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Bringing an iMac on the plane

I need to ship my 21.5 inch iMac from UK to Thailand this August and weighing my options. Due to the stand not being removable and it's size I doubt hand luggage is an option so considering shipping freight with other bits or checking it in as hand luggage. I still have the original box and appe shipping box.

Can I ask how much it costs to check this in in your experience? I have not flown international in a while so forgot how much luggage your allowed to generally check in. Also do customs not want receipts, import duty etc?
 
bmouthboyo said:
I need to ship my 21.5 inch iMac from UK to Thailand this August and weighing my options. Due to the stand not being removable and it's size I doubt hand luggage is an option so considering shipping freight with other bits or checking it in as hand luggage. I still have the original box and appe shipping box.

Can I ask how much it costs to check this in in your experience? I have not flown international in a while so forgot how much luggage your allowed to generally check in. Also do customs not want receipts, import duty etc?
Click to expand...


google imac storage case . not sure of the cost.

t400_6c24ce67f78ecfff9505274b433ec14d.jpg
 
Looks expensive! lol

I think I will use the original Apple boxing etc but just insure hell outa it, then it's either checked in luggage or shipping freight, depends on how much other stuff I want to freight and the timing etc
 
I can feel why you would want to do this and I have transported them in the past, but have you considered going to a more mobile solution if you are going to travel around? Asus/Lenovo and a few other companies make lightweight mobile monitors now that will give you extra screen space. You can also hook up a tablet to further extend this space. I've recently gone completely mobile like this and have an Asus 15" mobile screen, only an inch thick and weighs less than 2 pounds, I also have a tablet. So basically I've got a triple screen setup on the road... you could easily hook up 2 of these for under 8 pounds with a mac book pro and throw them all in a laptop bag or backpack.
Anyway, I'm just saying that screen space and lightweight is now a reality.
 
Ignore anyone giving you suggestions about buying a laptop. It's almost as bad as when someone asks for camera recommendations on a $500 budget and people recommend $1.5k DSLR kits.

You have two real options:

- Pack the iMac in its original box. Put that in a larger, sturdier box and pad that with scrunched up bubble wrap. Shrink wrap the outer box. Pay the airline the extra fee to check on fragile items. Most major airlines offer this service.

- Pack it in the original box. Pay a courier service to deliver it for you. Insure it.
 
We want to move abroad, and I found out that regular postal service is the most easy way to get all our stuff there. We put everything in 40 0,5x0,5x1m boxes (largest allowed size for standard EU parcels), and deliver them all at the post office (the guy behind the counter says bring it in, I don't care about handling 10m3 of boxes).
It is way cheaper than a moving company and you can do it as lazy as you like!
 
I work at the airport and to be honest, have iMac as checked-in baggage requires a lot of faith as baggage handlers are pushed for quick departures and don't have time to tale care of fragile items well, unfortunately. There is a very probable chance of your iMac getting damaged, especially if you transit through a large US / European hub.

Using the Apple box and the larger brown box with foam and bubble wrap should give you enough protection if you go for a courier service.

As someone mentioned they do care much more about the content and with insurance you should be on the save side. Good luck.
 
tomnavratil said:
I work at the airport and to be honest, have iMac as checked-in baggage requires a lot of faith as baggage handlers are pushed for quick departures and don't have time to tale care of fragile items well, unfortunately. There is a very probable chance of your iMac getting damaged, especially if you transit through a large US / European hub.

Using the Apple box and the larger brown box with foam and bubble wrap should give you enough protection if you go for a courier service.

As someone mentioned they do care much more about the content and with insurance you should be on the save side. Good luck.
Click to expand...

This is what I did, but I sent it through as checked baggage. This was a few years ago with a 20" white Intel iMac. I packed it in its original box, and then put *that* box inside a bigger box that was originally for a flat screen TV and insulated it inside this box with foam pieces. (Edit: meaning, I put large foam pieces inside the large box).

The exterior box acted perfectly as a shock absorber and the spacing gave plenty of room in case there was intrusion into the box from something outside.

My iMac went back and forth to the US from the UK, including internal domestic flights in the US.

If you pack it well enough, it can travel safely by checked baggage.
 
I just recently moved and packed mine in a cardboard box that just fell within airline specifications. I paid 25.00 to check it and it arrived save and sound. The iMac packaging is very well made and i truly believe it could survive a 100 foot drop in that packaging and be fine.
 
lulla01 said:
I just recently moved and packed mine in a cardboard box that just fell within airline specifications. I paid 25.00 to check it and it arrived save and sound. The iMac packaging is very well made and i truly believe it could survive a 100 foot drop in that packaging and be fine.
Click to expand...

and then...surprise! Customs Office is waiting for you at the end of the corridor....:cool:
 
bmouthboyo said:
I need to ship my 21.5 inch iMac from UK to Thailand this August and weighing my options. Due to the stand not being removable and it's size I doubt hand luggage is an option so considering shipping freight with other bits or checking it in as hand luggage. I still have the original box and appe shipping box.

Can I ask how much it costs to check this in in your experience? I have not flown international in a while so forgot how much luggage your allowed to generally check in. Also do customs not want receipts, import duty etc?
Click to expand...


Are you able to tell me the size/measurements of the original 21.5 inch mac packaging please? Thank you.
 
I vist Hong Kong almost every year and always thought of getting a 27" imac back to the UK as they're 25% cheaper there.

Putting it into a suit case sounds like an option; I presume having it in the original box risks customs poking around?

I also don't like the idea of checking it in. I fly business class; any chance I'd be able to bring it as 'hand carry'?
 
buy a mac pro and just hand carry it in... dont need to worry about crack or anything...

best solution ever...
 
Not sure why this is such a hard question....

Ship it via UPS, DHL, Fedex, or other courier and insure it. Next
 
benjai said:
I vist Hong Kong almost every year and always thought of getting a 27" imac back to the UK as they're 25% cheaper there.

Putting it into a suit case sounds like an option; I presume having it in the original box risks customs poking around?

I also don't like the idea of checking it in. I fly business class; any chance I'd be able to bring it as 'hand carry'?
Click to expand...
A 27" iMac won't fit in the overhead bins.
 
Juggertha said:
I'm moving overseas next year and am trying to figure out the best way to bring my 27" iMac. I still have the original box, so that's an option.

Any other thoughts?
Click to expand...

Original packing and ship it Fedex or UPS. Maybe even try going to Apple? Can they help you package?
 
Arfdog said:
Not sure why this is such a hard question....

Ship it via UPS, DHL, Fedex, or other courier and insure it. Next
Click to expand...

Its a hard question because not everyone lives where there are no import duties...
If I have to courier an iMac to St. Lucia it will cost at least $300.00 US shipping and then you have to add that 300 to the purchase price and then pay 20% import duty!
I can well understand why some people would like to carry their iMac on the plane!
 
Lucianrider said:
Its a hard question because not everyone lives where there are no import duties...
If I have to courier an iMac to St. Lucia it will cost at least $300.00 US shipping and then you have to add that 300 to the purchase price and then pay 20% import duty!
I can well understand why some people would like to carry their iMac on the plane!
Click to expand...

That's the way it is. No sense in cheapening out and trying some clumsy method or one that is prone to damage. If you need to buy a car, are you going to buy a bicycle instead?

If the guy wants it done right and with low risk, go courier.
 
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