Koprofag said:
Call the flight company in advance. They have compartments in the cabin where you can put heavier luggage, usually in the front near cockpit. I'd take out the tubes and mail them, put the rest in a flight case and have it sent as fragile goods on the flight though.
They weight around 25 kg, flight case not included, so should be within the weight limit.
As a captain for a Major US Airline, I'd like to comment on the statement of above and offer my $.02.
As a Flight crew, we typically have NO interaction or instructions from Reservations regarding issues such as this.... EVEN if you call in advance, so contacting the Airline in advance regarding keeping your oversize item in the cabin is useless. The only thing they would address is shipping the container.
Second.... regarding keeping the container in the aircraft cabin....the issue here is SIZE.... not weight. Nobody is going to weigh your carry on bags before you get on the aircraft.... they WILL however look at its size. If it wil fit under your seat or in an overhead bin, then they will let you take it on. I can reasonably assure you that a Rectifier head in an ATA case will NOT fit under the seat, it MAY (maybe) fit in an overhead, depending on the type aircraft. Some aircraft have oversized bins, some do not. Reservations cannot assure you exactly what the overhead bin size will be for any given flight.... even knowing what TYPE of aircraft.... some airlines have different configurations even of the same type aircraft. Also even if the overhead on the aircraft you are on will fit the continer, you are dealing with the issue of how many people brought on bags and are taking up all the available overhead space. This is always an problem on full flights.
If it won't fit.... then you are left trying to bribe the Gate Agent to get it on board in the cabin anyway.... and then bribing the Flight Attendants to let you put it in a closet (if one exists) on the aircraft. Keep in mind these 'closets" (if the aircraft is configured with them) typically are already being used for supplies or more likely filled with the Flight Crews carry on bags.... and they usually won't give up their bag space...LOL!!
Your only viable surefire option is to check the bag.
If you are going to do that... 'Gate Check' the bag..... which means you have it taken down planeside when you board and typically will pick it up planeside when you deplane. Keep in mind that you will have to get it thru security which can be done, but can sometimes be a real hassle.
Last checking option is to Counter check the bag when you get to the airport. I wouldn't do that.
My FIRST choice were it me and my new Rectifier...... would be to find a Fedex or UPS store and ship the thing to your home from wherever you are. So much easier and less hassle and worry.... trust me.
