Quote Originally Posted by Sylvia View Post
I have a Bike Friday that fits in a suitcase that I can check in as regular luggage. A few years ago I took it with me on Southwest from California to Maryland. When packing it, I took pictures of each step and a final picture of how it was all packed in at the end. I printed the pictures out and put my name and cell phone number with a note to TSA to contact me in case they had problems getting it all back together. This all went in the suitcase with the bike. The bike made it to Maryland fine and it didn't look like anyone had opened it. When I got back to California, it looked like someone may have looked through it but everything was still fine. No problems..
I have a bike with couplers and use a case that is 62 sq inches/not oversize/not overweight, so it goes as a checked bag. I use a security net http://www.sandsmachine.com/ac_net.htm and add a note - similar to Sylvia - saying that the "bicycle parts" are packed carefully so as not to damage them and that all can be viewed just by lifting the security net. I include details of my itinerary and contact info too and tape this piece of paper to the top of it all; an envelope contains 4 pics of the tube covers on bikes and the packing process...Might be overkill but, while my bike case has been opened (TSA lock), my packing has never been messed up and so I will continue same to avoid them pulling everything apart!