Forum: travel.stackexchange.com
Tags: <air-travel><airlines><luggage><united-airlines>
Title: Flying with a desktop computer (as checked luggage)
Question: On an upcoming trip, I will be taking a desktop computer and monitor as checked luggage (on a United/Continental flight). What should I be aware of when doing this? What needs to be done to properly protect all the components? Are there any airline policies I should be aware of?

Answers:
sents: text: A friend recently did this, flying from LON (London) to SYD (Sydney).
text: I went shopping with him and found a hard-shell suitcase.
text: They're surprisingly light, and Samsonite has claimed theirs is "strong enough to stand on" .
text: We then removed his harddisk drive.
text: This is the most valuable and most fragile part of the computer.
text: It's also feasible to do the same with the sticks of RAM and other parts, but the harddrive is the critical bit.
text: This was packed in an anti-static bag, and bubble wrapped, and I believe he actually took it on his carry-on to make sure he had it safe at all times.
text: Aside from that, you check the suitcase in just as per normal.
text: I'd perhaps put some jerseys or other clothes in the suitcase with the computer to try and give it just that extra bit of protection, and to prevent it from sliding around too much if it's not an exact fit.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/101/Mark Mayo
score: 35
sents: text: I personally would take some precautions.
text: First of all, make a backup of your data.
text: Leave on in your home and take another one with you so that you can use it in your destination place.
text: Then when transporting a desktop computer, the most fragile part is almost always the hard disk drive.
text: So I would dismount it if possible and take it into your cabin luggage.
text: You could also do this for other sensible parts like for example other drives, the processor, or the RAM bars.
text: This I would pack into anti-static bags and take it into the cabin.
text: The tower itself you can put into protected pc transporting bags like this one .
text: This bag will be checked so that you can't smuggle and weapons or drugs.
text: But you shouldn't normally fear that this will damage your computer.
text: And last but not least, you could also think about sending your computer with a carrier.
text: I quote this from a message board:
text: Send it via a Secured Carrier, RPS(Royal Packaging Service), Which Delivers Things in the most pristine state Possible.
text: Door to door Service, White glove care.
text: But i warn you, Its pricey.
text: 15lb = $200/USD.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/693/RoflcoptrException
score: 8
sents: text: I must take George's comment to an answer because it's too important: depending on the kind, the heatsink may need to be removed.
text: Apply common sense / guess the centre of gravity.
text: If it looks like this: it very likely will cause no problems.
text: If it looks like this: you definitely do not want that bumping around.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/4188/chx
score: 7
sents: text: I've shipped the kid's gaming computer twice on an airline.
text: Both times it was partially disassembled on arrival.
text: With a huge heatsink for the chip, it must look suspicious to the uninformed at TSA.
text: Had to rebuild it both times.
text: Third time, FedEX - same thing.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/18964/user18964
score: 2
sents: text: Depending on the size of the case and your level of pain tolerance, it may also be possible to take it as carry-on luggage.
text: I've done that twice now, although with a small flat desktop PC (that is within hand luggage size regulations), and aside from being taken aside at security for explosives screening (which involved me opening the case) and actually carrying the thing around, it was easy enough.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/747/Simon Richter
score: 2
sents: text: Obviously the safest solution is to not check it -- instead bring it as a carry-on.
text: I've done this.
text: If the computer is within the weight and dimension limits of your carrier for carryon luggage, then there is apparently no reason why you can't bring it with you onboard.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/56403/Thoracius Appotite
score: 0
sents: text: I think I would fill it with packing peanuts and then wrap it in fleece filts, then of course take out the hard drive.
text: I would then pack it into a hard bag and I'll make sure that the desktop has no space to slide around.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/68473/Anton
score: 0
sents: text: I think the best way is just disassemble your PC parts like Motherboard, HDD, Power Supply etc and leave the casing.
text: You can buy new casing and reassemble to that new casing from your new destination country.
text: This is most safest easiest way.
text: Because you no need to worry about parts being not broken or anything during travel.
answer_details: author: travel.stackexchange.com/users/113237/Liakat
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
You should take precautions to protext the components, especially the hard disk drive, which is the most fragile part. You might be able to take it as carry on luggage, disassemble it or fill it with packing peanuts, or you could send it via a good carrier.
Care needs to be taken when transporting a PC by air. The most important thing is to remove the hard drive. The PC may also be carefully packed, maybe carried on board by hand. On the other hand, it may be safer to send it by secure carrier.