‘Tis the season to be traveling on planes! All throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season, people travel with strange items, whether they be gifts and souvenirs or random stuff from their closets. With the strictness and pressure of going through the security line, we all have many questions about the items with which we want to travel. One such question may be whether you can bring a KitchenAid mixer aboard a plane.
According to the United States Transportation Security Administration, yes, you can take a KitchenAid mixer on an airplane. You can transport it in checked luggage in the cargo hold or pack it in your carry-on luggage to be stored onboard in an overhead bin or under the seat.
KitchenAid products are bulky, often heavy, and not to mention, every airport, airline, and country seems to have different rules and regulations. Let’s talk about some of the important things to keep in mind to avoid those negative encounters with airport security.
Do KitchenAid Mixers Exceed Requirements for Luggage?
Before packing your bags, check online for the various size and weight requirements for your specific airline that you will be traveling on. Generally speaking, as long as the item is not dangerous and fits in your carry-on luggage without impeding it from being stored in the overhead bin, you are more than welcome to board with it. However, checked luggage often has a weight limit. Fifty pounds is standard, and most KitchenAid mixers weigh about 20-30 pounds.
Another standard practice is to allow passengers to carry a small personal item in addition to their carry-on luggage. This can be a backpack, handbag, or anything small enough to fit completely underneath the seat in front of you. If you want to travel with the KitchenAid mixer as a personal item, check out this website that shows the dimensions of the space underneath the seat of many different airlines. Your mixer may be too large, so it might fit best in the cargo or overhead bin.
Determining Which Airlines Allow KitchenAid Mixers Aboard
After becoming aware of the size and weight requirements, understand again that each airline is different. It is important to check with your air carrier for specifics. Simply go to the airline’s website and search for baggage policies. They will provide you with a lot of information.
Additionally, traveling internationally does not bring about any issues in carrying kitchen appliances in your luggage. Customs and immigration may ask how much the item costs if you bought it in the country from which you are departing. This is only a simple matter of declaration. On your forms, declare any items bought abroad, and you should be just fine. Just another quick tip for traveling internationally, make sure the voltage for the appliance is correct for the country you’re flying to.
Can You Check-in a KitchenAid Mixer on its Own?
It is not recommended to check the appliance on its own, without being placed in an enclosed piece of luggage. If you were to simply check the item while in its box, it is likely to be damaged in the cargo hold. Putting it in your luggage and surrounding it with a padding of clothes, blankets, etc., ensures its safe travel.
It is best if the luggage has a hard outer shell to prevent the item from being squished. If you are really concerned about the appliance making the flight and remaining intact, or if you no longer have the box in which it came, you can pack the mixer by taking it apart and wrapping the items individually in your suitcase. For more tips on how to pack the KitchenAid mixer, check out this website.
Shipping Your KitchenAid Mixer Instead of Checking-in
If you have decided you do not want to deal with the airlines’ restrictions, you can always have the item shipped to wherever you are going if it is being bought new. Remember that standard shipping can be anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks, especially around the holidays and depending on location. But the appliance will be sure to be delivered in good condition.
Conclusion
Yes, you can bring your KitchenAid mixer on the airplane. It seems that nearly every airline is in agreement that as long as you don’t plug it in and start mixing up cookie dough on your flight, you are welcome to bring it along.
It is recommended to store it in a piece of luggage for easy handling and check the weight if it is being placed in the cargo.