[Yak] Fwd: RE: airline liability waivers

[John S. Allen]

Yaksters -- Below, see Bob Mionske's reply to my inquiry, indicating 
that he will look into the matter further..

My right-fold NWT *was* slightly damaged during my recent trip: the 
left tab at the bottom of the seat mast was bent inward a bit so I 
couldn't pivot the seat mast into place. I had to pry on the tab with 
the pedal wrench to bend it back before I could finish assembling the 
bike. The tab rests against the curved inside edge of the Travelcase. 
I think that a spacer block between the tabs might be a good idea. 
Has anyone tried this?

>From: Robert Mionske <mionskelaw at hotmail.com>
>To: "John S. Allen" <jsallen at bikexprt.com>
>Subject: RE: airline liability waivers
>Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 12:19:30 -0500
>
>Hi John,
>
>I will look into this issue a bit before
>answering.  I have two trials in a row
>so it might be late fall before I can
>get around to it, but it might make
>a good column and also for
>second edition of my book.  I have
>a Ritchey Breakaway and for the very
>reason you described.  However, many
>carriers are charging for second bag
>and I am paying $25 instead of $100 or
>more.
>
>
>thanks
>bob
>
>
>
> > Date: Mon, 8 Sep 2008 08:07:05 -0400
> > To: mionskelaw at hotmail.com
> > From: jsallen at bikexprt.com
> > Subject: airline liability waivers
> >
> > Bob Mionske --
> >
> > I've read your book including the very informative section on
> > liability waivers. I have a question that the book doesn't address.
> >
> > The airlines have recently raised prices for bicycle transport
> > greatly. Often, the baggage charge costs as much as the ticket.
> >
> > In part, I think this is due to the high price of bicycles that are
> > being transported, and that they may be poorly packaged. (an issue
> > which could more fairly be addressed by asking passengers to declare
> > a value and pay accordingly, and to certify packaging). However, the
> > increased charge also must have something to do with the airlines'
> > financial troubles.
> >
> > On the other hand, what if the passenger avoids the charge by
> > transporting the bicycle without the airline's being aware that it is
> > a bicycle?
> >
> > That is the situation with my Bike Friday, which folds and partially
> > disassembles to fit into a Samsonite suitcase and travels at no cost
> > beyond that for any other suitcase. There are other bicycles which
> > can be transported similarly -- for example, the Ritchey Breakaway models.
> >
> > The airline doesn't know (and has no right to know) what is in the
> > suitcase. The TSA knows, but the TSA doesn't tell the airline.
> >
> > Some passengers tell the airline that the suitcase contains "machine
> > parts", or some other evasion.
> >
> > Bottom-line question: what is the passenger's best strategy?

John S. Allen

Regional Director for New York and New England, League of American Bicyclists
League Cycling Instructor #77-C and Member of the League's Education Committee

http://bikexprt.com