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From: mikes@tekecs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: Help: Travelling with a Mac
Message-ID: <7316@tekecs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Jun-86 19:14:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekecs.7316
Posted: Thu Jun  5 19:14:30 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Jun-86 09:07:44 EDT
References: <271@kvvax4.UUCP> <172@uvicctr.UUCP> <3916@sun.uucp>
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 52

>> I am planning a lot of travel, and I want to take
>> my Mac. Do most airlines let one take Macs on as
>> carry on luggage? Should I take it instead as luggage
>> (in the original case)?
> 
> I have travelled with my Mac.  If you are using a soft case (canvas bag
> or equivalent) most of them are designed to fit under airline seats. Barely.
> This is fine for occasional travel (such as mine), but I don't relish
> keeping my knees up around my ears for hours at a time.  It also means that
> you can't carry other carryon luggage, as mucking around with the Mac is
> more than enough hassle. 

I have a canvas soft case that I like a lot and got because I was taking my Mac
cross-country (made by MacBag or some such in Washington state -- a good price,
too).  The case is advertised as being able to fit under the seat as required.
This is barely, if at all, true.  I had a 1/2" M. Word manual in the side 
pocket which made it so it wouldn't fit...and the airline folks are not at all
flexible:  If it doesn't fit *100%* under the seat in front of you and can't go
up above, IT GETS CHECKED OR YOU DON'T GO.  PERIOD.  Luckily I was able to 
*SQUEEZE* it into the overhead compartment.  There was no problem with weight,
but on some planes it only just barely slipped in.  727s are the worst.  737s
in most configurations aren't much better, but some of them (newer ones?) I had
no problem at all putting it up above.  I don't know about any of the widebody
jets, but I'd be surprised if you any problem at all on them.  Also, airlines
these days don't seem to care if you have two or three pieces of carry-on
as long as they can all go underneath in front of you or up above.
  Remember too not to let them X-ray your mac or any of your disks, etc.
Just tell them it has "magnetic media" inside and open it up so the nice people
can paw around inside the case until they're satisfied.

> If you are doing LOTS of travelling, I heartily suggest buying two things:
> 
> 	o A shipping crate.  Don't ship in the cardboard/foam carton, as
> 	airlines are notoriously good at bashing the hell out of them. For
> 	between $150 and %200, you can buy an aluminum crate full of foam
> 	that locks and protects your Mac from most major natural disasters
> 	and other Acts of God. They also lock, a nice thing to keep your
> 	machine from walking away. 

Absolutely.  Get the metal one.  If you can go this route, do.

> 	o A luggage carrier. Trust me. For forteen bucks, something you
> 	strap your Mac, briefcase, and luggage to, with wheels. You'll thank
> 	me on this one....

You don't already have one of these? :-)
-- 

		Mike Sellers
	UUCP: {...your spinal column here...}!tektronix!tekecs!mikes

"Are you in Paris for business... or pleasure?"
"In Corsica, we say that business IS pleasure..."