taking a sewing machine on a plane
 

I have a small janome that I think will fit under the seat as a carry on and I want to bring it to my DIL rather than ship it. I have the medium size tuto luggage I could put it in but that is a bigger carry on and if I get caught in a situation where they have too many roller luggage in the bins and start making people check luggage I would be in trouble. So how have you handled taking a sewing machine on a plane? I am flying on Southwest.

Thanks!

I have friends that travel with machines. They take a small one in a rolling back pack and put it under the seat in front of you. Take out the needle. this is counted as your carry on.

I took my Brother on the plane and they make me place it in the cargo area, said it was not going to fit under my seat. Long story short--my machine was totaled when they crushed it, and they said I did not pack it correctly for cargo!! It was the correct size, but they said no, would not even let me show them that it would fit. That was United Airline.

Measure it and weigh it. Find out the guide lines. Tape anything down you can So nothing breaks off. Good luck!

Bonnie Hunter had a problem when flying last year - she was forced to check her Featherweight that she brought onboard as her carry on - was quite a nightmare for her:
http://quiltville.blogspot.ca/2012/0...to-united.html

I have flown once with a machine as carryon and had no problem except lifting it up into the overhead space. It was a vintage machine and just in a square case.

I have flown Southwest many times. I would call them asking them what you should do. They are usually very friendly. You might want to pay the extra for early boarding. I use to take my Singer everywhere across country on United in the 60s and the 70s with no problem. When I visited my Dad for the summer, had to bring something to entertain myself. But this was decades before all the tightening rules and regs.

Can't help you with this but I do know featherweight cases fit!

I took my Bernina in a rolling "Quilt in a Day" bag with a handle and carried on board. The flight attendants thought I was nuts and didn't offer to assist. They won't store it in a stand up closet. Another passenger lifted it into the overhead bin (I'm 5'1" - enough said ). It made it just fine. Went in sideways. I had other things packed around it so it wouldn't move much. I was flying on a commuter plane to Minneapolis and onto Orlando. The smaller plane checked it curb side and I carried it on the flight from Minneapolis to Orlando. I wI

Can you Fed-Ex or UPS it to your destination? If you want a carry on I've heard that a bowling ball bag is the right size.