Sorry I wasn’t paying attention a few months ago when this was discussed but I’m
only now interested since I am taking a trip at the last minute across the
country. I’ll be flying on American Airlines and will need to change planes,
too. What is the easiest way to take my uni with me? Remove the pedals and just
check it? Carry on?
Tony
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
Re: Taking my Unicycle on a plane
I’ve put most all of the uni except the wheel in my backpack, and taken the rim
as a carry-on. This was with a 26" wheel, too, and the airline didn’t seem to
mind. Mainly I didn’t want to risk having the baggage handlers smashing the rim.
-Kris.
— Tony Ferlazzo <tferlazzo@home.com> wrote:
> Sorry I wasn’t paying attention a few months ago when this was discussed but
> I’m only now interested since I am taking a trip at the last minute across the
> country. I’ll be flying on American Airlines and will need to change planes,
> too. What is the easiest way to take my uni with me? Remove the pedals and
> just check it? Carry on?
>
> Tony
>
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
>
Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com
RE: Taking my Unicycle on a plane
> Sorry I wasn’t paying attention a few months ago when this was discussed but
> I’m only now interested since I am taking a trip at the last minute across the
> country. I’ll be flying on American Airlines and will need to change planes,
> too. What is the easiest way to take my uni with me? Remove the pedals and
> just check it? Carry on?
I know people who have carried on 20" unicycles. My old roommate Greg Milstein
actually was asked if he could ride it up the aisle once, by the crew! This was
on a planeload of entertainers. If the flight is very full, they will probably
stow your carried on unicycle anyway, leaving it unprotected in the baggage area
(though at least on top).
The next thing you can try, in order of cheapness, is putting the unicycle in
an airline garment box. Pack your pedals separately. Again your unicycle is
relatively unprotected, and is still likely to be packed “on top” of the
heavier luggage.
Next up is a bicycle or unicycle box. Pack it yourself, in a box that’s
stronger. Make sure there are no loose items floating around inside the box
because you have no idea what might happen to it in transit. Now your unicycle
is better protected, but it’s a hassle to carry, and you have to pack it back up
again on the other end.
Now let’s skip a couple of steps, to what is probably the safest and most
expensive method. Put your unicycle(s) into a hard shell case. You can even use
a specially-made bicycle box, but that’s probably a lot bigger than you need.
Performance Bike has one for $199 I think. Any hard case the uni will fit into
will offer maximum protection, though hard luggage takes more of a beating in
air travel than soft luggage. If you can find an actual suitcase that’s big
enough for your unicycle, that works too. Don’t underestimate the width of your
axle though. It doesn’t get smaller even if you take off the crank arms.
Now for my own personal methods. For my old method, I used a giant duffel bag.
Actually I had two duffels. A good canvas one, inside of an older, beat up nylon
one The outer one took all the punishment and was easier to slide around on an
airport floor. I would wrap the unicycles (usually 2 or 3) in foam padding and a
blanket before cramming them into the duffel. The drawbacks of this is that
though the unicycles are well padded, they are still at risk from being crushed.
And at 24" x 60", you’ll have a real hard time finding a bag as big as mine,
which were just barely adequate. Try Army surplus. Lastly, with three unicycles
in a duffel bag (my normal complement for conventions) it’s a royal pain to
carry! Duffel bags have no wheels!
Recently I have moved up to a better method. At my local flea market there are
luggage vendors selling all sorts of cheap bags. I’ve found a bag that’s perfect
for unicycles. I don’t know how to describe the type, but it’s a hard flat
bottom platform with wheels on it, and a semi-circular canvas bag on top. This
bag has two zippered extensions, each of which make it about 8 or 9" taller.
When fully opened, I can drop two 24" unicycles in there with the seats set to
my height (pedals off), and close it up! Taking the unicycles apart gives me a
bunch more room. These bags can be found for about $18 (cheap quality) or $30
(better quality). Even if they fall apart after a few trips, you can think of
them as semi-disposable and get a new one. My $30 one is still doing fine after
several flights. And it has wheels!
Inside, I still use foam padding between the pieces to protect them, and
around the outside to obscure the contents to all but an X-ray (see below).
Get a foam sleeping pad from a camping supply store. It’s thin, dense foam,
nearly weightless. Cut it into three or four pieces and stick them between the
clanky parts.
Now you have room for your pedals, helmet, pads, pump, spare tube, and tools in
there. That’s what I bring with me, especially when going overseas. Never assume
there will be a handy pump, especially outside the US where Americans will find
that no bicycle pump fits.
Airplanes are pressurized (including the baggage area), but the pressure in
flight is a lot lower than on the ground. I’ve never heard of anyone’s tire
popping because of this, but it can’t hurt to let some air out. Especially if
you run your tires with very high pressure! I usually let all the air out, to
make the wheels fit into the bag easier.
Now for the last part, avoiding the surcharge. Most airlines charge extra if you
bring a bicycle. Some will still try to charge you for a unicycle. They are
concerned about liability and wheel or frame damage. Not only will they charge
you extra for bringing your cycle, you must also sign a waiver that in effect
says they can destroy it and it’s okay with you.
Though I have signed waivers several times, I have never paid a surcharge (and
never intend to). This is because I pack the unicycles in “conventional”
luggage, usually have padding around the outside of it, and I never say the “c”
(cycle) word when checking my bags. “What’s in the bag?” “Circus equipment.”
“Performing equipment.” “Stage props.” “My aunt Clara.” Whatever, as long as you
don’t say the “c” word.
Don’t get the wrong idea. Don’t lie to airline people, and especially don’t
lie to customs agents! They have less sense of humor than a Buckingham Palace
guard. But customs is seldom a problem as you meet them when you’re entering the
country, not leaving. “Is that a bicycle?” “No.” Of course not. Nobody ever asks
if it’s a unicycle…
Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone (reply to jfoss@unicycling.com)
http://www.unicycling.com
“I’m not a Level 9, but I play one on TV” - John Foss, who demonstrates IUF
Skill Level 9 on the video but in real life has only passed Level 7
NOTE: Views expressed in messages with this signature are exclusively those of
John Foss, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Unicycling
Society of America, International Unicycling Federation, or other
positions of responsibility John may occupy.
RE: Taking my Unicycle on a plane
>Now let’s skip a couple of steps, to what is probably the safest and most
>expensive method. Put your unicycle(s) into a hard shell case. You can even use
>a specially-made bicycle box, but that’s probably a lot bigger than you need.
>Performance Bike has one for $199 I think. Any hard case the uni will fit into
>will offer maximum protection, though hard luggage takes more of a beating in
>air travel than soft luggage. If you can find an actual suitcase that’s big
>enough for your unicycle, that works too. Don’t underestimate the width of your
>axle though. It doesn’t get smaller even if you take off the crank arms.
The Performance bike case is nice but if you take it on a plane you will very
likely get charged for oversized baggage. The charge for oversized baggage is
typically around $50 to $75(USD).
I just started using a hard shell case made by Tri All 3 Sports that is designed
to hold two bicycle wheels. This case is also designed to fit just within the
airlines guidelines for regular luggage so it gets to fly free. But you do have
to dismantle the unicycle(s) [remove the fork, seat, and pedals] to fit them in
the case. The case is big enough to hold a 26" or 700cc wheel but not anything
larger. You can see the case at: http://www.triall3sports.com/
http://www.triall3sports.com/bikeproducts.html#clamshellwheel
It’s a nice case, but it is awkward and heavy to carry through the airport since
it doesn’t have rollers. I always grab a cart to wheel it around. So far it has
been on two trips.
The case may be a little overkill, but at least I know the baggage system is not
going to damage my uni(s).
john_childs
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