Has anyone carried their car parts on a flight in their carry-on?

You should be okay. I just flew with a bunch of salt water fishing lures (big hooks) with no problem. But they busted a jar of jelly. It appears liquids freak them out. You might want to take the outer casing off.

But, and this is a big one, you need a contingency plan, e.g., checking it as luggage, if plan A blows up, unless you don't mind TSA throwing your compressor away.

 

Generally airlines have a weight limit for carry-on luggage.

 

Why not just UPS it? How much could that cost? 40 lbs to FL from Montreal? Or send it Canada Post, or whatever the heck you guys call the postal service?

Geez, I can't imagine lugging that thing around, and I betcha the TSA guys kick you out of line and strip search you before they're done.

40lbs is the limit for carry on as well for most airlines.

Truth?? ASK THE TSA.

The TSA Blog: Travel Tips Tuesday: Traveling with Vehicle Parts

 

40 lbs from coast to coast is max $30, fedex ground.

 

40lbs Ontario, Canada to SW, FL $80 Canadian via Expedited Parcel. Assuming they don't strike if they haven't already.

about $62 USD

 

I checked a bag with a GMC 3-71 supercharger about 5 years ago. It came in right under the weight limit. I opened the bag and showed the TSA officer. He didn't think it was any problem. Carried a steering wheel from an antique Ford on a flight once. All kinds of wise cracks: Where is the rest of the car, was the rest of your car stolen.

 

I have a friend in Montana that rebuilt his 246GT with engine parts he carried back from Italy and other European areas in his luggage.
This was maybe 10 years ago or more.

 

Yes. No prob. I do it all the time. I just tell tsa the guys never question because they want to act like they are cool and knowing. A woman tsa will defer to a dude and he wants to be all knowing eben more. Winner!

 

If it was me..... I wouldn't do it. TSA is inconsistent at best. I had a box of crows foot wrench attachments taken away at SF airport a couple of years ago. They were small and couldn't possibly be used as a weapon.
An AC compressor in the view of some TSA folks could be viewed as a 'device' that they cannot really identify.
Anyway, let us know what you do. Why not just check it in and skip the risk?

 

yes, but i dont know about tsa.
i used to transport parts from eurospares in the uk back with me to geneva all the time. the worst was a clutch for the 456 - very heavy.

when it ran through the xray i was bracing myself for the worst....the guy reading the images turns to me and says 'oh a clutch, what car is it for?' i told him and he smiled and just said have fun lugging it around.

 

Glad it worked out. Go have a celebratory drink at Margaritaville.

Scott

 

I have been carrying (flights and in the back of the car) and shipping motorsports parts between Montreal and NY/Florida a LOT in the past few months.

1) UPS/FedEx are the easiest/safest way, though it will cost. ALSO, make sure you complete the customs paperwork properly and be prepared for potential duty. We've shipped engines back and forth, only 1-2 had a few hour holdup due to paperwork. Mark them "used machine parts for repair and return, not for import"

2) on airplanes, we've had our carryon stuff examined, ranging from Dellorto carburetors (they weren't sure what it was, I explained) to data loggers. Just be sure it's clean, dry, empty, and no hydrocarbon residue. WORST case, pack it in a bag you might have to check.

You should no issues. For something like this, I'd pack and pay the $50 as checked bags.

 

I purchased an ANSA exhaust from Emilio (Emilio is on Ferrari Chat).

Emilio is in Italia.


The exhaust fit in a suitcase.

This was not a carry on.

I checked it.

 

Excellent

 

I've carried parts in checked bags for years w/o problem. Tools can be difficult especially if they resemble some sort of weapon.
Carrying parts in checked bags is fine, the stuff arrives with you--no waiting for a package to arrive. Customs/duty can be a different matter.

 

I did exactly that. Carried a compressor for my 355 from Salt Lake to Denver last December. I have TSA pre to i went through that line. It went through the scanner, they pulled the box aside and did the manual scan. Asked me a couple questions about the part and said it was fine to take on the plane. I cleaned it really well so there was no grease.

 

It's ridiculous to carry car parts onto a plane.
Just ship it 2 day and insured.
It will cost $100 to ship

 

You're better off leaving the grease on it, so they think it's a car part, and not a buh.