desktop??
 

Is it okay to bring a desktop in a box and checking it in for travel overseas?
Thanks

alexus9...I'm not sure what you mean by shipping a "desktop" overseas and/or whether this belongs in the Travel Safety/Security Forum.
Can you explain this a little further and then we can either answer it here or transfer this thread to another Forum for a better answer.
Thanks....

Hi mod,
I am travelling overseas and will be bringing a desktop with me. I will put the desktop in the box. In that box will be one toy laptop and some childrens clothes. I will be checking in the box with the desktop with the other items in it. I don't know if that will be an issue with the tsa. Is this even an appropriate question here in this forum. Thanks

If you are referring to having a desktop computer as checked baggage, there should not be any problems with that. Just keep in mind of what that box could go through being tossed around from aircraft to luggage cart to aircraft.

Have a good flight...

If TSASuper is right and you are talking about a computer, I would suggest pulling the hard drive and carrying that one the plane with you. As far as I know, hard drives especially do not react well to being knocked around. I'm not sure if that only applies when it is on. Maybe one of the technophiles on this board could clarify.

If it's a minitower, why not carry it on?

Depending on the age of the computer the hard drives usually go into a park mode when shut down properly so the probability of platter crash is slight. When you get to the destination I would suggest you open the PC and check all card placement and connectors before powering up. They can dislodge and cause problems if not checked.

Spiff has a point. At least for piece of mind.

Why not, at JFK they are carrying everything including the kitchen sink.

A minitower with a styrofoam shell and box will fit into the sizewise or other carry-on luggage measurers and will still be fairly light.

I'd carry that on + my personal item and check my usual carryon of clothing rather than check the desktop, no matter how well packed.

If you want to be safer stuff the inside of the PC with socks. :D

If your internal components are rattling against each other, then your PC is in pretty sad shape! :D

hey guys thanks for the response. This is a big desktop to carry on plus I will have a laptop as a carry on. I think I will just pad it with styrofoam(lots). I'll just chance it. I just hope that they dont ask me to open it after taping it and tying a rope around it. As far as the sink if there is profit to be made I'll carry one to. :)

thanks to super,mgr spiff and roach

You may not want to tape and tie the ropes too tight. There is a very good chance the box will be opened to be examined. The air carrier will probably also want to see what you have inside to make sure you are not checking in any hazardous materials.

I always keep my original packaging for my desktops just in case I have to return them for service. If you still have yours, why not ship it with a third party such as FedEx, UPS, etc.?

Since many new desktops are shipped every by commercial airlines all over the USA (UAL delivered my first IBM PC in 1982, a few years ago, AA flew my more recent IBM desktop), it should be ok as long as it is packaged like it was when new. UPS and FedEx fly many desktops without incident as well.

Computers and their components comprise some of that "hard to find" air cargo on commercial airliners. ;)

In that case do I need to bring packing tape and rope with me to the airport?

Since I am allowed to carry something for 70lbs I thought I just bring it along. Maybe its not even worth the hassle.

No you do not. If TSA opens any boxes, we are supplied with packing tape that contains the TSA logo so you'd know if we opened it or not.

We'll seal it back up for you.