I'm curious about traveling with some PC components. I have a motherboard with a CPU and SSD, a GPU, RAM, and a PSU that have all been bubble-wrapped and just sitting unused for about two months since I haven't assembled the PC yet. I'm planning to carry them in my hand luggage while traveling back, starting with a land trip and then a flight. Has anyone had experience taking PC parts like this through airport security? Did they require you to unwrap anything or run into any issues? Also, is it safe to leave these components unused for a couple of months? Thanks!
4 Answers
Just a heads up, if you're in New Zealand, they might charge you taxes or duties if they suspect any of the parts are new. Make sure to show that they aren't fresh to avoid extra fees.
Yeah, I agree with the last comment. Just keep the parts in their own tray through security and they won’t hassle you. No issues at all if you’re prepared like that!
I've traveled with PC parts in my carry-on and it wasn't a big deal. Security treated it like a laptop; they just asked me to take the parts out for screening. It was a quick look, and that was it. Leaving them unused for a couple of months is totally fine; they should be good to go!
Did they inquire about why you were carrying them? Or was it pretty straightforward?
I remember bringing a CPU heatsink on board and security was curious about it. They just asked me what it was made of at the x-ray. Just be ready for a few questions!
Thanks for the tip!