Flying with bike wheels

[Dude Crush]

Hi guys and gals! 

Need some advice on how to do this… I’m flying from Jhb to KZN this weekend and need to take a set of road bike wheels (in two separate wheel bags) with me there and back. 
 

Do these need to be checked in as luggage (and possibly paid for) or is it possible to take them as carry on? They are not exactly small and able to fit in overhead luggage so I doubt that it will be allowed. My concern is the extra charge for checking these in and whether it would be considered 2 pieces of luggage as well since these are two single bags. I could wrap them together to get around this, but still not comfortable checking in carbon wheels.

Has anyone done this before?

Thanks.

[madmarc]

Back in the day when we flew JHB to CT for Argus we used to take our wheels on as hand luggage - air hostess would take them and put them behind the last seats on the plane against the gally wall - You can also try prebook a window seat and place them next to your legs and the side of the plane - Not sure if they still allow that

Make sure they are deflated