your friend should identify what credit card she used to pay for the flight, and then see what baggage/travel insurance the card carries.

your friend may also want to check in with the Flyer Talk forum, and see if they have further suggestions about how to maximize refund amount/speed.

i've had friends take/threaten to take airlines to small claims courts, if steps 1 & 2 did not seem to be sufficient in getting $ back

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@adamwfurlong

 
This promotional video shows you what you need to know about United






On the way to World Masters, I had United knock the bottom bracket part way out of my bike. Despite having super top secret elite status with United, all they sent me was a $200 e-certificate (only useable on United with restrictions).


Theoretically, United will pay the fair market value up to $3500 for a domestic flight (it's actually lower for international). But good luck on collecting. If you travel much for events, it makes sense to get travel insurance with a sports equipment rider.

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My latest book: "Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" is on sale on Amazon and at other online and local booksellers

Submit a claim, most likely they will either deny or try to settle in their favor the first or second time that you submit it. It took 3 claims and 6 months of fighting for a check at FMV to arrive when my bike was damaged on a flight a few years back. Good luck, the process sucks!

What kind of bike box?

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

Write a song about it.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

I know it doesn’t help now but I was worried about this very thing flying to my recent race & the airlines not taking responsibility for their ineptitude.

I used bike flights. It worked seamlessly to have my bike shipped from my home to my hotel & back. And best of all, $10k worth of insurance wasn’t that expensive & well worth the stress relief.

HAHAHA

Exact question that came to my mind. If it wasn't a hard-shell bike box, OP is screwed.

Did TSA open the box to peek inside? If they did you should find a flyer inside stating as much.

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Trent Nix
Owned and operated Tri Shop
F.I.S.T. Advanced Certified Fitter | Retul Master Certified Fitter (back when those were things)

I wonder if with a hard case if it would help to have some kind of 3" diameter pvc pipe you place in the dead middle and on the two ends that would take any "crush" of the hard case on before reaching the frame.

I'm hearing these days even with a hard case to remove the RD hanger in addition to the RD. And use a rear dropout "spacer" rod in place to take on loads instead of the frame.

I don't fly much with my bike anymore, but that's how I used to travel with it. spacers (actually a threaded rod with wingnuts and large washers) in front and rear dropouts, and remove the rear derailleur. All of that went into the Trico clamshell case, which wasn't the easiest case to pack or travel with, but it's damn near indestructible.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

Favourite Swim Sets:

2020 National Masters Champion - M50-54 - 50m Butterfly

I completely expect my bike case to be dropped every time i fly with my bike. I remove the rear derailleur, the chain, put a spacer between the rear dropouts and fork, and put a spacer in the middle of the box.

All of what you suggested.

I can’t seem to find it now but someone once posted a step by step guide to what to do, i think the first thing was to ensure you get a damage report from the agent you saw at the airport, this may be too late, I think I remember them saying they’re required by FAA regulations make a report, even if they don’t feel it was their fault or if it was against their ‘soft case policy’ but they do resist doing it because that report can then be used to submit feedback to the FAA which factors in some ranking and that apparently pushed the airline to do something about it. Sorry I can’t find it as the details are fuzzy but it’s in a thread of similar nature and I think was posted last year. I’ll keep looking and if I find it I’ll link it.

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808 > NYC > PDX > YVR
2024 Races: Taupo

Found it, post 13 by TheSloth

https://forum.slowtwitch.com/...line_damage_P6301724

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808 > NYC > PDX > YVR
2024 Races: Taupo

I was Mileage Plus Platinum for all of 2017. They still treated me like sh*t.

Exact reason I asked. Soft sided case and United can pretty much tell you to fuck off from the start.

United's policy:

• United is not liable for damage to bicycles that do not have the handlebars fixed sideways and pedals removed, handlebars and pedals encased in plastic foam or similar material, or bicycles not contained in a cardboard containers or hard-sided cases.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

I hate to say it but I wouldn't hope for much. They'll likely try to wear you down or say the damage didn't occur in transit. Did you unpack the box upon receiving it at the airport and take photo?

Ditto for me as Global Services. GS was surprisingly unsympathetic about my damaged bike. I do get the occasional ride across the tarmac in a Mercedes, though.

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My latest book: "Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" is on sale on Amazon and at other online and local booksellers

 
better hurry - from United's Website:

"You must report damaged baggage within seven days "


Note: American is 24 hours and Southwest is 4 hours.

Don't waste your time with United. File a report with them, but don't wait for a response. Immediately file a complaint with US DOT. Since their technically public transit the US DOT handbook and laws applies to them as well. The max you'll get is $3500. They hate this because it goes into the consumer report. Get a lawyer and threaten litigation with a letter. That is the ONLY way they'll take you a tiny bit serious. Even after that you're gonna have to jump through hoops.

I had the same problem with another airline and got 3000 + 500 voucher.

That is what I do and just zip tie it in place.

I have a hard case and it gets inspected by TSA 100% of the time. They never leave the bike packed the way they found it. Anything you can do to protect the bike is advisable. In theory, I should be able to leave my bike mostly assembled, but it’s just not worth the risk. Instead, lots of pipe insulation and zip ties...

Fingers crossed too.

I had a small piece missing after a flight with United. They basically did nothing about it.

BUT... I sent a tweet to @ASKTSA with the flight info, they returned all my emails even with pics of an Agent removing the small piece from my bike. I went to my LBS, asked for an estimate, sent it and I got a check from them. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with their professionalism.
Now, I am not implying TSA had anything to do with your broken bike, but they can always check their videos and see if the bike was broken before/after their search.

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Follow me on IG: @Commandersnake

I am really sad to see that this keeps happening to more triathletes. Everyone needs to stop using United at all costs. Here is my post thread from a couple of years back...
"United Airlines severely damaged tribike and refuses to pay." https://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/?post=4702074

I hear this all the time. Not sure why TSA doesn't have a program where they inspect it in front of you and let you repack it. I would guess almost everyone would take them up on it. They could save themselves money and time too.

If they pull you aside in the regular security line to search your bag they do it in front of you.