I have no experience in this area, therefore cannot offer any advice. I seriously admire your tenacity and determination. You must be one dedicated seamtress! Just wanted to say welcome to forum, hope you will continue to post with us after you get settled in. Is your move to Japan a military deployment? We have a number of military moms (like myself) and wives on here. One of my son's friends just finished boot camp and will be deployed to Japan within the month.

Nobia,

The fancy case helped my machine come through fine as checked luggage, but I would be pretty nervous trusting them with an expensive machine. But if you're taking it as carry-on, you probably wouldn't need that much extra protection. If you have the original box, especially the packing material, that would help a lot.

Good luck, whatever method you end up with!

I just came back from a quilting retreat with my sister and cousins. While previously at the airport I had asked the ticket counter and the security check if I would be able to carry a sewing machine on board. The answer was yes. For the trip my sister carried her machine in a rolling softsided bag and I carried mine in a box that the machine just fit in. We both carried them as carry ons. I figured we would have to take them out of the cases but we were never ask to. It was very easy and I felt much better than having to check the machine with my luggage. I think as long as it is carry on size you will have no problems.

Miki