I took my Mom's FW on plane many years ago, but since 9-11 I traveled with my serger. That was a hoot! No one knew what it was! I took the needles out, but was told I could have left them in, and I did for the return trip. I had packed in into a carry on satchel and other than having to re-pack all the thread cones around it when they were through with the inspection, it was ok. The biggest problem was that fact that it wouldn't fit in the overhead. The flight attendants put it in their cubby for me. Linda