I’ve never used a torque wrench for my CL lockrings…and never had an issue, despite numerous trips, both domestically and international. I snug it up as tight as possible and call it good.
Which reminds me, I need to order two of the lockrings above so I can swap out the lockrings on my spare wheels . 
Hard shell vs soft luggage is an eternal debate for frequent travelers. I’ve yet to see anything beyond anecdotal evidence presented for which protects contents better. Seems the airlines or insurance industry might have data to answer it. I imagine the same debate for bike cases will continue unresolved for years.
My anecdote is that I’ve travelled with an orucase more recently, and an s&s couplings hard shell case before that for a decade plus. No damages with either, yet. The S&S hard sure seems it would protect better, especially with the internal braces in place. But so far, so good with Orucase. But sometimes what you think would be better doesn’t turn out to be at scale.
If you have CL rotors, buy one of these, and while you are at it, add the 8mm Alan adapter. It weighs next to nothing and works great: Pack Wrench - Ultralight 1 Inch Hex and Bottom Bracket Wrench – Wolf Tooth Components
If you read for long enough you will find stories of X person having their bike destroyed even in a hard case, etc, etc. Any level of travel taking your own bike has that risk vs reward element.
That having been got out the way, I (and a number of my riding group) have used the Evoc bags (both original and Pro ones) for a large number of flights over several years, in Europe and transatlantic (multiple airlines), and not had issues. Includes carrying MTB hardtails, road bikes, gravel bikes and MTB FS bikes. Depending on your bike size, the bags can be a tight fit (for example, my XL Trek FS is super tight in the Pro bag, esp with the dropper post still in place - but it fits).
The carbon protection posts in the latest models including the wheel protectors make the bags pretty bash proof unless the baggage handlers really try to go to town. In combination with some appropriate fork and rear dropout spacers and generally padding, your bike is about as safe as it’s going to be sending it on a plane.
This is all I need to hear. Evoc Pro FTW!
Joe
I’ve not checked the bike is straight 
but another Evoc Pro benefit, when you book a random ‘minivan’ in a far away country and it’s not as big as expected… a little flex helps, not a chance 2x hard cases were getting in here.
They also got in the back of a London electric black cab 
Excellent point. I’ve travelled with both Bike Box Alan hard case and Scicon soft case, the Scicon is much easier to get in a car. I did manage to get the Bike Box Alan in the back of an Uber Prius in San Francisco once, but it took me, the driver, and the doorman at the hotel nearly an hour to get it out again 
The other thing to keep in mind about either hard or soft is to FILL UP THE interior volume. It’s something I learned working at the USAF run Frankfurt, Germany Airmail Terminal. I full box or container is much less likely to crush than one with dead space inside. So stuff that case with bubble wrap and make sure there’s no dead space.Just another layer of insurance. Won’t protect against a forklift going through it, but will protect the contents from being crushed.
I’ve cut up pool noodles and put them sideways to keep the sides from being pushed in. I’ve also found that if you trim one of those eggshell 4-coffee cup holder things you get from fast food places, it zip ties nicely around a rear-D
Yup. That’s what I have done whenever I used used bike boxes: I reinforced the corners with pieces from another bike box and stuffed the interior with (bike) clothes, towels and the like. I’ve also used pool noodles or bubble wrap to protect the frame. I have also taped down heavier items (saddle bag, pedals, tools, etc.) to make sure they don’t damage anything when a baggage (mis)handler has had a bad day at work.
An example of my gravel bike in an Evoc Travel Bag Pro. The two heavy duty cardboard tubes end up being the load bearing point instead of the semi rigid part of the case.
So bike, wheels, discs, chain, pedals, helmet, shoes and packing material right at 51 lbs, which is in the margin of error for Delta anyway.
This is great, thanks for sharing.
