I live overseas and some things can't be shipped overseas. I'm thinking of buying a new printer from Amazon, and carrying it on the plane. It weighs 19lbs. What reaction do you think I'd get from TSA ? Thanks

They'd tell you to post your question about the TSA in the T&S forum to get a better answer.

Size might be a "bigger" issue. Is the box standard carry on size?

Well, United wouldn't care. Since your post is asking about the TSA, maybe you should move it to that forum.

As long as the box or bag you have the printer in will fit under the seat or in an overhead, no one SHOULD care. 19 lbs. is not a problem; my camera bag weighs nearly twice that and when traveling with me is always a carry-on.

The basic atitude of this Forum will likely be, "it's none of the TSA's freakin' business as long as it's not on the banned list!" The airlines have additional size and weight limitations.

A guy I used to work with and his wife would take 2 trips a year to see her family in Costa Rica. They had the 70lb luggage limit to a science: They *each* took two checked pullmans filled with 70lbs of all kinds of stuff...PCs, monitors, a Kitchenaid mixer clothes, toys for the kids etc. They've never had problems.

the printer I am going to buy is not huge .. it will fit in the overhead much easier than most luggage. I was just concerned that they would want to see it "operate" like they do to a computer ... hmmmmm where can I borrow a computer that morning at 6am ??

TSA does not require electronics or computers to be operated before being allowed into the "sterile zone". Debatable whether this would be a useful measure. If item is an IED, then powering it up at a checkpoint could lead to deaths at the airport. Any IED could be configued to power up normally and still explode, for example by use of an altitude detonator or a detonator that would receive a unique signal. However, occasionally checking on the functionality of electronic devices could keep terrorists off balance. This is the profferred pretext behind the inconsistent shoe carnival.

A printer is fine.

I carried on a pair of boxes with two new laptops and printers when I traveled to a remote office about 2 months ago. These were in addition to my normal laptop

Additionally, they don't ask you to power up electronics anymore.

I'm sure the TSAers have seen everything through the x-ray, shouldn't be a problem. I've seen people go through the checkpoints with pineapples, live lobsters and hot dogs. And I'm sure that's nothing compared to what they've seen.

You will probably have a bigger issue with United. Will the box fit within the 45 linear inches allowed for carry-ons?

To me, that should be your biggest concern.

As long as it fits in the xray machine, TSA will not care.

Alas, the blind leading the blind. Don't know much about IEDs, do you.

The airlines are responsible for determining what is acceptable as carry-on and what is not in terms of type and numbers of items. TSA does not enforce this policy. However, from time to time, there are overzealous screeners who feel they need to exceed the scope of their duties. Hopefully, a supervisor or lead on duty will steer these overzealous screeners back into their running lane.

As long as the printer fits inside the x-ray machine, it can go. Otherwise, if we can't x-ray it, we won't clear it. If it can't be cleared at the checkpoint, your only choice will be to check it in. There are very few exceptions to the x-ray rule: printers aren't it. Items such as high-speed 35mm film, homeopathic medicines, etc. fall under the exception category for x-rays.