I'd leave your machine at home and go thrift store and yard sale shopping as soon as you get there for a cheap, used machine. You'll have fun meeting new people and snooping for a bargain. When you leave, you can give it to your relatives, or just donate it to a hospice, or Goodwill.
~ Cindy

I sure don't understand why it would hurt a machine to lay on its side. There is nothing to leak.

I took an IKEA SY sewing machine to Lithuania last summer. Weighs about 13 pounds. I put a few clothes in the bottom of the suitcase, laid the machine on top of that; stuffed the throat cavity with more clothing; and then took the straps that are inside most suitcases and securely tightened it down so it would not move around. Then I added other things that would fit. It got there perfectly. I just couldn't add too much other heavy stuff because of the weight limits. Clothes were the best bet. If you are taking heavy shoes or other clothes, WEAR IT.

You could also put a machine in your "purse". There are some really nice wheeled bags that will hold a machine, and you can stuff it around the machine with "essentials" and call it your purse. It would need to fit under the seat. We flew United last week and there was a lot of room under those seats. Very comfortable.

Just reading about taking a sewing machine along on flights. I fly very rarely so don't have to deal with this. I just wonder why planes don't limit take-ons so everyone who buys a ticket and flys has their overhead above their seat to store their things. Just my thinking I guess.

I like Love to Sew's answer, I'd keep my good machine at home.

If you ship one make sure you ship it with plenty of time to get there, as they can get "lost" enroute. I had a machine I had shipped to me and it went to WA and sat a while before I finally got it. Myself I would buy a cheap one while there and leave it, because let's face it stuff gets lost, stuff get damaged sometimes to the tune of nothing left of it.

Good one, Nancy! I needed a laugh today.

I recently flew SW and took one of my FWs as carry-on and it worked just fine. A little heavy for me to carry the mile and a half at the Nashville airport; the only complaint came from my GD who was there to meet me on my arrival back home--she said "why did you hand carry this heavy thing, Grannie? You could have checked it, you know." I have also done what some have suggested here; gone to Austin and bought a yard sale machine while I was there--never more than $15, and that is more than you would pay for excess baggage, isn't it? Plus, going into the belly of that plane, I know they "throw" them, and don't care if they fall off the rolling track into the plane.....my suggestion, have your sister check yard sales now if she can and call you when she finds one you might like, then repay her when you get there.

What is it with the airline people telling you to be sure to bring some bubble wrap, just in case you have to check it.
THEY HAVE TO BE KIDDING.What in the world do they think bubble wrap is going to do?? Always think of a piece of luggage being dropped from the plane to the concrete tarmac. Because that happens everyday. NEVER CHECK YOUR MACHINE. ALSO NEVER USE UPS FOR SHIPPING. I have had three machines severely damaged by them....(the shipper used them, not me) My last machine, I asked for and paid extra to use FedEx. UPS CLAIMS told me, all boxes go end over end numerous times in shipment and they DO NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION TO 'THIS END UP' OR FRAGILE! That they pay halfway attention if it says 'GLASS' on the outside. Can you believe that, from UPS no less. I like .... order one from allbrands and have it shipped...I have always received their machines within two days. I have a Janome 3160 that is 11 lbs. that I have carried many times. I always had a nice gentleman to help me lay it on its side in the over head. Call a guild or sewing machine dealer and see if you can rent one of their used machines. I had a dealer in Lake Tahoe that allowed me to come to their store and sew every day for a week while my husband was at a conference. I took long breaks to sit by the lake...it was wonderful. I digress. Best wishes and have fun sewing.

I put my Janome Gem in a rolling carrying It fits under the seat and in the overhead. No problems with airline. Machine packed and fit well in carrying

save yourself a headache ~ just buy a small one there, and leave it there.

I think there are weight restrictions to carry ons, too. There are services that will ship your luggage - not cheap but might be worth it if you are set on having your own machine. Or just look into the cost of FedEx or UPS shipping.

I have a Brother CS6000i that I ordered through Walmart. It is perfect for piecing and it comes with all the feet you need (except a 1/4" foot) for quilting. The harp space is small but you CAN quilt on it. I ordered and picked it up at the local Walmart. It is under $200.

My daughter brought her featherweight a few times and then asked me to have a machine ready for her. She didn't want her machine damaged. I think having a machine there would be the best option even if you had to ship one as someone else suggested. The overheads on planes are small and there isn't much room at your feet.

I took a small Brother on a plane trip one time, but I sure wouldn't take my big one! You've got some good ideas from others on here.

I tried to take a small Singer 401 as a carry-on several years ago, and they would not allow it. That meant I had to let it go under like the overweight carry-on bags. What happened? My machine was trashed--completely ruined the case and even the tension mechanism on the machine itself. I packed it as safely as I could to avoid further damage and took it back in a suitcase the next time. I had it repaired--maybe $85. Then I packed it again as carefully as possible in a regular suitcase. Again the tension mechanism was destroyed. I brought a new Elna embroidery machine the next time and it was trashed too. Maybe others can tell you a success story or two, but mine have all been disasters.

Several years ago I took a flight to TX, sent my kenmore with my bags, wrapped an enclosed in a large bag, when I opened it it was damaged, I think it was tossed around by baggage handlers, fortunately I could have it repaired! DO NOT take it with you!

quilting board needs a like button LOL good one

I agree with you completely

I took my featherweight on a 5,000 mile flight. I took anything sharp like needles and such and put them in my checked luggage. They are a little more strict up here in the Great White North!

I joined Bonnie's FB group and it appears to me like now she gets people to loan her machines that then wait for her at the hotels where she stays whenever she travels by plane.

This is as it should be, IMO.

You might ask about checking it in as "special" luggage, it is very well protected....we just brought my father in laws very expensive guitar back from Hawaii and did it this way....came thru perfect.

I carried on a full size machine- I had a painting case that it fit in just perfect. I am disabled so boarded first and had room...if you are handicapped at all that may help. It also helped to carry the machine through the airport on my walker!

Peckish referred to an instance with Bonnie Hunter's Featherweight. She was flying and always been allowed to take the FW on board with her. This time, the airlines refused to allow her to do it and made her check it with her baggage as well as her laptop. The Featherweight was totally destroyed and so was her laptop. I wouldn't take a chance on losing the sewing machine. I'd see about buying one there or getting one shipped ahead of time like several others suggested.

It was her pretty little Fushia colored FW, too!

I have taken my FW on a flight twice. I found a rolling backpack that it fit into nicely. Packed all the precut fabric around it along with any non-sharp notions. It fit under the seat in front of me even on a regional jet that had no over head bins. My poor little machine was swabbed for drugs (broke her heart!) but she came thru like the champ she is!

A video of Air Canada baggage handlers tossing baggage 20 ft was just posted on youtube and has received lots of media attention - just happened 2 days ago. Apparently this practice does occur also with other airlines - also reported in this news clip is damage done to baggage on a United flight.

Watch the video (after the commercial) to see what was a passenger videotaped on his phone - the comments that you hear are made by passengers in disbelief of the handlers actions:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/air-c...ired-1.1783056

I dont think that I would want my sewing machine in any of the bags that are tossed around like this - if you are forced to check at the gate and it is always a possibility it will be damaged. Lots of suggestions on how to get a machine to use after arrival when travelling by air have been given in this discussion and may be worth looking into. Keep your expensive baby safe by leaving it at home.