Can i carry a 27" iMac onto the airplane?
 

Hello

i want to carry my 27" imac on an international flight.
because I no longer have the box, I sort of don't want to look for a new box for it and would rather carry it myself.

But the computer is quite large and it is sort of a delicate little thing.

I'm flying LAX to ICN and ICN to TAO on first class in Korean Air.
Do you think they'll let me do this?

Can't you just ship it?

yeah but that would mean I have to get a proper box for the iMac, which can survive idiots throwing the box around during transit, so I want to avoid that, if possible.

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If most people think that it's an idiotic idea, I will have to probably call KAL and maybe get a box before I leave.

I think either way you'll have to get a box to carry the thing in. I would carry it on board, but not in, say, a plastic shopping bag.

Yeah I guess I have to get a box.
I looked on eBay for the 27" iMac retail box and it costs about $50.
Perhaps I have to just get that.

I've just looked at Amazon, and they have some nice carry bags for about two/three times the cost of a cardboard box. I'd invest in that for future travel.

I have a 27" iMac from 2011, and I would be more than a little uncomfortable transporting it in the box, let alone in a different container. It does seem pretty fragile in many respects, and I would definitely want to invest in some decent quality tape for sealing the box (nylon embedded in an adhesive), plus I think I would spend some time wrapping the iMac carefully with some bubble wrap before boxing it.

The baggage policy at KE seems to permit an oversize box like this, for a fee, which is not specified. I would expect a carefully packed 27" iMac + box would clock in at under 40lbs, but the length + width + height of the original box is about 65", which exceeds the 62" allowed by KE for "free" checked bags.

It would exceed the carryon limits for KE: https://www.koreanair.com/global/en/...-services.html

See also this recent thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...c-onboard.html

All these options seem like a huge hassle.
I will have to just buy a new Mac in China.

http://www.amazon.com/iMac-27-Carry-.../dp/B007DEZ33U

For $200, this is a lot less of a hassle to me than buying a new iMac!

Since this is well over the carryon size limit for KE (and most airlines) the OP is liable to have it refused for carryon either at checkin, security or on boarding and so would then be stuck with needing to check a 27" iMac in a soft padded bag.

A much better option would be to buy a suitable cardboard box (either OEM or third party) to check it.

I know it's above the stated limits, but I've never been any carry-on refused on international first class. I've taken framed paintings, a large fragile vase, and an antique wooden sculpture. All of these have significantly exceed either weight or size limits. I recognise that this is anecdotal, but there much more leniency in F than anywhere else, in my (not insignificant) experience. Indeed, on my last LH flight in F, I carried a large cumbersome box up the steps to the UD on a 747. I apologised to the FA when asking for a place to stow it, and she replied "oh don't worry, up here anything goes."

I think the most aggravation the OP will have is with the airport, rather than the airline.

Reminds me of the time-about 25 years ago-when I carried on a 27 inch TV from LAX to ORD on Continental. In coach. And this was back when such a TV was about two feet plus thick. The FA kindly provided an empty seat (remember those!) and belted my TV in.

A 27 inch Mac is a lot smaller than that TV!

PS As stated above, I've never had a problem with bringing big things on in F--problem may be in getting the computer to gate.