Levo Gen 3 Any issues with checking in Turbo Levo at American Airlines counter?

Dust

New Member
Dec 3, 2021
6
5
West Palm Beach , FL
Other than battery(being shipped separately) , over size, and slightly overweight issues has anyone had issues or experience checking in their Turbo Levo with American Airlines counter for an international flight? Mine is going in an Evoc bag.
 

Slowroller

Well-known member
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2018
494
496
Wyoming
If they don't ask, how would they know what kind of bike you have in the bag? I'd leave the battery compartment open and tape a big note saying the battery has been removed in case TSA for some reason pokes around so they don't freak out.
 

Dust

New Member
Dec 3, 2021
6
5
West Palm Beach , FL
If they don't ask, how would they know what kind of bike you have in the bag? I'd leave the battery compartment open and tape a big note saying the battery has been removed in case TSA for some reason pokes around so they don't freak out.

I was considering doing that with the open compartment. If they open it up at checkin I'm not even sure they would ask if its an e-bike. I was also considering pulling the motor off and putting that in my carry-on luggage to get me under the weight limit as it will at least be $100.00 to $150.00 for the excess combined bike-bag weight. The bike isn't coming back to the US for a year or two.
 

Pdoz

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Feb 16, 2019
1,112
1,206
Maffra Victoria Australia
Can you ket us know what works?

I'd expect luggage goes through xry and all those electronics would trigger an inspection - so leaving the battery compartment open +/- a note makes sense, perhaps a huge sticker on the side " battery not included " ????

These bikes must look a lot like a bomb in a bag to the luggage checkers
 

Slowroller

Well-known member
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2018
494
496
Wyoming
I was considering doing that with the open compartment. If they open it up at checkin I'm not even sure they would ask if its an e-bike. I was also considering pulling the motor off and putting that in my carry-on luggage to get me under the weight limit as it will at least be $100.00 to $150.00 for the excess combined bike-bag weight. The bike isn't coming back to the US for a year or two.

If you're not headed over for a just a short trip, why don't you ship it? Is it cheaper to fly it these days?
 

Dust

New Member
Dec 3, 2021
6
5
West Palm Beach , FL
If you're not headed over for a just a short trip, why don't you ship it? Is it cheaper to fly it these days?
The battery alone is costing me 250 dollars to send . I couldn’t imagine what it would cost to send the rest of the 40 pounds from the US to Asia. On top of that the duties/vat charged on ebikes if I shipped it is over 60% of total of value + shipping costs. Even declaring it a gift won’t fool customs where it’s going .
 
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jerry

Active member
Dec 22, 2018
257
166
Belgium
Their T&Cs say:
"...You can travel with 1 non-motorized touring, mountain, tandem, or racing bicycle"
 

Dust

New Member
Dec 3, 2021
6
5
West Palm Beach , FL
Their T&Cs say:
"...You can travel with 1 non-motorized touring, mountain, tandem, or racing bicycle"

I saw the same. Weight and that line on their website is why I removed the motor as well. I can honestly tell them that the bike has no motor or battery. I guess I will see Sunday.

bike_packed.jpg
 

villac

Member
Dec 8, 2021
15
5
USA
At some point it is easier and cheaper to rent a emtb at your destination, maybe try something new. After traveling with skis for years I finally saw the light and just rented at destination. Not helpful advice to you, but an alternative.
 

Dust

New Member
Dec 3, 2021
6
5
West Palm Beach , FL
If anyone is curious the checkin at the American Airlines checkin counter for my Turbo Levo went smoothly. Even without the motor or battery the bike/bag/helmet still was over the weight limit by 5 lbs so I simply paid the overweight fee. Other than that the ticket counter service agent asked nothing about the bike or the standard things like whether I had deflated the tires. Unfortunately on the middle leg of the journey from Dallas Fort Worth on a transit through Japan my bike didn't get loaded. I almost had a panic attack when nothing showed up on the baggage carousel at my destination. Fortunately two days later my bike showed up unscathed and was delivered directly to my condo.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,250
5,033
Scotland
The battery alone is costing me 250 dollars to send . I couldn’t imagine what it would cost to send the rest of the 40 pounds from the US to Asia. On top of that the duties/vat charged on ebikes if I shipped it is over 60% of total of value + shipping costs. Even declaring it a gift won’t fool customs where it’s going .
Just paid £ 325 to send bike to London and back from Scotland. Weight , battery and size bad enough but when you add value the insurance is horrendous.
 

Dust

New Member
Dec 3, 2021
6
5
West Palm Beach , FL
Just paid £ 325 to send bike to London and back from Scotland. Weight , battery and size bad enough but when you add value the insurance is horrendous.

Customs charged me an additional 350usd on duty/tax for the battery in addition to my FedEx fees . Granted by putting it in the original battery box that made it easy to identify model and maker and access the real value for . There are no options to rent a specialized battery here and since it’s staying for years that would be silly to do anyway .
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,250
5,033
Scotland
Customs charged me an additional 350usd on duty/tax for the battery in addition to my FedEx fees . Granted by putting it in the original battery box that made it easy to identify model and maker and access the real value for . There are no options to rent a specialized battery here and since it’s staying for years that would be silly to do anyway .
In an ideal world there will be ebike quick charging on every lampost next to the car ones. My Grandaughter may see it but not me. I used a courier firm that delivers motorbikes same guy picked it up dropped it off. Using Parcel force in uk max battery size is 100w and gets handled six times from van to van. Anyway done now i got a new frame and cable and motor for £ 325 so im a winner really. Your going overseas though different thing altogether
 
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