Best way to bring a canvas photo to Canada? Suggestions anyone?

[fandv]

Hi everyone...

I'm a Canadian citizen who's sponsoring my Indonesian wife to Canada. Soon after my wife's got her PR (hopefully soon!) she will be moving to Canada to be with me. She will be bringing her belongings to Canada (obviously...!) and we are concerned about 1 item, which is a canvas photo, sized 60 cm x 90 cm (23.6 inches x 35.4 inches). The frame is made of wood, and there's nothing covering the picture (i.e.: no glass whatsoever).

We can probably ship it using the regular air mail from Indonesia to Canada, but we prefer not to do so...I mean, there's only 1 canvas, and it's probably going to be a bit costly to mail...and plus the picture was taken from our pre-wedding photo session, and we don't want to risk damaging or losing it...

So we think that it's probably best that my wife (and I) carry it with us in the aeroplane...

We've thought about different options, but not sure which one would work best??

a. Due to its size (see above) it probably won't fit in the cabin's overhead compartment, so I guess this option can't work...

b. We thought about putting it in our suitcase, but actually we doubt it will fit...and even if it did, it could get damaged...?

c. Or perhaps we can ask a stewardess to put it somewhere safe at the back of the plane...?! May be near their kitchen somehow?! lol not sure...

d. Or may be we can check it in as baggage, but we're worried it could get lost or damaged while being buried amongst hundreds/thousands of other passengers' suitcases. Being a canvas picture, it's surely fragile/delicate, so it has to be handled with utmost care.


Anyway we're confused...! What's the best way to bring it safely to Canada then??

 

[pardesifr]

there is no way to dismental the frame and roll the picture ? I seriously doubt that they will allow such huge frame picture in the cabin. But I think when you book your luggage if I am not mistaken there is an option to book it as Fragile and they take extra care of it and don't put it with regular suit case. Call the Airport and they will advise you about it.

 

[scylla]

It's way too big for the overhead compartment. If it's too big for the overhead compartment then it won't be allowed on the plane which means the stewardess/kitchen option is out too.

I agree that taking it out of the frame and rolling it up is the best option. Otherwise I think your options are either to ship it or to check it as fragile.

 

[truesmile]

Yap! Brought two paintings from overseas. Had to roll'em up.

 

[wolanila]

why not role it up and put it in on of those plastic waterproof art tube looking things you can buy at art shows. I bet it would not cost more that 2$ there. Ask your wife's family where you might find one. Or if you really want to bring it on the plane this would also allow you to put it under the plane. You might have to pay extra for it but I bet it could be done. I also bought a guitar once in Cebu, they told me I would not be allowed to carry it on with me if it would not fit in the over head compartment. but I sat by the window and slide it under the seat and beside my seat and this was fine but they did warn me about it. I have also heard of a lot of musicians doing that with delicate instruments they don't want to put under the plane. you are allowed to put luggage on the floor in front of you under the seat.

 

[fandv]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I've just checked the picture...it's not actually made of a material/fabric that can possibly be rolled...it's made of a hard stuff, not sure what it's called...duplex (?), triplex (?), it's like a thin board, about 1 - 1.5 mm in thickness, definitely impossible to roll or even fold...it seems like wood although it may not necessarily be made of wood. It's the kind that if you want to cut it, you'd have to use a saw...(hopefully I'm depicting it as vividly as possible ;D ). And then this whole thing is enclosed within the wooden frame...

 

[pardesifr]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I've just checked the picture...it's not actually made of a material/fabric that can possibly be rolled...it's made of a hard stuff, not sure what it's called...duplex (?), triplex (?), it's like a thin board, about 1 - 1.5 mm in thickness, definitely impossible to roll or even fold...it seems like wood although it may not necessarily be made of wood. It's the kind that if you want to cut it, you'd have to use a saw...(hopefully I'm depicting it as vividly as possible ;D ). And then this whole thing is enclosed within the wooden frame...

If you need a saw to cut it means it is very solid and not fragile, jsut pack it well in packing foam or bubble paper and just register it in your luggage by indicating FRAGILE on it and all will be fine.

 

[wolanila]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I've just checked the picture...it's not actually made of a material/fabric that can possibly be rolled...it's made of a hard stuff, not sure what it's called...duplex (?), triplex (?), it's like a thin board, about 1 - 1.5 mm in thickness, definitely impossible to roll or even fold...it seems like wood although it may not necessarily be made of wood. It's the kind that if you want to cut it, you'd have to use a saw...(hopefully I'm depicting it as vividly as possible ;D ). And then this whole thing is enclosed within the wooden frame...

FEDEX??? I know someone who put a picture of the last supper in her suitcase. It was made of plastic and the shapes were almost 3D coming off the picture. It survived the long haul but the frame was not as fortunate. In my experience anything that gets put under a plane with the luggage is subject to abuse. The only thing that most of the people handling your luggage care about after it leaves the front desk is that it makes it on the right plane on time.

 

[wilson]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I've just checked the picture...it's not actually made of a material/fabric that can possibly be rolled...it's made of a hard stuff, not sure what it's called...duplex (?), triplex (?), it's like a thin board, about 1 - 1.5 mm in thickness, definitely impossible to roll or even fold...it seems like wood although it may not necessarily be made of wood. It's the kind that if you want to cut it, you'd have to use a saw...(hopefully I'm depicting it as vividly as possible ;D ). And then this whole thing is enclosed within the wooden frame...

Reading yours posts and replies, I suggest to hand carry. It could be allowed as a carry on cabin baggage because it is only about 3 ft long and 2 ft wide. Should a protective packing with card board and strap it with properly with packing tape. Write you name and destination on it. It would be almost to the length of a guitar, which is usually allowed as carry-on in the cabin. While boarding the flight, you can hand it over to the flight attendant who will keep separately in a safe place. But don't forget to ask her ( or him ) while landing ( or at I st stop over if there is air plane change ). If you have already booked the flight, talk to the same airline office staff ( not to the travel agent ), whether you are allowed to take your usual cabin baggage also with it.

 

[wolanila]

Reading yours posts and replies, I suggest to hand carry. It could be allowed as a carry on cabin baggage because it is only about 3 ft long and 2 ft wide. Should a protective packing with card board and strap it with properly with packing tape. Write you name and destination on it. It would be almost to the length of a guitar, which is usually allowed as carry-on in the cabin. While boarding the flight, you can hand it over to the flight attendant who will keep separately in a safe place. But don't forget to ask her ( or him ) while landing ( or at I st stop over if there is air plane change ). If you have already booked the flight, talk to the same airline office staff ( not to the travel agent ), whether you are allowed to take your usual cabin baggage also with it.

Iv seen something similar for over sized carry ons. called Sky check. you leave it at the door of the plane and they put it in some compartment and it is there again after you arrive

 

[moochops]

I bought one exactly the same as you over (though granted not as big) so I know exactly the kind of thing you mean, it's like a canvass effect photo on hardboard. (mine was of my daughter, me, mum, and grandma - the latter no longer with us) so it's a pretty special picture to me. I wrapped it in bubble wrap and it lay in between layers of clothing in my suitcase and was fine.

Why not try calling the airline to see what they suggest, hell people bring bikes and everything so they must have some knowledge of how to deal with oversized objects