Jim – I fly out of National regularly, sometimes with bike. Pretty sure you’re headed out of A Terminal if you’re on Frontier. If you’re getting dropped off by a cab, it’s a very short drag of the case from curb to counter, and if there’s a porter standing around, that’s a $3 job. If you come by Metro, it’s a bit of a walk. However, it’s completely doable if you ignore the directions for A Terminal from the Metro and just head to B Terminal, get a cart, and then use the (indoor) connecting walkway ffrom B to A (much more pleasant than the outdoor approach, esp. in August).
Pete will get you sorted on the mechanics of packing, but I’ll still offer this tip: go to Home Depot and buy some pipe insulation. I think it’s 50 cents a foot (or close to that). I got three 3 foot pieces, which let me cover most of the tubing on my bike. Why? Well, it’s not going to give you any structural protection, but the TSA *is* going to open your bike case. There’s no guarantee they won’t move your carefully packed arrangement around – opening you up to the possibility of loose items that can scratch your bike. For me it’s been a cheap bit of protection.
(Also, don’t forget that you’re not supposed to take CO2 cartridges w/ you. So pack handpump or plan to buy some when you get to destination).
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