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Safe to check my desktop as luggage for flight?

J

jorwex

Member
I'm moving just for the summer, and intend to pack very light. However, I think I might go crazy if I don't have a computer for the whole summer--which I won't if I don't take mine.

Would it be a bad idea to box up my pc and throw it in a rolling suitcase (it'll fit)? I don't know how well taken care of luggage is once it's out of travelers' sight at the airport. Has anyone done this before?

Should I somehow pad the inside of the case--the empty parts--with...i dunno..balled up newsprint or something. I feel like I'll have to remount the heatsink on the other side. Would it be wise to take out all the cards and put them back in when I get there?

Any ideas? I fly in 2 weeks
 
Bad idea. Luggage gets tossed around. And lost.

If you insist on it, remove the CPU/heatsink and all the expansion cards and hard drives (CD/DVD drives can probably be left in), and pack them in proper shipping materials. You could pack them inside the case if you filled the rest of the space so they won't be rattling around and damaging the motherboard.

Carry the hard drives with you; that way at least you have your data even if the computer never shows up.
 
Bad idea ..... if you have ever seen the way baggage is handled at an airport you'd agree. Throw, kick, drop and toss. I'd package it up real good and send it UPS or Fedex before I transported it on an airline.
 
Originally posted by: Skitzer
Bad idea ..... if you have ever seen the way baggage is handled at an airport you'd agree. Throw, kick, drop and toss. I'd package it up real good and send it UPS or Fedex before I transported it on an airline.
Click to expand...

The same thing happens at UPS, FedEx, etc. It just happens where you don't see it.

Packaging is everything. Assume it will have to sustain a 6' fall from a conveyor belt and pack it to survive. Double box with lots of cushioning.


 
I think I'd try to find a reasonably priced lap top. It could be cheaper than replacing a computer destroyed in transport.
 
I agree with those who suggessted to double-box it and ship separately. Carry your hard drives with you. I'd also pull the cards and mark them and the slots they are in so you don't forget. If you have a heavy CPU cooler, I'd probably remove that too.

.bh.
 
Baggage and Fedex are the same, wrap all the parts in anti static AND bubble wrap inside and out, and carry your hard drives.

Good luck 🙁
 
Why don't you get the biggest carry-on allowable and just carry it on the plane with you. Not sure if it would fit (depends on the size of your case I suppose) but that's your best bet. Worst case, just pack the case in regular luggage and carry on all of your components. Cases are easy (and cheap) to replace...it's the insides that are expensive. They are small though so it's no problem to carry them on.
 
Hell if you're going to ship it just insure it for loads and take the drives with you 😀.

Tech Support avatar crew representin'.
 
I'd take it apart and take the important pieces with me as carry on. As long as it's not an expensive case, send the almost bare case as luggage.
 
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