I’m taking a trip to see the in-laws this weekend (south Florida). Seeing the hassles of bringing my bike along, I’ve decided to rent instead. Does anyone know if it is possible to carry on my PT wheel though? I could do without it for a weekend if need be. However, I live in Denver…it would be nice to get some data points at sea level. Would it fit in the overhead if they did let me through security?
I have heard some stories of people carrying wheels pre-TSA times. I do not think that a wheel will fit through the TSA x-ray machine. Even if you get through security with it the wheel will not fit in an regular overhead bin. You might be able to convince the flight attendant to store it somewhere else (like inside a coat closet), but too risky if you ask me.
I would just pack in a plastic wheel box or a cardboard box it and check it as luggage.
I’ve carried on a wheel before. They didn’t really like it, but they let me do it. You might have better odds if you stick it in a garment bag - that way you could have them hang it in the closet as well.
Carryon thing has gotten tricky lately. The airlines brought it on themselves by charging for checked bags. People are cheap and now carry on way too much crap. There is often no room in the bins/closets and things are getting checked at the gate on lots of flights. Accordingly, even if you get it through the check point it still may end up going underneath when you get on the plane. You might wish it were in a box of some sort if that happens.
If you have status with the airline it will not be a problem, they seem to make stuff work when you do.
Gate checking would be the worst situation. At that point I wouldn’t have a kit/box to protect the wheel in the belly.
What if I used a cardboard wheel box and checked it as luggage? Pile in the clothes, lay in the wheel (in a plastic bag…maybe with a mound of packing peanuts), then top off with more clothing?
Checking it in a box should be no problem. A wheel is not really all that fragile. Saris mails them in those diamond shaped boxes with very little padding in them. I imagine if they got broken/crushed a lot they wouldn’t do so.
I carried on a wheel twice in the past 3 months. Put it in a wheel bag and just tell TSA that they are going to have to hand check it. The problem really is where to put it on the plane as it won’t fit in the overhead. I was able to jam it in between the seat and the window but the flight attendants were not really happy with me and I got the feeling they could have easily said no. Then you’d have to gate check it.
I recommend you go to your LBS and ask them to give you a wheel box used for shipping. Try to get a ZIPP one that a single wheel can in, they work great then ckeck it
I hand carry a pair of Zipp wheels in a Zipp wheel bag on Hawaii inter-island flights regularly - (3 times per year for the last 5 years) on a Boeing 717 - it fits in the overhead luggage on the RH side of the plane in the 3-seat configuration.
Never had an issue from TSA, nor the carrier - Hawaiian Air.
Better off UPSing to your destintion.
Are you taking your bike just for a weekend? (Just asking. Then again if it’s the inlaws it’s probably a good idea 
I carried on some wheels a couple times last year. One airport was fine with it the return flight the other airport gave me some trouble. In the end, they wiped the wheel with their magic cloth, scanned the cloth and let me go through.
There was some debate about how I packed it (in a very large garbage bag with duct tape). A wheel bag might have been a better option.
It depends on the airplane if it will fit in the overhead. But I think most are deep enough that it will.
We carried on a rear wheel twice last year in a zippered garment bag. No problems at all. It looked like a folded suit. Wheel fit in overhead, but that is probably plane model specific. Board as early as possible, and adjust it for people, rather than letting them crunch it.
IIRC, the planes are 737-400, 320, and 319. I don’t know how these bins relate to others.
After reading of the woes of traveling with a bike, I’m not going to be flying with it until absolutely necessary. I don’t have a case yet anyways.
Fortunately, the in laws are a blast. We get along great. My A race is 6 weeks out…would rather not skimp this weekend.
FYI…I chickened out. It wasn’t worth (to me) risking carrying it on in case they made me check an unprotected wheel. I’m pretty sure it would have been fine if I had boxed it but I didn’t want to worry about some baggage jerk cutting into the box out of curiosity. The check in counter said that it wouldn’t have been allowed on the plane due to the possibility of spokes being used as a weapon. Hmmm, I guess what is and isn’t allowed is nothing if not totally inconsistent. It’s kind of like when I was a kid and my buddies and I would make up games on the fly. Those games usually sucked.
I rented a bike though and took a roll up/down A1A. Great ride. Thanks again to Adam and Bea (if you’re out there)! I’m going to hit you up next time I’m in town!
We’ve carried on wheels with spokes twice this year.
I know you already said its a pain but is it really much harder to just pack your bike up and check it in on the flight? save your self the bike rental and the stress of what to do with the wheel.
just a thought.