So twice now in the last year I have gone to attend academic conferences where I must put up a large poster. These tend to come from the printer in cardboard tubes about 4 ft long a 4" diameter.

Now twice in a row the tube hasn't made it with my other bag when I checked it through.

Best quote from a CO representative when inquiring at the lost baggage station: "You should never check those. They get lost all the time."


Anyone else had this problem? Should I really just assume that CO can't successfully get that type of luggage through their system with any degree of success and just carry around that awkward piece with me?