Air Travel with P133

[gbmay]

I am doing some research on how to best transport my, soon to be purchased, P133. I will be purchasing the airline case to carry only the lower unit. I am aware that the entire p133 fits in the Segway airline case; however, it will exceed the new airline weight limits. It appears that the airlines have changed their maximum weight limit form 100lbs to 70lbs specially on international flights. Thus I am left with a dilema... What is the best way to split up the package. I am thinking of putting the lower unit, assuming the weight is less than 33lbs, without the batteries, shipping the batteries, control shaft and handle bar in a different case. Does anyone know the weight and dimensions of each of the major components of the p133? Thanks to all that answered my questions on the P vs I thread!

George

George

[Tarkus]

This thread is for an I but some of the weights will be the same.

http://www.dc-segways.com/segwayassembly/travelpacking.html

Good luck

[Dragan]

Actually very few of the components on the p weigh as much as an equivilant part on an i. Batteries are smaller and lighter, same with the wheels, platform, etc. CS and CSB are virtually the same, though. With the other elements, ballpark they are about 15% lighter than the i
Wayne

Segway of Alberta - Calgary
www.mysegway.ca

[gbmay]

I need to know, specifically, what the parts weight as international airlines have become very finicky about carrying items over 70lbs. I have tried writing INC but just get their usual automated responses. Does anyone have access to this information? I will gladly share my final "packing list" with the forum.

George

[william collins]

George ..I just weighed my p133 wheels and Batteries ..Each wheel is 5 lbs 3.8 oz..The battery is 7 lb 11.3 oz each and the Control Shaft is 4 lb 12.5 oz...Did this on a postal scale

-- live with love and care, upon the level and by the square

[william collins]

Just reread and see you wanted dimensions too ..the CS needs 24 inch by 20 by 6 inches..batteries 14 " by 2 1/2 each and the wheels 16"x3" each and the base needs 21"x15x12" (Wheels removed)That will cover it all
I did not weight the base but looks to be around 52 lbs..being the whole Segway weighs 70 lbs.....Hey everyone am I right in my figures

-- live with love and care, upon the level and by the square

[gbmay]

Thanks Bill,

Here is the answer I finally received from INC:


When we asked our Shipping Team about the weight of the major components
they gave us the following approximate figures based on the total weight of
the machine of 65lbs.
INC
Batteries - 10lbs x 2 = 20lbs.
Handlebar/Control Shaft - 5 lbs.
Tires - 10 lbs. x 2 = 20 lbs.
Base unit - 20 lbs.

BILL's Weights
Batteries - 7lbs 11.3oz X 2 = 15.6lb
Handlebar/Control Shaft - 4lbs
Tires - 5lbs 3.8oz X 2 = 10.8
Base Unit needs to be 35lbs as total weight is 65lbs

Big difference, between INC's and Bill's actual weights. International airlines are being pretty picky about 70lbs being the max weight per bag. According to INC the lower case weighs 37lbs thus the only way an international carrier will take a P133 is to pack the base unit only, without wheels in the airline case i.e. 37 +35 and hope the extra two pounds is not a big deal. I believe INC needs to work on a lighter case for shipping the unit via air. Anyone have any luck with any durable container that weighs less than 30lbs and is suitable for airline usage?

Thanks

George

[Desert_Seg]

George,

There is no way the lower case weighs 37 pounds. I have three of them and my guess would be 10 pounds or so.

I'm looking for our shipment info so I can find the exact weight and will post if / when I find.

Steven

--- EAMUS CATULI! ---

No person is truly useless. They may always serve as a bad example!

[william collins]

I think the weights INC. supplied are there shipping weight as if you ordered an item.And it would include the Package itself. I just weighed the items on my scale..My extra batteries and wheels,
I didn't disasemble the machine..

-- live with love and care, upon the level and by the square

[Dragan]

George, Steven's right...the lower airline travel case is no where even close to 37 lbs. 10-12 lbs maybe, but not 37
Wayne

Segway of Alberta - Calgary
www.mysegway.ca

[gbmay]

Thanks to all who are helping me get accurate information on the itemize weights. I am still in limbo as there are so many interpretations to the different weights... The airline case, according to INC is supposed to weigh 37lbs. However, Dragan tells me the case weighs 10 to 12 lbs. The math just does not work. The unit is supposed to weigh, 65lbs, when I add the different weights from William the weight of the base neesds to be 33lbs without the batteries. This is nuts! Could someone please, weigh the unit assembled. Thanks.

George

[Desert_Seg]

George,

let's work it backwards:

- A fully configured p weighs 70 pounds
- Each batterry weighs 7.75 pounds so a total of 15.5 pounds
- So, without batteries, a p weighs 54.5 pounds (70 - 15.5 = 54.5)
- If packing case weighs 10 pounds, then without batteries and in case, a p would weight 65 pounds!

Steven



--- EAMUS CATULI! ---

No person is truly useless. They may always serve as a bad example!

[gbmay]

Steven if the case, empty, weighs 10 lbs then I am set as all I have to is remove the batteries and I am set to go. BUT I need to be certain that the case only weighs 10lbs. The weight that I get from INC is a rediculous 37 lbs. Could you do me a favor and weigh one of your empty cases. To be clear, we are talking about the big bottom case not the top case. Thanks!

George

[Desert_Seg]

George,

I'll weigh it in the AM and post after that (My AM is your PM as we are 10 hours apart!)

Steven

--- EAMUS CATULI! ---

No person is truly useless. They may always serve as a bad example!

[Desert_Seg]

Ok, discussion point settled. The airline case weighs between 9 and 10 pounds. Can't get it exact as it doesn't sit dead on the scale so there was some fluctuation.

Glad this mystery is solved!

Steven

--- EAMUS CATULI! ---

No person is truly useless. They may always serve as a bad example!

[gbmay]

Mystery solved. Thanks to Steven. For those of you looking to transport a P machine the best info is:

Manchine Weight w/o batteries is 55lbs
Weight of Air Travel Case 10lbs
Total Travel Weight w/o batteries 65lbs
Batteries 15.6
Total shipping Weight with batteries 81.6

I plan to take the entire unit w/o taking off the batteries and see if it will fly. But I will be ready to remove the batteries if need be. Thanks to all that contributed. I hope to be gliding soon!

George

[johnberry]

Why not put the batteries in you hand luggage? Also, if you are an invalid, most airlines will ship you Segway free of charge.
Johnquote:Originally posted by gbmay

I am doing some research on how to best transport my, soon to be purchased, P133. I will be purchasing the airline case to carry only the lower unit. I am aware that the entire p133 fits in the Segway airline case; however, it will exceed the new airline weight limits. It appears that the airlines have changed their maximum weight limit form 100lbs to 70lbs specially on international flights. Thus I am left with a dilema... What is the best way to split up the package. I am thinking of putting the lower unit, assuming the weight is less than 33lbs, without the batteries, shipping the batteries, control shaft and handle bar in a different case. Does anyone know the weight and dimensions of each of the major components of the p133? Thanks to all that answered my questions on the P vs I thread!

George

George

[gbmay]

Hi John, yes I plan to do that if the airline will not take the additonal weight. The whole issue came about as international carriers are becoming more stringent in their maximum weight allowances. It used to be that you could carry up to 100lbs per bag but now it's down to 70lbs. So if I am not allowed to take the 80lb pack I will just take the batteries out.

George

[Desert_Seg]

George,

Be very careful about taking out the batteries in an airport. You cannot believe how strange people start acting when you do that! Be prepared for extensive questioning, lots of "to and fro'ing", some head scratching, and, at the end of it all, you may not be allowed to load the batteries in your luggage.

I'd recommend to a) pay the excess baggage charge (if offered) or b) already have the batteries in another bag.

Steven

--- EAMUS CATULI! ---

No person is truly useless. They may always serve as a bad example!

[gbmay]

Hi Steven,

You have a point. I assume it's fairly easy to remove the batteries?

George

[bystander]

quote:Originally posted by gbmay

Hi Steven,

You have a point. I assume it's fairly easy to remove the batteries?

George
8 fasteners, 4 per pack, 3 mm hex head bolts. Bolts are at the bottom of deep sockets.

Battery Replacement Instructions:

http://www.segway.com/support/docs/CIP_batteries_05.pdf

More pdf files about the HT here:

http://www.segway.com/support/docs/

[Meng Wong]

I have flown maybe a couple dozen times with my p133 in the past year.

On domestic flights within the US, I usually take it with me through airport security, up on the belt and through the X ray machine, and gate check it as if it were a stroller. Great way to get around terminals. Be kind to the gate agents; at checkin time, tell the staff you'll need the paperwork for a battery-operated wheelchair. The paperwork should indicate that it uses a dry cell, sealed battery, that's fully disconnected.

On international flights, where the concept of gate check is less well defined, I usually just roll up to the checkin counter and say "two bags to check; this is one of them".

They boggle when I say, "yeah, I usually just check it like this, no wrapping or anything." In Japan the airline staff wrapped it anyway in so much bubble wrap it looked like a marshmallow.

Then I say, "please treat it as oversize baggage" --- apparently this gets the Segway into a separate, special cargo hold.

Only once have I been charged for overweight.

Only once have I had to disassemble the batteries to show that they're NiMH.

Only once have I had to ask Inc to fax the MSDS to the airline.

Only once have I had to take the CS shaft off and disconnect the CS cables by hand to satisfy "battery disconnected" requirement. (thank goodness for quick release!)

Only once have the checkin staff refused to take it unpacked; I had to buy a cardboard box, the largest I could find, and put the Segway in it with no padding or protection.

On the arriving end, keep a close watch on the baggage carousel. Most of the time somebody rolls it out by hand at the oddsize baggage outlet, but once it came up the belt, rolled down headfirst, and cracked the handlebars wide open, while I watched in slow-motion horror.

If you don't have a doctor's letter indicating medical need, the airline will not pay for damage.

---
p133 since 200505