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.

The last several times I have flown, they have taken my carry on (not sewing machine) and put it in the cargo area. I had no choice. I agree that calling Southwest for consultation is a good idea. I would think that under the seat is better than in a overhead bin. I know that a lot of somewhat heavy things go up there, but I would hate to be bonked on the head by a sewing machine.

I think I would look into renting a machine at my destination. I don't think I would ever take my machine on a plane. I've flown on many small planes where all carry on luggage was put in cargo.

I flew Southwest last fall with my machine with no problem. I bought a bag that would fit under the seats from Ebags I believe was the place. I did not have to remove the needle. I did this on a total of 4 flights...not one problem.

Id just buy another one when you landed and save the hassle :) a great excuse to own another FW!

I've flown with my Pfaff 7570 several times on Southwest without any problems. I packed it in a carry-on roller bag with fabric packed around it. The TSA agents inspected it thoroughly and I had to repack it, but it wasn't a problem. I put it in the overhead area like any other carry-on bag. Flying Southwest, I highly recommend paying the extra dollars for the Early Bird Check-In. It pretty much guarantees that you will have overhead luggage space.

I have traveled several times with my machine .I have a Bernina 730 . My bag would not roll between the seats so it was a difficult task. The machine is almost to heavy for me to carry, but I managed anyway. I also travel Southwest.
I just had to put it as far under the seast as it would go. Good luck.

Thanks Everyone for the replies. It is a Janome DC2011 machine weighing 18 lbs. I have 5 sewing machines and my DIL wants to learn to sew so I am either bringing it to her when I visit in a couple weeks or shipping it. Since I have five I don't want to buy her one especially if she doesn't end up using it. I gave her one of my extras in 2005 and she gave it to a friend, but now she is requesting a sewing machine.

I put my machine in my rolling laptop bag. No problem!

I had to use my machine in a class I was attending at a conference once and decided to take it to the UPS Store and have them pack it and ship to the hotel. It was worth the cost knowing that it would arrive safely and I wouldn't have the hassle of trying to lift it over my head to store it in an overhead compartment. They packed it, included the return packing label, picked it up at the hotel, etc. Just a suggestion.

The good news is Southwest flies all the same planes. If you pay for an early boarding ( an extra $12.50) you will be assured to get a space in the over head bin. Be prepared to have to lay the machine on its back , I doubt it will fit upright( but it depends on your machine and the case).

Why would you be in trouble if they checked the bags in the bins?

if the bins get full they take the roller bags and throw them in the cargo hold and the machine could be damaged by the rough handling.

Please let us know how things went.

I had a Babylock 7500 that fit perfectly in a case I had and carried it on the plane. No problems!! Now if you have a long way to walk through the airport, you might think about that. I had a walker and placed it on the seat, otherwise I couldn't have carried it all the way.

Last summer I took an IKEA SY sewing machine to Lithuania. It was packed into a regular suitcase surrounded by clothing and got there just fine. Coming home I had only one suitcase, and had to abandon the sewing machine. The young man I gave it to at the airport was thrilled to get it. So that trip cost me $70 more than expected.

Last night I saw a Janome sewing machine that weighs five pounds. Hancocks has it on sale this next week for about $50. That's the one that is going with me this year. It does straight sewing and zig-zag. Nothing else. That's enough for me. I think it's going into my purse. LOL

There are several other machines as well that are five pounds. I googled and found a Janome 10-stitch Derby in various colors that's five pounds and costs around $59-69.

After having read all the comments and the Bonnie Hunter blog - what a horror story, I think I'd go along with the preshipping. It may cost a little more than carryon, but it will definitely cost less than a destroyed machine. Just my opinion. Joyce

I bought a heavy old machine while on vacation. It was wrapped good and boxed up. My husband and the TSA agent had a good laugh when it went through the scanner.

DO NOT SHIP YOUR MACHINE VIA UPS....Probably anyone else, unless you have the original factory box and packing that it came in. Even then, you are taking a chance. Ask me how I know. A lady had UPS pack the Janome 10000 she shipped to me. She insured it. Thank goodness. The box was crushed, it was wide open on one side, the feet were everywhere, no telling how many are still in the UPS conveyor system. Cracked the hard case. When I filed a claim the agent said, no sewing machine is worth that kind of money....What? I asked him how he would like it if his laptop was dropped from the cargo hole to the tarmack. I told him my machine was a computerized machine...he got quiet.
The next machine I had shipped to me was in a Janome original shipping box, then wrapped again. Something sharp pieced the top of the box and cracked the hard case and the top of the machine. That claim got me to a supervisor in a processing facility, who actually told me that NO MATTER IF YOU PUT THIS END UP, OR FRAGILE ON THE OUTSIDE YOUR PACKAGES GO END OVER END ON NUMEROUS CONVEYORS...ABOUT THE ONLY TIME WE PAY SOME ATTENTION IS WHEN WE SEE THE WORD GLASS ON THE OUTSIDE! My dealer now puts glass on the outside of all their boxes. To your issue. Take exact measurements of your machine in a bag, call Southwest, get a name of the person you talk to, ask them is you pay the $12.50 and board early, will this size bag fit in under the seat or overhead. Tell them you prefer not to ship nor do you want it in the cargo. Rather than using the machine case, get a small luggage roller bag or large backpack with rollers that you know will pass the measurement test. I asked a man to help put mine in a bin,by itself. I waited for everyone to start leaving the plan before I got my machine. and Yes, this will be counted as your carry on. So put soft items in the bag around your machine. Wear a criss cross purse under your jacket for other "stuff". Calling ahead is a good idea. Good Luck and Happy sewing.

Do we know whether she got any compensation ?

We flew southwest in August and DH carried one of my featherweights on in its original black case. We had no problems. It did go up above and on one plane, had to "ride" on its side. I think the inner lining of the box got a little scratched up due to shifting but for me, it was a small price to pay. I made curtains for our guest room when we got to the condo and was so glad that we brought it.

I just traveled this past week to FL on Delta with my Janome Gem in a rolling carry on bag. I took out the needle and thread holder pin, and packed those with the extra feet and accessories in my checked bag. I stored my carryon in the overhead, but could have put under the seat if need be. We had no problems going through security. I'll be bring it back to Ohio next week but don't expect any problems.

Several years ago I traveled from Michigan to California on Delta and took my Janome. I packed it in a regular carry-on sized suitcase and placed it in the overhead bin. I did have help from some very nice male passengers to lift it up/down for me. The only problem I had was from a very rude TSA agent in San Francisco who started asking questions about my weight, I'm a "wee bit of a thing" as one doctor once said, and some bruises she happened to see on my arms. I had been carrying heavy uniforms on wood hangers and sleeping on the bottom bunk on a bus for almost 3 weeks but even though I told her that, she continued to ask about "was I safe, going home to a good situation", etc. This was in front of everyone in line! I was so embarrassed and finally said if she wanted to talk anymore, take me to a room. I was done!! It was a good thing she couldn't see my legs. Getting things off the floor and out of the bottom of a bus everyday leaves one with quite a few bruises. Called and reported it but I never heard anything about it. As far as the machine went, it was a piece of cake and I'm glad I had it rather than having to take the time to learn about the old machine they had. Good luck whatever you decide. Oh, I did do the early boarding so I knew I would have the overhead bin.