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Taking your iMac on an airplane

G

Gregintosh

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 29, 2008
1,931
561
Chicago
Hey guys,

I am moving to Australia for a year in two weeks and of course my beloved Apple stuff must come with me. In addition to my MacBook Air and iPod, this includes my 20" iMac.

Problem is unlike the previous two items it will be kind of hard to lug that thing with me. I am wondering if anyone here has travelled on a plane with their iMac and how did they pull it off.

I looked into having someone ship the iMac to me once I arrive, but that will cost between $370-$450 USD. Thats a bit steep. I looked into having excess luggage on the plane and it looks like they will allow an extra checked luggage for $100, a far more reasonable rate.

The only problem is I am worried that someone will steal the iMac off the luggage thing or that it will be damaged in shipping. I am going to use the original box and packing materials I bought it in (good thing I saved those) and probably put it in another brown box or something so that its not so obvious what's inside.

I hope that is a good plan. Any ideas or suggestions or experiences?
 
As long as you can fit it into the TSA approved size I'd carry it on. .

If you check it and it gets swiped the Airline would have to reimburse you. However many of them have a disclaimer that they don't pay for computers, jewelry or cameras. I fly United and I know their limit is $2,000 per lost bag.

Don't ask how I know!
 
Do use the box it came in as it was kept safe all the way from China; or buy one of those iMac case things... have no idea what they are called. In any event... the best of luck to you.
 
I know it won't fit in the overhead nor under your seat. So about the only way you can get it aboard is if they will let you store it in the First Class or Business Class closet and you won't know that until the day of flight, likely.

As for sending it as checked baggage, I'd only do so if you can fully insure it against both loss and damage for shipment by commercial airline as checked baggage.

Shipping it, while expensive, is probably safest, since you can insure it for the full amount and those folks have expertise in shipping that type of product.
 
I say place it in the original box and place that within another box and it should be fine as checked baggage. I have done this many times when bringing stuff with me. Heck, I see post office stuff going on the plane with my own bags so it shouldn't make a difference. It's not likely it will get stolen unless you make it obvious there is a computer inside the box.
 
If you must check it, then I'd do what someone up above said, put it in the original packaging and pack that in a generic box.

I definitely wouldn't pack it in a suitcase, unless you are carrying it on the plane with you. I used to fly for the airlines and stuff got stolen all the time out of people's luggage. Some baggage handlers aren't exactly the most upstanding citizens (no offense to any baggage handlers who actually do their job correctly). Heck, my wife was on a train, in St. Louis, going to the airport to meet me one day, and she overheard a young woman say to a friend that she was going for an interview to be a baggage handler and that it would be cool because she could go through people's suitcases and steal stuff (true story, I swear).

I think you'll be able to find something to pack it in that is small enough to carry on. On several occasions, I've seen people carry computer towers on-board, not packed or anything.

edit: if you do plan on carrying it on, check with your airline first. An iLugger case should fit in an overhead, but make sure they'll be okay with bringing something on that big. People carry guitars and other instruments on all the time, but still, check with your airline. Also, it definitely won't fit if you have to fly any of your legs on a regional jet, like from a small home-town airport to a major hub. On those planes, they'll ask you to check it at the gate. Fedex/ups is your safest route if you can't carry it on.
 
Shipping a computer internationally would bring up a big pain in the a#$ with customs and duties.

I say carry it on or put it in a well padded suitcase and try to insure it.
 
I've carried my 20" imac on a plane as hand luggage before. Most airlines allow anything that is smaller than 115cm when all three dimensions are added together, the imac works out at 114cm. Weight could be a problem though. I travelled with Easyjet who have no weight limit, however I'm travelling out to Morocco with my imac in a couple of weeks and my airline have restricted me to 5kg, so this time I'm having to ship it.

Iluggers look good but I think that will take your over the magic 115cm mark, you could try http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1358.html

Call the airline
 
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