.... if the bike were to be sent down the chute onto the turntable, then I can see a potential there for damage since the handlers always throw the bags down the chute.
A solution is still elusive.
Thanks for the info.
FWIW, my experience is that it is always delivered at the bulky luggage handling, never onto the belt. No guarantee, obv. The dynamic appears to be that it is
easier for the handler to hold it like they would a bike, via some combination of top tube, saddle, handlebars, than it is to find a new, awkward way eg using seat stay, wheels or whatever. That leads to it being managed like they would a bike rather than an odd shaped, heavy object.
In contrast to the delivery, I have sometimes at Heathrow had to put it onto a belt (the "bulky object belt") on check-in, to be swept off to an uncertain place in the bowels. No idea of the capacity for damage there, but given that it is a bulky object belt, you have to imagine there won't be a drop at the other end. Other airports, you walk it to the bulky bar.