Full size computer as a carry on?

[Zumina]

Well christmas break is rapidly approaching and I'm looking to bring full-size computer (mid tower only) home this year (radmin last year was an intolerable pain). However, returning home involves a 4-5 hour day of flying, and I'm certain baggage handlers won't be gentle with my expensive peice of equipment. So I'm left to taking the case as a carry on. I've already located the necessary equipment (pic below), but I'm curious if anyone has attempted to use their machine as a carry on before. I know laptops are permissable, but airpport security requires that they are booted-up at the check station.

[hostage]

I use to take my desktop with me all the time, when I went back and forth from college and boarding school to Texas. It shouldn't be a problem, they will ask u to open it up or to turn it on. You don't need any carrying devices etc.
-Doron

[gamarada717]

I doubt that you could take that on, because of the fact that they do check laptops, they might want to check that. I know exactly how you feel about putting it as luggage, but I think that you'll have to.just make sure that its got lots of padding and is in a box that won't get torn up easily. When I put a guitar through once, it came out with every one of the latches broken in some kind of way, except for the one with the lock on it. Oh, another thing is that you can't put locks on your luggage. Twisty ties are fine, but if they can't cut it with a pair of scissors they won't allow it. The baggage checker told me that this was in case they decided to do a "random search". Sure enough, they opened up my bag that had cloths in it and rummeged around. I found a note saying that they had. Really, I think that it might be better just to mail it to your house. I mean, spending 20 bucks is alot better than having it smashed up.

My interesting airport story lately has been where they wanted to check my moms purse for what they thought was a pair of tweezers (can be used to "pinch" the pilot and the rest of the crew, we were told) They ended up realizing that it was a small sowing kit that had some needles in it. I knew for a fact that they would be taken out...but alas, they said it wouldn't be a problem.

And did you hear about the 18 or 19 year old kid who purposly brought a weapon on to a plane, got through security and left the weapon in the lavratory with a note. After that little coincidence (which they tried to cover up), the government might start paying people of all ages to walk through security with false weapons, just to see if the security is tight enough. Sorry if I got a tad off topic...

[hostage]

just call american airlines or what ever your airlines is and ask.
-Doron

[RetroEclipseMan]

Yeah, it's rediculous just how bad security really can be at airports these days. They won't allow tweezers but they'll let my brother walk on a plane with all his diabetic supplies(i.e. normal injection needles as well as this big syringe with some kind of medicine in case he goes into shock) without even quesioning him while i'm being thuroughly checked for having nothing on me except for my studded belt.

[hostage]

yeah no crap, and talk about the cavity seaches, youch!





(jk btw)

[MayAMonkeyBeYourPinata]

Call up ahead of time, and make sure you can take the shell off so they can get a look inside if needed.

[LittMag]

You will be fine, I've flown multiple times after 9-11 with my desktop, just have the power cord with you, and make sure you can open up the case if need be.

[InexactMelissa]

I don't think you will have a problem. I've never even been asked to boot my laptop at security: they've generally more concerned with my shoes and bra wires. One time when I was with my son, we sent a bag filled with his k'nex, with motors and batteries and chain drives through and they didn't say a thing.

But...just for convenience sake, I would personally box it up real good and ship it (while checking the tracking info every couple of hours )

[warpfeedmod]

Some airports, (at least O-Hare used to do this) have the little box at check-in. If you can't fit it in there, it's not carry on.

Also I would think it'd be easier to just ship it ahead of time so when you get home it'll be there. Shipping may be like $50 or so insured but hey, if something happens, blame the UPS Store.

[PyRo]

If my computer breaks can I ship it UPS then collect insurance?
Yeah I would think, maybie hope that they would ask you to open up the case or try and x-ray it (if x-ray works through the case you would probably have to argue that one it might cause damage to the electronics?). That would be a very easy way to get somthing on a plane if they didn't check at all. Even if they did check it would still be easy to stash somthing the the power supply, it probably depends on the individual airport and the security. I would just call, rather to be safe then stuck at the airport not allowed on your flight with all your luggage already on the plane.
As for stupid security my step brother (about 12 at the time) tried to carry a rubber snake onto a plane, they claimed it could be used as a whip). I don't know how a 12 year old is going to hijack a plane with a whip do you?

[Matt_mg]

with my shoes and bra wires.

I'm trying not to die of laughter right now...

[e mag]

IF you do ship it, take all the electronics (mobo, gpu, sound card etc.) out and ship them seperatly in anti-static bags.

[Jack_Dubious]

dont forget to remove your "Die Infidel! Die!" sticker from your case.

JDub

[Jaasper]

Well if you plan on doing this alot. Invest about $160 or so and get a Pelican 1610 case. Waterproof airtight shipping case. Plus side, after you use it for the computer, just get you a second set of the pull and pluck foam and then it makes a great case for your paintball markers and stuff.

http://www.pelican.com/pdfs_productes/1610.pdf