Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Traveling with a Featherweight >
  • Traveling with a Featherweight

  • Traveling with a Featherweight

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 03-04-2013, 04:43 PM
      #1  
    Senior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Antdebby1's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Carrollton, TX
    Posts: 652
    Default Traveling with a Featherweight

    Good evening! I will be flying to Dallas Thursday morning to surprise my sister for her birthday. I just found out that she gave her "spare" sewing machine to her daughter-n-law. I know we will both want to sew while I am there, hence the title of this thread.

    Has anyone carried their featherweight on a plane? Thanks!

    BTW, we will be able to go to the Dallas Quilt show, too!!
    Antdebby1 is offline  
    Old 03-04-2013, 04:48 PM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2009
    Location: Maine-ly Florida
    Posts: 3,926
    Default

    I've recently done a search on here for the same reason and someone brought up a good point that's made me hesitant about trying to carry my FW on. More and more, on full flights, people are asked to check their carryons if there isn't space in all of the overhead bins, especially if its a smaller commuter plane. I'm not sure if I want to risk this. But I would like to get a machine down to FL.
    lots2do is offline  
    Old 03-04-2013, 04:50 PM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2009
    Location: Maine-ly Florida
    Posts: 3,926
    Default

    Maybe if her d-in-law lives nearby, you can borrow it back for your visit.
    lots2do is offline  
    Old 03-04-2013, 06:13 PM
      #4  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Elkhart, KS
    Posts: 406
    Default

    I'm in Arlington and a trusting soul. I have a spare you can borrow. Or, yes, you can fly with a featherweight. Just tell security that it is a sewing machine before they scan it or they will want to open it and examine...ugh. You have the right to refuse to put it below with the other luggage....
    quiltyfeelings is offline  
    Old 03-04-2013, 06:16 PM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    Sapphire_Rae's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Hamilton, MT, USA
    Posts: 786
    Default

    I recently took my featherweight on the plane with me. On flight over, FW was put in the overhead bin, fit just fine. On flight back, overhead bin was not big enough, so I put my other bag up there and kept the featherweight under the seat in front of me. There were no problems at all through security. Put case with FW in the grey bin and it went right through the x-ray. My trip was Montana to Seattle.
    Sapphire_Rae is offline  
    Old 03-04-2013, 06:45 PM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Charming's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Riverside, CA
    Posts: 1,634
    Default

    I took an EQ7 class with Shiela Williams and she said she travels all the time with her featheweight no problem at all. It is less than the allowed carry on weight allowed (18 lbs i guess). Just make sure you take the needle out or any tools and put them in your luggage.
    Charming is offline  
    Old 03-04-2013, 07:12 PM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    soccertxi's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2010
    Posts: 1,658
    Default

    I have taken mine a few times. I found a rolling backpack and I can fit it under the seat in front of me fairly easily. I prefer to put it there as I dont' like to hoist it over my head! (I have visions of the overhead bin coming open in flight and my sweet Fw clobbering someone on the head!) 1st time I traveled with her, she got swabbed for drugs (she was SO humilitated!) and on the way home, they never even took her out of her bag. As she traveled thru the xray machine, the tech popped his head over the top and exclaimed "thats a sewing machine, isnt it?" I'm so glad he recognized it! Restored my faith in mankind! lolol
    soccertxi is offline  
    Old 03-04-2013, 07:24 PM
      #8  
    Junior Member
     
    Join Date: May 2012
    Posts: 176
    Default

    I travelled with my featherweight on Southwest Airlines last November - I put her in my carryon suitcase, and let the TSA folks know that I had a sewing machine in there. No problem. And then, she went into the overhead bin - again, no problem.
    Ellietow is offline  
    Old 03-05-2013, 12:21 AM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Mechanicsville, IA
    Posts: 1,497
    Default

    I have to take smaller planes to get to a large airport. FW's don't fit under or over well on them. I ship mine ahead. Bubble wrap around the machine in its case. Then get a slightly larger box and pack with bubble wrap around the case. As long as nothing can jiggle around in the case or the case in the box it will ship just fine and its there when I get there and I didn't have to worry about it getting put in the cargo area because there was no more room in overhead.
    Silver Needle is offline  
    Old 03-05-2013, 08:31 AM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    AliKat's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2007
    Location: Phoenix, AZ
    Posts: 2,943
    Default

    Definitely. It fit in my carry/roll on and there was no problem. I put it in a tote and packed my 'needed' items around it. It didn't even get airsick.
    AliKat is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    ChattyKathy
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    13
    11-22-2015 06:49 AM
    jseal
    Offline Events, Announcements, Discussions
    6
    07-20-2010 04:43 PM
    grammynan
    Offline Events, Announcements, Discussions
    10
    05-06-2010 06:29 PM
    newestnana
    Main
    20
    05-05-2010 03:42 PM
    craftybear
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    24
    04-08-2010 06:48 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter