It occurred to me the other day that, I know a number of people here have travelled abroad to go climbing, and have therefore taken their racks with them. I'd like to do this myself someday, but a dilemma arose: whenever I fly, I NEVER check my bags if I can help it. I've had or know people who have had too many bags lost, raided, or even simply delayed by a day, which in some situations could be critical. Not to mention that airlines explicitly say they are not responsible for any items lost or stolen from luggage.
So the question: if I can't trust them with my CLOTHES, how would I trust them with my rack? Is there a preferred method of travelling with gear? Do you ship it ahead with insurance, or simply check it and wait anxiously at the luggage carousel?