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Carrying cuckoo clock on flight...

I'm heading to Germany late October. Planning to buy a cuckoo clock. I know they offer shipping to send the cuckoo clock to the states, but I've heard scary stories of clocks taking weeks/months to arrive. Wondering if there would be a problem with either the airlines or with bringing the cuckoo clock into the country if I were to carry it with me as a carryon. I'm prepared to check all my luggage in order to protect the clock. Anyone have advice or input?? Thanks in advance! Kris

Posted by
1662 posts

Hi Kris,

I have not been to Germany or bought a cuckoo clock. Some peeps have had things shipped home from travels abroad that were too heavy - dishes, big pottery, wine, oils, etc. etc.; maybe clocks too - and survived.

Personally, with the clock, I would take it in the carry on. I would make sure it is padded and packed tightly. Even jostling on the security belt or in the OH bin, you want to make sure nothing goes on top of it.

I usually take a some sheets of thin bubble wrap from home for purchases that need extra care (even with being wrapped in clothing or even the store's paper.)

After the investment of buying the clock, you want to take great measures in protecting it - especially the dial, the little door and or people and the pendulum - hence the bubble wrap suggestion. I don't know what type you will buy, lol, but guessing that all small, moving parts need special attention.

Posted by
2084 posts

Suggest to ask security of STR airport - they may have most experience. Concerned about all the metal and special parts which can open discussions to finally put the clock into luggage department of airplane.

Posted by
19636 posts

How expensive is the clock you are planning on? One thing to consider is that if you have them ship it to your home, then they will sell it without the GST, and the discount will cover the shipping cost. If you buy it outright, then they will include the GST in the price, give you the paper work, and you will have to do the tax refund claim yourself, as well as figuring out how to carry it. They will package it very well for you, but maybe you will need to buy another suitcase and deal with any luggage charges the airline adds on. If you carry it on, it will have to meet the airlines carry-on requirements with regard to weight and dimensions. Also keep in mind that it must be available for inspection at the last EU airport on your way home.

Posted by
5697 posts

My only cuckoo clock experience was in the trunk of a VW which was sent by boat -- it looked fine when it arrived, and kept time, but the cuckoo never "sang" again. Will your clock fit in a personal item-size bag that you could put under the seat ? If the store will guarantee that the clock will arrive in perfect condition, it might be worth having them ship it.

Posted by
138 posts

We bought a cuckoo clock in Heidelberg two years ago. The shop shipped it and it arrived in perfect condition about 3 weeks later. It was in a really big box, I don’t think it would have fit as a carryon.

Posted by
2665 posts

A couple years after 9-11, I brought an antique cuckoo clock from my dad’s thru PDX to PHX as carryon. The clock was not an issue as carryon. But the weights looked like bombs in my suitcase (sorry, I can’t remember if I checked the weights or carried on but I must have checked them because the pendulum with its sharp end couldn’t go as carryon.) Anticipating a problem I had security manually screen my suitcase and I explained what it was. Security has gotten a lot tougher since 2003. My advise is, If you are going to carryon the clock allow lots of time for security and be able to explain what is in your bag. I ‘m guessing you’ll have less problems in the German outbound than on any flight in the US.

Posted by
6384 posts

My brother-in-law had one made in Triberg and they shipped it to him, and yes, it seemed to take forever to arrive; but it did.

Posted by
687 posts

I bought a German-made cuckoo clock in Zurich airport on my way to Spain in 2013 (a truly multicultural clock by the time it got to my dining room). Traveled with it all over Spain and carried it on the plane(s) home in my carryon duffel. It was in its original box the whole way, no issues anywhere, and it’s still cuckoo-ing on every hour.

Posted by
824 posts

I have all my major German souvenir purchases shipped directly home to the USA. Most larger tourist-industry related retailers in Germany are well versed in EU and USA customs laws and automatically deduct the VAT from the purchase when shipping to an address outside the EU. On a major purchase such as a good Cuckoo Clock, the VAT refund/rebate will more than pay for the shipping and insurance.

My (substantial) purchase from Kathe Wohlfahrt was shipped to the states on the day I requested (so we could get home before the box arrived) and arrives in under 7 days.

I would be more worried about airline baggage people destroying my luggage contents, especially something like a Cuckoo Clock, than DHL destroying a box labeled "Fragile" being shipped from a firm they do thousands-millions of € business annually.

Posted by
7 posts

Thanks so much for your advice/input. At this point, I'll probably ship it and hold my breath, rather than risk them making me put it in checked baggage. You all are the best! Thanks!

Posted by
709 posts

We bought a huge cuckoo clock 16 years ago that was too large for carryon even in just it's original box with no extra padding or outer boxing. But it does have all kinds of mechanized figures sawing and swinging. It was shipped to us safely and fairly quickly within days of our return. Now of course the tune and the mechanical noises are much too annoying for anything but special occasions.