I have traveled with my FW as well. I did as was suggested here and removed my oil and needles. I also padded it with fabric. You should be fine so happy trails.

I flew To Oregon last aug. to visit my sister. She gave me an old button hole attachment to give to my daughter. I put it in my carry on. When they scanned the bag I had to step out of the line, and they took me and my bag to a more private area. They emptied my suitcase. When they opened that box they pointed at it and asked what is this? Then they took the box and its contents and showed it to someone else, when they came back I was free to go, and they gave it back to me. It was not a very good experience.

My friend came to visit me and she brought her rotary cutter and I gave her a new seam ripper. When she went back they took both out of her checked luggage! I am not sure I would trust them at all. Might want to mail the small things ahead of time and just carry the machine.

I travelled from SLC to LAX and then onto Sydney, Australia last month with my brand new Juki F600. I wrapped it in bubble wrap and padded my carry-on with cotton balls as it was pretty heavy. No problems at all. I did remove needles, scissors and pins. Loving my new machine although I have to use a power transformer here. I am happily sewing everyday.

I have a 730 Bernina with embroidery attachment and have carried it on Southwest and also on Continental Express. Call your airline and see if it is OK. Continental Express said I would have to check it and I told them they weren't throwing a 12,000 Dollar machine around like they did my luggage. They finally said " Well try the overhead bin. It didn't fit so, I sat with it underneath my legs during the flight.

Thanks to all of you who shared such vaulable information with us.

This is a little late, however, I wish your BIL the best. I had open heart surgery when I was 17 and in high school, in 1960. Still going strong. WIll say prayers for him. Now days it is easier they say then in the 60's My Dr. at Mayo Clinic in ROchester, MN said 6 months after I had surg. and was there for a ck up, that I had survived "Pioneer Surgery" and to keep doing well.

FW 's are great travelling companions. No sharp objects in the case other than the needle.

What is FW and what does it look like? I think I may try to find one so I can take it with me wherever I go.

You might want to measure the dimensions and contact the airline just to make sure it would fit. In the 80's I got on one of those CHEAP airlines and it was the ONLY time it did NOT fit under the seat !!!