For the last few years I've flown with my bike in a Serfas case. The case is great. And I've been lucky enough to be able to talk the gate agents out of paying anything as it weighs under 50 lbs. The case has wheels and a strap.

However, this year on my way to Cycle Zydeco it seemed that I was going to make up for all those "freebies." I flew out of Pendleton, OR, to Portland on a separate ticket than the rest of the flight. The agent in Pendleton was going to charge me $75 for my bike to fly 250 miles! My cost for me for that leg was $74.95. I talked them into $50. Then the next leg on a separate ticket was $80 for my bike. I whined, pleaded, begged, batted my eyes--all to no avail. I've always had good luck with airlines before. But I think the fuel costs have them charging everywhere they can. I cannot blame them. But it does gall me that golf clubs go for free--they weigh more and some golf cases are quite bulky. Maybe I should have said it was golf clubs.........

Well, after that experience, my return included a leg to Memphis to spend a few days with Momma. I figured I'd probably have to spend $240 to get Doody home. I wasn't too keen on that. Sooooo--I went online to ship her UPS (we have a UPS acct. as a retail business.) I wanted to do 3 day, but that was $230! So I opted for ground--a week getting here. It appeared to be a charge of $130. Still cheaper than flying.

When I got the invoice from UPS, they had charged me $100. But here was the rub--The package weighed 40 lbs. Because it was oversized they charge as if it weighs 90 lbs. OK, I can buy that, but then there was a $45 "oversize charge." I called on that--do one or the other, but not both. I was fortunate to find a sympathetic supervisor who took off the $45 charge. So Doody went from Gulfport, MS to Pendleton, OR for $60.

All that said, I think that I'm going to look into a Bike Friday or renting at my destination. I just worry too much about what couldhappen.