Originally Posted by
rajeshn
The hard suitcases are going to protect any of your items that you might be carrying with you so that something like this does not happen to you! I do not think a lot of people realize the abuse our suitcases take. Not only on the beltway to the plane, but they also get thrown around by the people that put the luggage on the plane, and then once it is on the plane it is surrounded by hundreds of other bags - all poking and bumping into each other.
This is true, but for me the lesson is to pack carefully! Most fragile cargo from electronics to cameras to wine bottles is shipped around the world in cardboard boxes with styrofoam padding. I usually travel with enough clothes to provide sufficient padding; in exceptional cases add bubble wrap, styrofoam etc.; never had problem.