Best way to ship desktop computer (fast-ish)

Hello!

My husband needs his computer for work so we need to get it to the UK with us faster than the items going by boat. 

Checked the threads, but any discussion I have found of this is rather old - so wonder if anyone has experience of doing this recently and could provide some feedback on what worked best for you?

Our options would be -

box the desktop up and take as checked baggage
- plus side is that it would arrive when we do
- minus side - we are a bit concerned about how well the computer would ship/hold up during transit, and how easily we'd be able to move it, ourselves, and all the rest of our luggage around the airports

Air freight it
There was a previous mention of a flat rate DHL box, but just got a quote on it and it is coming in at $210.88 for up to 55 lbs. 

Thanks,
weegiewife

It should hold fine during flight, if you pack it right. Remember, they are shipped to you and are probably not treated very gently. However, it's best if you pack it in the original packaging it came in, or maybe have it professionally packed.

Personally, I think taking it as checked lugguage is your best bet.

Thanks Mort,

That's starting to look like the best option as I check excess baggage rates vs. shipping rates. 

I think we have the original boxes and styrofoam around here somewhere in this packing frenzy - will have to check the box dimensions against baggage limits.

Thank goodness the CRT monitor has largely gone by the wayside!

Do you know if shipping a computer as checked baggage raises any security issues? (Being electronics and all)

No more (actually probably less) than shlepping a laptop in your carry-on, I imagine.

I just had my computer shipped to me by UPS. It was really expensive to do, though. Got here fast (5 days, including a weekend), but I think it was about $600.

I work for an airline in the US.  We have folks shipping their desktops all the time.  There is no security issue.  In fact, we have many people traveling to African and Asian countries who check in 4 or 5 desktops at a time.  I don't know which airline you're taking, but most allow a box/suitcase to be 62" total (adding L + W + H).  Almost everyone who checks in a desktop uses the original box the computer came in along with the original packing material.  If you no longer have that stuff, that's fine, just pack a sturdy box well with your own packing materials.  It'll be a pain getting it off the luggage belt and all that, but really, once you've managed that,  it's just a matter of getting a few baggage trolleys to handle all your luggage and stuff.

I know its not a computer, but I just brought back a printer from the US on a plane in February- it was in its packing box and I had no issues

Make backup copies of important data on the internal disk(s) and send or bring them separately -- Just in case!

Thanks everyone for the additional advice!

Weegiehubby has been burning backups like a fiend to make sure he doesn't lose anything.  This whole move thing has convinced me that my next computer will be a laptop!!

Weegiewife (or more properly, wife o' the weegie)

Is it possible to carry it on? I know some desktops just squeak by the dimension limits for carry on.

I don't want to be a downer, but my last trip back to the UK was a nightmare and the condition of my checked luggage (when I finally got it back!) was ATROCIOUS! Baggage handlers really seem to be a grouchy lot these days and throw things around. I would hate to see your computer arrive ruined.