Update on taking sewing machine on a plane
 

A few months ago, I posted here about taking a sewing machine on a plane. After great advice from this site, and a twist of fate, I decided against it. I am house sitting for my sister that lives in Las Vegas, and have another sister that lives 3 hours away from her. That sister, purchased a sewing machine from a friend of mine this spring in the town that I live in. She said that I could sew on it and she would pick it up that weekend when she drives over to see me. After seeing a commercial from UPS, I decided to send it that way. It cost $93 to ship it a little over 1,000 miles, but they packed it, and insured it. It did arrive, and in a few weeks I will find out what shape it is in. It does seem pricy, but the airline I am taking even charges for carry on, and then often tells you that you have to check it, and this way I don't have to lug it around the airport. Did I mention I will have five days of sewing with no worries like house cleaning, cooking, dishes, laundry, or anything else that keeps us from doing what we love. I just have a dog and cat to take care of. I will let this board know how the sewing machine fared its long trip.

Sounds wonderful - enjoy. I shipped my daughter my old machine via UPS - it arrived perfectly.

I have even heard that people who travel a lot often send their luggage by Fed Ex. I am just happy that my flying days are over. I think this is a better idea than not knowing at the gate if you can bring it on board. And especially that UPS will packed it and insure it!! Some for all quilter's to think about.

$93 for a week of sewing bliss sounds like a bargain to me!

Glad to hear the update. Hope it arrives safely and you have a wonderful week!!

With the added costs that airlines charge any more shipping ahead has become quite common. Hotels are also very accommodating in accepting packages for those on vacation. My daughter-in-law is an artist and participates in shows where she flies and always ships her display units and other things ahead of time. When my mother-in-law spent the winter months in Florida we shipped her things ahead so when she flew down all she had to worry about was herself and not any luggage. The last time I was shipping a package at FedEx the gentleman ahead of me was shipping his golf clubs to a resort. I'm sure UPS and FedEx have seen their business in this area increase.

My mother occasionally flies across the country to visit her sister for up to a month at a time. After a bout of lost luggage she only takes a large purse with a few essentials in it, and we put everything else in a box and send it UPS or Fedex. Depending on the weight, it's not any more expensive than checking a suitcase, and it gets there on time, every time! She says it makes navigating airports much less stressful without having to manhandle a suitcase or two.

$93...cheaper than a quilt retreat! Enjoy your time in Las Vegas!

I was one of the ones who took a machine on a carry-on a few years ago. Sounds like you did the right thing. The way they've changed everything, you probably can 't take it on anymore! Although at first they thought mine was a "breathing machine" so it was all right with them. Anyway, $93 isn't bad for getting your machine where it needs to be.

Enjoy yourself with nothing to do but feed the fur babies and quilt. Great retreat.

If you paid UPS to pack and ship, it better arrive in fantastic condition as it is their responsibility when they do the work. Generally they pack with great care but if you have any damage, please report it to them at once so they can take care of it.

We found out about the airline that charges for carry-ons the hard way! Will pay more and avoid them in the future!! Wired that checked bags are cheaper than carry-ons

Airplane
 

I'm not trying to one up anyone but many years ago I had to pack up my moms ancient singer machine in its equally ancient cabinet on short notice. I was shipping from CA to VA. It barely fit the maximum dimensions for UPS. In retrospect the whole episode was rather comical. I built a box from several and my cousin helped me schlep it to ups. By some miracle it arrived in one piece. The cabinet didn't have a scratch. The 60 year old slantomatic was shaken up but a tune up made purr like a kitten. Thanks UPS

YES!!! Wish it was me.

Don't want to worry you. Just make sure that when it arrives, someone unpacks it immediately. UPS will not take a claim weeks after arrival. Also make sure they KEEP THE UPS BOX. If you find something wrong, they will do nothing if you don't have the box. I have had three machines shipped via UPS (not my doing) and one was boxes and packed by them...that was the worst damage and torn up box than the other two,....They all had severe cover damage...broken, loose pieces all inside the boxes, large holes in the boxes etc. Two of them were shipped in the original Janome boxes with the hard Styrofoam support. That did not keep them from dropping something on the top, or dropping the machine from the plan to the tarmac...you could see the box damage lined up with the machine damage. First they said, Lady, no sewing machine is worth that kind of money! I asked him how he would like for me to drop his laptop from the plane to the concrete? I had to explain that our machines are like computers....then I had a supervisor at the claims office tell me...."your boxes go end over end on numerous conveyor belts and handling, it DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF YOU PUT THIS END UP, OR FRAGILE ON YOUR BOX, IT STILL GOES END OVER END, ABOUT THE ONLY TIME WE PAY ANY ATTENTION IS WHEN IT IS MARKED GLASS" I could not believe he told me this....I no longer use UPS, only FED Ex....no problem with them and they have shipped one sewing machine and two sergers. Best wishes to you and have the recipient open the box upon arrival and save the box. Be sure to take thread and machine needles with you. Quilt and sewing shops are long drives from the Las Vegas downtown area.
I hope you have a wonderful time and stay cool. It is really hot this time of the year.

I now fly SouthWest which does not charge for checked luggage or carryons, and it significantly cheaper than the airlines I used to use. They allow you to make flight changes at no cost, and you can choose each leg of the trip separately. Plus I just love the way you get to line up in order according to when you checked in, or if you paid extra to get ahead. Then you just walk on and pick a seat. You can see who is going to be next to you, so you have more options, like maybe not being next to a fussy baby or someone who smells bad. I'm so glad SouthWest now goes to Wichita, which is mostly where I go, even though currently the flight times are somewhat inconvenient - 5:40 am and 5:40 pm which gets you from Wichita to Hartford at 12:40 am. They are building a new terminal in Wichita which might mean more choices. I saw people bring dogs on board in cases about the size of a sewing machine, and if you put it on a dolly you could wheel it around the airport. Hope yours arrived safely.

Sounds like heaven. $93.00 worth it. Let us know how it all turns out.

LOVE SouthWest Airlines!!

I don't know how much it costs but Grey Hound bus will ship items as well. My daughter does it all the time.

UPS is amazing with packing delicate items. My father-in-law built a Granddaughter clock from scratch, it is beautiful beyond description. When he passed away we were given the clock. We went to the UPS store in Pennsylvania and explained that we wanted to ship the clock to our home in Colorado. The clock stands just shy of eight feet high. It arrived in perfect condition, not one problem and it was obvious that great care had been taken to pack it. With the airlines charging for everything ala carte it can get very expensive so sending your machine on ahead was genius. Deregulation of the airline industry was probably one of the worst mistakes ever made. Help the flying public? Sure, and do you want to sit or stand on your flight? A seat is extra and standing comes with the option of a hanging strap to hold or you just "free float."

If you are going to be in Las Vegas...treat yourself to a INDOOR sky diving experience---totally indoors...no airplanes involved. "VEGAS INDOOR SKY DIVING." It is totally safe! My son and girlfriend work there. I have not had the opportunity to try it, but EVERYONE that I have sent that way has thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Your age doesn't matter. He has flown a man who was 84 and walked out terribly upset. My son asked him if he had done something wrong. The man replied, "No, I am just mad at myself for waiting as long as I did to do this."
Just tell them that sailsablazin from Michigan sent you and they will find my son if he is working that day. You will not be sorry!!! PM me for more info if you want.