Hi,

Apologies if this isn’t the right website or forum for this request.

I’m looking to transport a 42” flat screen TV from London to Jakarta in April and I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me figure out the best way to do so.

Ideally I’d like to have the TV travel with me and my luggage when I go out there for the sake of convenience. I’ve yet to book my flights, but I’m likely to fly with Etihad, Qatar Airways, Emirates or BA.

The TV is its original packaging so would be safe to travel, but is equally of a significant size, especially in its box. The boxed weight is 26kg.

Does anyone know if any of these airlines allow you to pay to take a TV as oversized baggage, rather than the usual sports/musical equipment?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Personally I wouldn't try to ship it, sell it in London and buy a new one in Jakarta.

I was baffled when a tk fa asked me to move from an otherwise empty row in economy comfort so that a tv could be placed on the floor in my row. Wouldn't count on that and it obviously didn't fit In the overhead bin.

from BKK, I see frequently nationals from the sub-continents purchase up to 42" Flat screen TVs and checkin with them. I am talking about 20-30 o them at a time.

whether they pay for overweight/size or otherwise I'm not sure

Though it would not travel with you have you tried looking at one of the borderlinx/ dhl type companies to ship for you? A few months ago I almost bought a 55 inch tv online in the us and was planning to have it ship to hk. The shipping cost including insurance was less than usd 200

I've seen these as checked baggage often. Personally I would really beef up the packing if I was checking one. Maybe sandwich the box between 2 sheets of plywood??

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Bags can be tossed around and dropped quite a bit.

What are the dimensions? That is the question.

I've seen a passenger on a Hong Kong - Manila flight bring a LG TV not sure if it was 42 or 46". He was most likely transisting from the U.S. I saw the TV just in its regular box and the baggage handlers actually lifting it up and bringing it up to the passenger personally rather than just let it whirl around on the belt. I pretty much assume they take care of when handling that kind of luggage.

Cheers

Thanks for all the advice so far.

It’s a brand new TV that I’d saved up for so I’d be taking quite a hit to sell it so soon. Unfortunately I didn’t know I’d need to take it to Jakarta at the time I bought it.

I agree there is always a risk in sending anything hold luggage - I didn’t mean to imply otherwise, just to say I had a box it could travel in. I would have my fingers crossed for the whole journey til I unpacked it at the other end!

Good point on the dhl/equivalent, it was next on my list to check if there was no easy way to do so with the airline.

Thanks again!

I'd definitely be doing something like this, at the least a sheet of plywood inside the box protecting the screen side from puncture damage

I've seen this a lot, but unless there was something special about the model of TV I'd probably go the 'sell and buy new' route, given the costs of 42" flat screens now.

You also need to consider this:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=44479

This is not the only place I have seen this advice.