Originally Posted by
OverThereTooMuch
Boxes that you ship are going to get the same sort of crappy treatment whether they're luggage or if they're going via some standard shipping carrier. The big advantage offered by taking it on the plane is that you theoretically minimize the # of stops that your package will make, which I think would minimize the chances for it to be mishandled and/or tampered with.
Except for a few facts that make checking your computer as baggage infeasible:
- Bag weight limit of 50 lbs. (+$50 for up to 100 lbs.)
- Bag size limit of 62 linear inches (+$50-$75 for larger items)
- Oh, and then there's the liability: Your computer is worth exactly $0 if AS loses or breaks it, and they won't even reimburse you the $9/lb. they would if you had packed clothes in your suitcase:
For both domestic and international travel, the following items are
not covered for loss or damage, and excess valuation cannot be purchased.
...
- Cash, currency
- Computers and related equipment
- Furs, including coats, gloves, and hats
...
Bottom line, checking a computer is a bad idea. AS (and any other passenger airline) is not set up to handle large expensive items like computers as checked baggage. If you pay a commercial parcel shipper, you're guaranteed to have either the undamaged computer or your declared valuation at the end.
Regardless of your chosen method, I would highly recommend removing the hard drive for transport. This is small and easily tucked in your carryon, where you won't have to worry about loss or damage of your data.