Transporting Computer in luggage?

thelanx

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2000
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I'm thinking of carrying my computer home in my luggage. Has anyone tried this? Is it safe? How should I go about doing this? I plan to cushion around my case with clothing and maybe some bubble wrap or packing peanuts and put air pillows and bubble wrap inside the case to cushion the components. Think this is a good idea?
 

drag

Elite Member
Jul 4, 2002
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They are probably going to make you open it up, whatever you send.

Might be easier just to take out the harddrive(s), the heatsink (if it's heavy), wrap them in cloth and take them with you and then mail the computer to yourself. Or stick it in a padded bag (with your cloths or whatever) and put that thru luggage and then keep the harddrive/heatsink on your person.

And anything else that may be damaged by rough handling.

If you travel alot and need to keep a hold of your computer then you can buy camera equipment-type luggage boxes, but it probably wouldn't be worth it for a single trip since they are so expensive.
 

DanceMan

Senior member
Jan 26, 2001
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You can do it. I've done it many times. I always let the airline know (and for some reason, they don't seem interested or care). What I would recommend is request in-person search with the TSA. The last time that I did not, I had left my suitcase unlocked, and the TSA went into it and did the search (they leave you a note to let you know that they have done that). Since there have been news stories about the TSA agents stealing items (and not being prosecuted for it due to national security reasons). I would say that it's best to have a manual search done in their presence. However, note that they do have the right to break into your luggage anytime and if something ends up missing, they can't be held liable for it. If it's something really expensive, maybe best to send it via the mail.

Hope this helps!

DanceMan
 

DanceMan

Senior member
Jan 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: drag
Might be easier just to take out the harddrive(s), the heatsink (if it's heavy), wrap them in cloth and take them with you and then mail the computer to yourself. Or stick it in a padded bag (with your cloths or whatever) and put that thru luggage and then keep the harddrive/heatsink on your person.

While this may be a good idea safety wise, it's probably not a good idea to take them on your person with you, since a hard drive is a pretty dense chunk of steel, and nothing sets the TSA off more than such things, even if a manual search. Most of the TSA personell don't know much about computer innards, and they may even confiscate it. Best to leave it all intact or ship the thing.

DanceMan
 

thelanx

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2000
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Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH
Problem solved:

Luggage

LOL haha I dunno how that would stand up to the rough treatment tho. Thanks all for the advice. I guess I may be getting to the airport early to request that I be searched. hehehe :)
 

imported_NoGodForMe

Senior member
May 3, 2004
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I wouldn't do it. I'd ship it UPS.
Do you realize the baggage handlers literally throw luggage around?
I mean, yeah, you'll spend $50 to have it packed nice at a UPS store and shipped versus free from the airline, but if you've got nice equipment, I wouldn't chance it.
 

Davegod

Platinum Member
Nov 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: NoGodForMe
I wouldn't do it. I'd ship it UPS.
Do you realize the baggage handlers literally throw luggage around?
I mean, yeah, you'll spend $50 to have it packed nice at a UPS store and shipped versus free from the airline, but if you've got nice equipment, I wouldn't chance it.

vote +1

make sure its insured etc though
 

thelanx

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2000
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Since I'm thinking of getting a new mobo and case w/ PSU, I've decided to just take my CPU, Video card, two hard drives and ram on my person. If I tell the people there, before they run it through the x-ray machine, and show them the components, they won't mind will they?
 

GoSharks

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 1999
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Originally posted by: thelanx
Since I'm thinking of getting a new mobo and case w/ PSU, I've decided to just take my CPU, Video card, two hard drives and ram on my person. If I tell the people there, before they run it through the x-ray machine, and show them the components, they won't mind will they?

you dont even need to tell them - i routinely bring hard drives (and the last time an lcd moniter and laptop docking station) as carry-on luggage and am never questioned about them. actually that last time he asked if i was bringing an x-box onboard and i told him what i had in it really. that was that, nothingn else.
 

vegetation

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: DanceMan
Originally posted by: drag
Might be easier just to take out the harddrive(s), the heatsink (if it's heavy), wrap them in cloth and take them with you and then mail the computer to yourself. Or stick it in a padded bag (with your cloths or whatever) and put that thru luggage and then keep the harddrive/heatsink on your person.

While this may be a good idea safety wise, it's probably not a good idea to take them on your person with you, since a hard drive is a pretty dense chunk of steel, and nothing sets the TSA off more than such things, even if a manual search. Most of the TSA personell don't know much about computer innards, and they may even confiscate it. Best to leave it all intact or ship the thing.

DanceMan

TSA is more than familiar enough with computer innards on the xray screen these days. And a harddrive is hardly anything special either. If that wasn't the case, then Ipods would have been singled out like crazy since it's basically just a hard drive shell.
 

Linux23

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
11,339
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Originally posted by: thelanx
Since I'm thinking of getting a new mobo and case w/ PSU, I've decided to just take my CPU, Video card, two hard drives and ram on my person. If I tell the people there, before they run it through the x-ray machine, and show them the components, they won't mind will they?

they will perform a full body cavity search. :p