I've never done this before, but I'm flying back to the US, but I don't need to check any bags. But I might bring stuff back on my return.

Should I stuff the luggage with random stuff (like newpapers, packing peanuts) so it's not crushed, or should I just check an empty suitcase?

Fill it up with vacuum packed Peking Duck.

I'm pretty sure that would mean it'll be a tad overweight.

Do you really need a suitcase? Why not take one of those foldable bags with you, unfold, fill it and check on the way back.

I might be bringing wine/liquor back (of course packed well), so I don't want to use a soft bag for my return; also I get the added advantage of having a bag with wheels for the heavy stuff (well under 23kg worth anyways).

Depending on the airline, you would be paying bag fees for an empty bag to travel.

Why not just buy a cheap bag before coming back with the bag fee money you would have spend? That way you get a cheap bag... don't have to go to baggage claim at your destination to claim an empty bag.

On my annual pilgrimage from Cyprus to the US, I bring empty suitcases with me. Since I fly business class, I am allowed 2 pieces of checked luggage. I have a set of luggage where one piece fits inside the other. So I fill the smaller piece of luggage with bubble wrap, some of which I use on the return, and put the smaller piece inside the bigger piece of luggage and check the single piece of luggage. On the return, I check the 2 pieces of very full luggage. Have done this 3 times so far and had no problems.

If it's a hard suitcase anyway that you want to bring, you can bring it empty. It won't be crushed. For the 30-something bucks it would cost to check the suitcase (usually at least one 23kg suitcase is free on international flights like this), you will hardly find a decent hardside case in the US.

Till

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or books, or bottles of water.

The reason I'm considering this is the fact that I can check a least bag for free for all my legs. I am indeed checking a hard case, but was concerned that it may be crushed. I might see about getting some old newspapers to fill up the bag, but most likely end up going empty if it's non-issue.

Sometimes I nest a carry-on size suitcase inside a slightly larger one that I check. On return I have two, one to check and one to carry on.

Quick story (its related, just hold on): Venice, Summer 2010. Disembarked from a cruise ship and taxied to the airport (beating the cruise line buses by more than an hour). In front of us at Medallion check-in was a family of five with three extremely large and overweight bags, something like 35 kg each ("Excuse me sir, to check that bag will cost �100 more"). They eventually gave up. We checked in, bypassed 3,000 cruisers (multiple ships that day) through FF security (three in line in front of us), had time for a nice lunch at a caf� upstairs. At the gate, here comes the aforementioned family. I asked, and they said they bought two cheap bags at the airport store, distributed the load, and checked in with no weight penalty. I didn't ask how they managed to bring all that with them outbound, but maybe they were hauling antiquities back home?

Empty shoeboxes or some kind of other cardboard box if you're really concerned with it crushing and need to add some structure to it.

Also plenty of bubble wrap for your wine bottles on the way back

Why not put some of the stuff you would be carrying as carry-on inside the checked bag, so you have very little on you when you're mulling around the airport.

I recently checked 2 empty suitcases at T5 LHR with a chuckle from the check in agent at the fact I had 2 empty cases. Both were hard sided and neither had any issues not sure packing them out with anything would really make a difference especially if they are decent cases should be built to hold some weight.