Flying with HP all-in-one PC
 

Hello, I'm a bit new here and looking for some quick travel advice. I have searched all over the internet but I still don't really know what exactly to do.

I'm flying from JFK to Grenada next weekend for a month and I have to bring my 20" all-in-one desktop so that I can work remotely while I am away. Originally I was just going to bubble wrap it tightly and pack it with my clothes in my suitcase and check it. Then after some research I found the ilugger so that I could carry it on board with me.
I called Delta (since they are who I will be flying with) and the woman told me my computer wouldn't be allowed as carry on b/c I cannot turn it on the way you can with a laptop. I thought that was a strange reason so a few days later I called and someone else told me that as long as it fits the size requirements it should be fine. But if I wanted to check it, then that was no issue either, but I would have to sign a liability waiver (which is fine).
But she suggested I call TSA directly and they told me I should REALLY carry it on b/c it is such an expensive item that it would be better off in my hands.
Still though, I am worried about it fitting the carry-on requirements b/c it is over the 22" x 14" x 9" (an ilugger being 20.5" x 19" x 6"). But I've read stories of people carrying this on with no trouble.

So I guess I have 2 questions- One being has anyone brought an all-in-one (be it a PC or Mac) on their flight as a carry-on or did they prefer to check it?
Two is- how did you pack it? Did you spend lots of money on a really nice carry-on case? Or just put together a homemade laptop bag? Is there something just as good as the ilugger but not as pricey?

Things to note:
-I will not ship this item, I don't have the money
-I did purchase very good traveler's insurance so I can cover the computer if it suffers any damages (I actually needed it more for the trip cancellation)

Any advice that anyone could give would be SUPER appreciated! Thanks! :D

Sure, because her TSA colleagues are standing by to steal it and she knows it. :)

Seriously, you'd be insane to check it. Good chance you'd never see it again. And if it exceeds the carry-on dimension limits the airline will be justified in prohibiting you from taking it onboard. (21" X 19" X 6" might not even fit in some planes' overhead bins.) So now you could be faced with abandoning it on the spot at the departure gate, or checking it so it's at the mercy of baggage handlers.

It can't weigh more than 20 pounds. If you "can't afford" to UPS a 20-pound box to Grenada, I would reexamine your priorities.

I've looked at quotes on UPS.com and it says it'll cost me nearly $200 just one way to ship something from NY to Grenada. Comparing that to a $140 carry-on bag, I'd just as soon take my chances with the latter. I agree that checking it is least desirable option though.

I've read stories of people not having issues carrying on their all-in-one so I was really hoping to get some input from people who have done that before.

Why spending $$ on a carry-on bag for an item that you can't carry on? :confused:

Seems your mind has been made, even though you clearly know the carryon restriction.

I am not sure you are really looking for sound advice or just something to "reinforce" your possibly "risk-taking" solution to having your-must-have desktop while in Grenada.

If I must have my desktop with me while away, I would definitely take no risk. If I were you and really wanted input for feasible delivery options, the question I probably would ask is, "what's my cheapest option to get my (insert size/weight) desktop from JFK to Grenada when flying Delta? I can only budget it up to $xxx."

FTers are a creative bunch of people with great ideas. But I am not going to take away the thrill and fun from risk-takers. YMMV.

Good luck and welcome to FT!

Yeah, but the problem is inconsistency. Just because someone chimes in and says it worked for them has no bearing on whether it'll work for you. It would still be foolish to count on being allowed to violate the carry-on parameters.

Yup. And it seems to me if the UPS fee is $200 and you're willing to pay $140, you're balking at a spread of $60, which to me is penny-wise and pound-foolish.

You can go on calling for someone who checks in here and says, hey, it worked for me. But it still might not work for you.

$200 each way = $400 actually. Also, my fiance lives down there and from the stories he's told me between him and his friends I'd be lucky to get it within 2 weeks b/c everything moves so slowly down there (yes, even things like Fed Ex and UPS). Also I have to pay the tax on that as well. So shipping it may not even be a great option.

I took matters into my own hands and talked to a Delta representative who took the time to look at the make of the plane I will be flying on and said I will have no problems with my carry-on. Especially considering it still fits within the 45 linear inches rule.
I won't be spending $140 on an ilugger either, but I wanted to use that as a reference.
So I managed to answer my own question.

How about selling it and buying a laptop as a replacement?

To this point, is there anything special on your computer you need or is it just the only one you have?

Does it or does it not fit? :confused:

You mean the measure of your "bare" desktop doesn't exceed 45"?

I really don't understand why a regular someone nowadays would insist on using a desktop as a travel computer. You don't necessarily have to get out and buy yourself a notebook or netbook, BTW, a netbook can be quite inexpensive these days. something less than $200. Your fiance and/or friends don't have a computer that you can use once you get over there since he lives there? :confused:

If what you need is the files/data on your desktop, you can just use a USB drive or something that is extremely portable and non-bulky. Unless there's some special softwares/programs that you must use but only have in your home computer.

Anyway, good luck getting onboard with your "desktop carry-on" when flying Delta.

Customs
 

1. Make sure you register the computer at Customs at JFK before leaving the country.

2. Will Grenada allow you to import the computer and will it run safely on local electrical offerings?

This, or a cloud based solution.

One thing that concerns me is taking a piece of equipment that is designed to sit in a stationary environment on a trip like this. Some concerns about components becoming loose or damaged are discussed here.

How did it go? Did it work as a carry on?