Flying out of National with a bike

[JimF22003]

I’m taking an out-of-town trip, and will be taking my bike along for the first time. This will be the first time I’ve:

1) flown out of National
2) used Frontier
3) needed schlepp around an airport with three checked items, including a large bike case. (1 roller suitcase, 1 duffel, and the bike case).

I’ll be using a Thule bike case http://www.rei.com/product/730991/thule-round-trip-bike-case

SuperShuttle won’t let me take it to the airport without taking an exclusive ride (upwards of $100) so it looks like I’ll be taking a taxi.

Any advice would be great. My specific questions are:
1) will a case like this fit in the trunk of a typical Crown Vic taxi?
2) best way to get through to the check-in area with this stuff. I don’t think I can use curbside check-in for the bike. I’m not familiar with national at all, except for riding past it on the MVT.

Thanks to advice from any savvy travelers.

Topic

[Dirt]

I fly out of National with a bike box on a regular basis. Frontier is great too. I like that they charge regular baggage fee. I use a backpack instead of the wheelie case. It keeps my hands free to handle all three bags. My case has wheels, so I can attach a wheelie to it. I just found it easier to travel with a backpack.

I take Metro. I use Crateworks rather than Thule, but I haven’t had a problem. I use the handicapped entrance and it gets me through pretty easily. Once I arrive at the airport, the walk into the concourse is super short and very easy. Just walk across an enclosed walkway and you’re in!

If you want to take a cab, I’d tell the dispatcher that you need a minivan. They work well for me.

I hope that helps.

Pete

[JimF22003]

Thanks, Pete. That helps. I’m kind of nervous about all this. Not about flying. About messing up my bike.

Priorities, you know.

[Dirt]

When do you fly? I head out Monday. If it would help, you could swing by Sunday night and I can show you how I packed my bike. The box will be different, but the end result will be the same. Honestly, if you bring your bike and box, I can show you how it will work with your bike and box.

My cats would thoroughly enjoy having a new cat toy (you) in the house.

[JimF22003]

Wow, that would be helpful. I leave next Thursday. PM your info and I’ll get in touch.

[Dirt]

Message sent.

[Mark Blacknell]

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).

[Dirt]

good points, Mark.

[JimF22003]

Thanks Mark! Getting pretty excited by this trip. I actually got the pipe insulation yesterday. I’ve never packed the bike before, so I’ve been reading various pages on the web about it.

I won’t pack any CO2 in the bike case, but do you think I’d have any trouble squirreling them away with my regular bags? I’ve carried these before on another trip (where I had a bike waiting for me at my destination.) Didn’t get into any trouble then, but I didn’t really consider it an issue. Maybe I got lucky?

[Author]

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