Moving large computer LAX-BOS: check as baggage or ship?
 

We have a desktop computer (surprisingly they do exist) that we need to move from LA to Boston. We have enough checked baggage space on our next flight to do it, however I remember how often electronics were stolen from bags so I'm concerned that it might not make it to the other side. Anyone here have experience with this, or general knowledge about current rates of baggage loss at both airports?

Have you considered taking the expensive and key components out of the computer like the hard drive(s) and motherboard and taking them carry-on? They are going to be like 90% of the cost of the computer and if the case and power supply get damaged or stolen, you can just purchase a new one online and install the motherboard and hard drive in there and be back up and running pretty easily with all of your data.

Ship it. That's a no brainer.

If you read the baggage related T&Cs, you should be able to discover that electronics are NOT covered. On the other hand, the risk of shipping can be mitigated.

Obviously, in either scenario, you'd want to back up your data first. Desktop computers are pretty cheap on a relative basis. The real loss would likely be losing your data.

I agree- UPS it and pay for the insurance (the insurance cost is pretty minimal). I’d be less concerned about theft from checked luggage for a desktop vs a laptop, but there’s always a good chance it could get damaged.

I'd never check-in anything expensive and certainly not a computer.

Also, my experience with insurance claims with FedEx has been positive.

+1 to ship it, don't check it. But also if you do have the expertise to pull the hard drive, I would remove it and take it with you in your carry on (ideally in an electrostatic bag and some padding). Filing an insurance claim due to loss or damage will recover your money, but not your data. And while you should be using a cloud backup service that you could recover from if you need to, it's always easier not to have to restore in the first place.

I'm done this a bunch of times. It's usually pretty straightforward. If you can handle a tiny screwdriver (for the tiny screws that hold components in place), most people can do this task.

Hint: Take a bunch of pictures from multiple angles of the inside of the computer before you remove anything. Doing that will help ensure you are reconnecting the right cable with the right component.

Would be better if you stated what kind of desktop you're wanting to bring with you in checked baggage. This helps to see if it's worth it or if you're worried about it getting damaged or stolen. If it's a desktop that's more than 5+ years old, it's fine. If it's a high-end and/or gaming desktop, ship and insure it. You don't want it getting thrown around by baggage handlers and having it damaged.

If you decide you'd rather have it with you as checked baggage, the only components I would remove are the hard drive (SDD is small and compact and pricey, compared to HDD at least. HDD's are cheap but are more prone to fail due to shock) , and your GPU (if you have a nice one, prob RTX 20XX and RX 5700 series and above). RAM, maybe, depending on what you have. It's the priciest small item that can be removed easily from the desktop.

But as others have mentioned, it's better to ship it, less worries and hassle.

Thanks everyone! It's my partner's PC and he built it himself out of many different bits. No brand name or anything on the computer. I didn't know about the line in the T& C's about checking electronics. That alone is enough for us to ship it instead.