Unfortunately it’s generally gotten harder, not easier. 9/11 was not the reason; rising fuel costs and fierce competition has more to do with it. The airlines have gotten much more picky about your luggage!
Yup, I don’t think it’s possible to make a 36" wheel, let alone bag-with-rest-of-unicycle fit the size limit for checked baggage on most airlines these days. Flying first class can often eliminate this problem though… 
So if flying with a 36", you are automatically stuck with large luggage. I’ve only flown with a 36" twice so I’m not much of an expert, but I don’t think I had to pay surcharges either time. Here are some suggestions to make your life easier:
- Keep it under the 50 lb/23 kg weight limit. If it's underweight, they may find it easier to overlook some size issues.
- Arrive early! When the pressure is [I]not[/I] on, things may go more smoothly. Try to avoid the rush for earlier flights as well; if possible hit the counter when traffic is light.
- Be prepared, and polite. This can work wonders! Like anyone else, airline employees appreciate politeness. Have your papers and ID at the ready, and a smile.
I have paid for overweight. What are you going to do, you’re overweight? But at check-in, it’s really a crap-shoot. It could be airline policy, it could be the mood of your check-in person, it could be changes in policy, etc. so you can never be guaranteed what your result will be.
That one looks really nice. Just don’t use a bag that says “cycle” (or similar) on it. What you want is for it to look like luggage, and not to stand out.
Small might not be the right word. I would try “It’s only one wheel” and “It’s not even a bike”, stuff like that. But always be friendly and polite, as it can make the difference.
Very nice. But $340?! That’s excessive. Probably great for fragile road bike wheels, but overkill for most unicycle wheels. I still like my inexpensive soft-sided zipper bags with flat bottoms, that I buy from the flea market. I searched yet again for an example of one online… and I found one!! Notice the price! Not very sturdy, but if it lasts even one trip, it was well worth it! A bag like that will hold a 29" uni with ease. I’ve fit up to three unicycles in bags like that, and the end product looks like luggage.
They should accept it as one. Say you are going to race a Marathon and 100k road race at the world unicycling championships. There is no reason to treat is differently from a bicycle. People fly with more bulky objects all the time. Ever seen a cello in a fiberglass travel case? Huge! (I don’t know what the passenger was paying to bring it)
I would search first, as it has probably been covered. But if a dedicated thread hasn’t been done, you could link it to the existing ones on that subject (like this one).
Good luck flying to Unicon everybody! I have opted to not travel with my 36" Schlumpf and 24" MUni. We’re doing a few days in Rome, then Venice, then Florence first. It would suck to drag that big bag around for all those transfers and trains! Instead I will use my flea market bag, with my 24" MUni and my trusty old Track uni (also 24").
