Sewing machines on airlines?
 

I have to travel to NYS next week to babysit for two weeks while my BIL has heart surgery in Ohio. This is going to put a crimp in my gift making plans, so I'm thinking of taking my FW in my carryon. Has anyone ever taken a machine on a plane? Will the airline give me any hassle, or TSA?? Mat & rotary cutter will go in my checked bag, along with needles (and you can be sure, there will be prayers said for that suitcase's safe and timely arrival!).

Any advice? Thanks bunches!

It's no problem. I took my Innovis-D in my carry-on when I went to Seattle. TSA will open the case and swab it for explosive residue, but other than that it'll be okay. Make sure you put all your scissors, needles, pins, etc., in your checked baggage and not with the FW.

Would it be necessary to remove the needle from the machine before carrying it on?

I think I would remove it just to be on the safe side. Better than having it confiscated!

I have traveled with my FW many times... lay it on it's side and it fits under the seat, just like any other carry on....

Thanks! Good to know I won't have a problem.

I've carried my machine on board many times with the needle in place with no problems and I never had any problems.
Have a wonderful time.

I bought an old Singer while on a trip and carried it on the airplane. It was wrapped and tapped for travel. it went through the scanner and the guy just kind of questioned what it was and joked with my husband about it being a sewing machine.
Have a great trip.

If you keep an oil can in the case you may want to remove it or make sure that it is under the allowed weight limit for fluid. Also pad it well you may need to lay it on its side.

this is good to know. I have often wondered about traveling with a sewing machine. Now I can rest easy knowing if I need to I can travel with my machine.

Just do not let them put it in the baggage compartment, where it will be subject to all kinds of bad treatment. If you're traveling at all on a small commuter plane, you may have to hand it over on the tarmac when you board the plane, so be sure to tell them to be careful with it! I think I would be tempted to put some additional padding inside the case, just in case.

I have traveled with my FW numerous times. She has been swabbed for drugs, used for training, and admired! I found a rolling backpack that she fits is perfectly. I precut my project , ziploc bag it and use it for padding. My parents think I'm kinda loony (my mom still has the sewing machine I learned on, but we have a hate-hate relationship!), but my husband is so used to me traveling with it, he looks for it if its not with the rest of my things! (hey! HE takes his golf clubs!!!) Happy Sewing!

Some flights do not have that space, if the plane is a smaller jet *wink*
Also, some flights have been limiting carryons to 1 per person, but they don't tell you that until right before boarding. Then they ask you to hand them your second bag to put in the hold. :) :) :)

You need to call your airline to make sure. All of the airlines have different regulations and you sure wouldn't like to be told at the the scanner that you can't take it on....

I don't fly but wanted to say; Have a good trip Maryann!

My friend flew with her small machine recently, and she still had the original packaging for it, which fit within the airlines carry on limits. She then packed it into a small tote bag.The scanning folks kept sending it back and forth, and calling other staff over etc. Finally they asked her - "This looks like a sewing machine, are we right?" She just laughed and confirmed, and they opened it up. I guess for this bunch, it was their first time ever seeing anyone "carry on" one.

I asked about this a while back as TSA and airlines were not helpful, just repeated their standard guff. I ended up strapping the FW into a small suitcase, padded well, and checked it in. It arrived safe and sound.

I didn't take my machine! BUT, I did take an embroidery project from PA-FL...with a needle and a small scissors!! They allow a scissors up to a 4" blade!! I couldn't believe it! and the 'guidelines' said nothing about a needle! went thru security without a hitch coming & going! GOOD LUCK to you! & enjoy sewing...of course!

If you're going to be near me in central NY, I'd be happy to lend you a machine. I've been buying older all steel ZZ machines to refurbish and, hopefully, sell next summer in a garage sale. They all work perfectly and I would not mind lending them out to another member of the group. If you're not going to be too far from me I'll even deliver it.

I'd call the airline, and possibly TSA. It should be no problem, but what would happen if they said no? I also think it might
depend on the airline. I almost took one of my machines on a recent trip, and I called the airline (Delta). The agent wasn't sure, so she checked with her supervisor. The answer was yes - but I'd call anyway.

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 !!!

ManiacQuilter has the only real concern (BTW: I love that name!) - dimensions. I worked in the electronics industry, and I have carried all kinds of very odd pieces of equipment through security as carryon items. There have been times when I've been asked what the equipment was, and I certainly have had to take it out of packaging a few times, but I've never been turned away or had the equipment confiscated. You do have to be really careful about the dimensions though. I generally have to fly a small plane (25-50 passengers) to a larger hub airport. The amount of space on those little planes is astonishingly small! I would think a Featherweight would fit under the seat even on those planes though. Even on big planes the airlines are beginning to enforce their long-existing rules for carry on sizes (thank goodness - this is a pet peeve of mine!).

Pam

I bought an inexpensive backpack that can convert to a carry on bag and stick my Janome 720 in that for travel. I wrap it in a large piece of bubble plastic (I have dropped it and nothing was damaged). It's small enough to stick in the overhead compartment. Never had a problem.

[QUOTE=MaryAnnMc;4709252]I have to travel to NYS next week to babysit for two weeks while my BIL has heart surgery in Ohio. This is going to put a crimp in my gift making plans, so I'm thinking of taking my FW in my carryon. Has anyone ever taken a machine on a plane? Will the airline give me any hassle, or TSA?? Mat & rotary cutter will go in my checked bag, along with needles (and you can be sure, there will be prayers said for that suitcase's safe and timely arrival!).

I would call the airlines & chk w/them first to see what their procedure is. A friend of mine will traveling & wants to do hand work & her airlines told her that the scissors has to be a certain size. Good luck, have fun & safe travels :)

Have Featherweight will travel! Have a great trip.

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

I
did the same thing and had no problems. I did purchase a carry on that had metal reinforcement bars, simply to protect my machine a bit more. They opened the bag, laughed, swabbed and sent me on my way. Had a great time sewing with my East Coast cousin!

My stepdaughter took a Singer 301, which is a full size machine, on a plane. She said security didn't giver her any trouble at all. We packed it in a rolling carry on bag, padded carefully with clothing. The machine made it home with her in perfect condition. I imagine a featherweight would also travel easily, but again, I recommend padding carefully.