If I buy a B and W hard case which is 23 pounds, I have 27 pounds to work with when it comes to Airlines. My question is if I order a M6L for my wife, will this be under 27 pounds? For myself I may go for the super light version S6L so I don't think I have to worry. I just want to be under the 50 pound mark. Does anybody know with certainty if this is the case?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi blakcloud... I started a thread on this and possible alternatives:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...aybe-maybe-not

According to several forum members, it seems that the 23 lb listing might be the shipping weight: the case itself might be only 17 or 18 lbs. I've tried several suitcases as alternatives: no real luck.

Our M6R with a 2-kg U-Lock and a black cover for the Brompton in the case round it to 50 lbs.

So it can be done. Thanks for the responses.

My B&W International 96006 Clappton hard case weighs 17.3 pounds empty. The M6L with long seatpost complete (pedals, fenders, kitchen sink) comes in at 28.1 pounds. The case with the Brompton inside totals 45.4 pounds.

I just flew with the M6R in a B&W case. It weighed in at ~45lbs. Well below the 50lbs limit of airlines. I didn't had any issue with Delta Airlines. The TSA in Atlanta did open the hard case, took the bike out and apparently couldn't get it in quite nicely. They must have pushed the case shut like crazy when the bike wasn't in the case correctly as my rack was bent and the case had two dents, one from the rack (at the case wheel) and one from the top tube. I'm not so happy about it but what can you expect from TSA?

Sigh. Isn't that just like TSA? Canadian security is a "little better", but really, is it too much to ask for the workers to put things back the way they found them? And the bugger of it all is that they act with impunity.

I know I am replying late but as of now 2015,the B&W hard case is only 16lb

Since then, I ended up getting a B+W case. I've flown with it - with Brompton packed inside - a number of times. The total is within the 50 lb limit... except if you're carrying other things, like tools, a pump, etc. Those can add up.

It's worth mentioning that the standard suitcase for packing a Bike Friday Tikit is the ultra-light hardshell 31" Samsonite F'lite GT. The non-spinner version of this suitcase is only 11 pounds. The spinner version is about 2 ounces more. Not sized for a Brompton of course, but other folders will fit in it.

I'm thinking about getting the 31" Samsonite F'lite GT for a Dahon Vitesse D3 20" bike, but am worried about having to pay extra when flying with it, since it's oversize. Have you had any problems?
I'm also looking at the Delsey Belfort 30 hardcase, which is 29.5" x 19" x 12" interior, 62" linear exterior, 11.7lbs, according to ebags; wondering if it would fit.

Used to have a Tobukaeru with 20 inch wheels; similar fold to Dahons.
Was able to squeeze in a standard Samsonite luggage(28 in.) with some
disassembly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUQN...6zPoymgKaIoDLA

Same luggage with a Citizen Tokyo(16 in. wheels). Left the fenders & kickstand home:
2013 Citizen Tokyo in a suitcase by 1nterceptor, on Flickr

Really great video, thanks! Interesting to see that you folded the handlebar outside the frame, and didn't even need to remove the pedals.

Never.

Airlines are not interested in very slightly oversize suitcases. They are very interested in *overweight* suitcases. This is because grotesquely oversize suitcases may have to be handled specially, but handling even slightly overweight suitcases is a violation of baggage handling union rules and costs the airlines dearly.

I hope your good luck continues. There are plenty of stories about airlines jumping at any opportunity to charge passengers extra.

Trust me: the bias towards weight versus size is well established. Ticket agents don't pull out the ruler unless your suitcase is an unusual shape (like a cube -- or a Brompton-sized case!) or very obviously over size: it's not very important otherwise. Ask yourself why there's an entire industry of very slightly oversized suitcases, including Samsonite, of all brands.

Yes, something I've been wondering about!