[Sportsandrec] Traveling with bikes and tandems

[Thornbury, Kelly]

I've only traveled with a tandem a couple times, but have dragged my single bikes all over the world, and here's what I've run into in the past:
Amtrak- Amtrak actually had (and I don't know if it is still in effect) a policy that said that bikes were allowed on their trains, but you had to pack it in one of their "approved" containers, but tandems were not allowed...If you already had it packed in a container they approved of, they probably wouldn't know the difference. 
Eurorail systems- In Europe, where biking is much more "accommodated," most trains have special sections designed for holding bikes, but I honestly never traveled with a tandem then. For those of you looking for an adventurous vacation...A Eurorail pass (allows for nearly unlimited travel on most trains throughout western Europe for the length of the pass) and your bike...You bike most of the day, and catch the train at night where you can get a decent night's sleep. Where ever you wake the next morning, you start out again. Every couple days or so you hit a hostel or hotel. Not only do you get to see Europe on your bike, but the added adventure of planning out your day based on where the train took you in your sleep. Recommendations include a fairly heavy credit card, traveling light (although, we did store some items in train station lockers where we knew we would travel through again, and mailed items to us general delivery to towns we knew we would visit), and lots of good maps. 
Airlines- Many airlines had a similar policy, but again if they didn't notice there was no foul. As for being charged for a single bike, I have been charged, then later not, on the same airline. Officially many airlines had an additional charge for a bike, but if the ticket agent didn't really know better, you could get away with a lot. When I moved back from Europe years ago, I was allowed two suitcases on the flight...one contained my clothes, and the second contained two bikes and an additional frame (back when 75 pounds was the baggage limit). While this particular airline had an additional charge for bikes, the ticket agent was unfamiliar with a bike bag, or what the name "Look" or the cycling graphics on my oversized bag represented. 
The more I read about S&S, the more I'm looking into buying a frame with the couplers installed. Two pounds on a bike already weighing forty pounds or more is not really noticeable...about the weight of one and a half waterbottles, and I wear a Camelbak and "prehydrate" anyway. 
Thanks to Ron and Lori for your views, and anyone else I forgot to mention.