk, and allow baggage handlers to see it's a bike - hence (in theory) they may still treat it a bit more carefully.

That's a good idea. Bike Friday includes some clear vinyl tubing to protect part of the bike's headtube when you ship it in the suitcase. A quick check of Lowes' website shows that they sell 1"x2" clear vinyl tubing; 1x1 vinyl tubing...and a lot of smaller sizes as well.

Haven't written in a while because I've been flying around with the Brompton in tow! What a joy to have a great bike with me to jump on an go. But I've a bit of experience now with traveling with the Brompton. I have to admit, as I'm packing it up and hauling it around ( I used to just travel with carry ons ), I sometimes wonder if it's worth it. But as soon as I jump on the bike - great stuff!

I used the B&W black hard case and it's already been bent fairly badly. I have the extended seat tube and on one trip, I left in the downtube but had it stick out the bottom a bit so that it fit. A mistake - at some point, they handled the luggage so roughly that the seat post rammed up against the interior of the case and bent some of the frame. It could be a case of where if they *know* it's a bicycle in a soft case, they'll treat it better. Still I think I rather just go with my hard case as a precaution.

One wonders how they manage to handle luggage so badly that very tough stuff is damaged. Like they drive over it or something. I have taken my Brommie wrapped in a tough canvas bag, strapped together and so. They bent the steering somehow that when I unpacked it, the bars were sitting at an angle. I thought it was simply the quill that had rotated but it wasn't. It seems that despite the bars being tucked against the folded package, *somehow* they managed to torque bend the steering riser.

I agree... you really have to wonder how badly luggage gets handled. After the second trip, I was packing up my Brompton for my third airplane trip, flipped the B&W case over, and noticed that about 3 linear inches of the edge along the bottom - which is bound with a metal strip - protruded about 3/4". Even though the seat tube was packed in, extra padding, and not much room for the bike to shift, they handled the box hard enough that the bottom of seat tube impacted and bent out the casing. Amazing really.

Torque builds up quick when there's a lever and 300 kgs of other suitcases on top. Even drop testing from 1m isn't equivalent to being at the bottom of the pile. Have also had a handlebar half set off straight by 10cm or so while traveling on a Dahon in a hardcase.

I think the airlines need to be a bit more transparent with conditions suitcases see, and adhere to those. The fine print on where responsibilities exist is frightening. There's probably a disclaimer somewhere now too if you didn't declare what you were transporting as a bicycle, and have paid the extra surcharge.

True... never thought about the other bags around. The disclaimers are appalling. You're probably right: it occurred to me that if I do not disclose it's a bike, I may be on the hook for anything that happens. At the same time, I strongly suspect that even declaring it as a bike and paying the extra surcharge necessarily means that you'd get fully compensated either... such is life these days.

I just flew from Houston to Denver and back on United. I had a full size bicycle in a soft case. I was not charged as it is much smaller and lighter than a hard case. I told them athletic equipment when they asked what was in the case. My bicycle came through just fine in the soft case. I am however considering a Brompton due to the convenience of not have to dis-assemble and re-assemble the bicycle. Plus the Brompton will be much easier to put into a rental car.

I forgot to ask if you deflate the tires when flying. I have been, but wonder if it is really necessary.

Not neccessary according to some airlines, so any airline that requires you to deflate is talking crap. I've not bothered doing it for years. Inflated tyres protect the rims better.

I deflate mine a bit. Better safe than sorry. I travel with a hard case too, so the bike is fairly well protected.

Although your question about the H-type was posed over 2 years ago, I just saw it and I'm interested in your experience with the H's larger folded size. Did it fit through the x-ray machine?

its just the part below the Hinge on the steering mast thats an inch more,.. so, bar folds down with same clearance to the ground.

try it for yourself.

Yes, the H-type does fit through the x-ray machine even though it's a little larger than the M-type. I wrote a more detailed post if you look back through this thread.

Hello atman,
I realize I'm late to the party......I recently read your posts regarding your Brommie airline experiences and have some additional questions I didn't see mentioned. Sorry if I may have missed previous discussions. Greatly appreciate you sharing the experiences you have had!


1. When you gate check, do you normally get charged a fee, say with Southwest? I assume this may vary from airline to airline.


2. How do you specifically secure your bike? Toe strap or Surly junk straps around where the handlebars clamp to the top tube?

Thanks,
rjrjr