Great advice on the zip ties, I'll remember that next time I fly. If the zip tie does get cut, I'll know that it's a good idea to check my luggage before leaving the airport.

Despite what an article in climbing magazine says (that all climbing gear except for ice axes are ok for carry-on) I have checked my packs of gear the whole two times I have flown.

I think that trying to carry-on a rack of gear would just be asking for unnecessary hassle.

I flew to Las Vegas and to France (via London Heathrow) both times I just packed my gear in regular style and tried to minimize hanging compression straps.

Is noone concerned that a checked rope in particular might get exposed to stresses that you would not otherwise want to expose it to? I, personally, would generally feel better carrying on those things and dealing with the security hassle rather than the uncertainty of where my rope has been.

I'm not sure I appreciate what stresses you're concerned with. My understanding is that the cargo hold will be exposed to lowered air pressure, and colder temperatures. Also, it will receive slightly more cosmic radiation than it would at the earth's surface. But I don't think that these will much affect the rope.
Being tossed around, along with it's containing bag, by baggage handlers, & general rough handling?
Handling by inspectors that don't appreciate it's lifesaving qualities?
I'd think that checking the rope is not a real risk, unless, of course, your luggage goes astray.

For instance, I'd be more concerned that an agent checking your luggage might drop it on the floor in an area that cars operate (gotta move those bags somehow!), getting chemicals on it. Or that (s)he may have been handling some other luggage containing something that might harm a rope, and transferred that chemical onto yours by not changing gloves or washing hands in between.

When it comes down to it, you're trusting life-saving gear to be handled by people that don't appreciate what it is they are handling (as you said), and you have no control or auditability over what they do with that gear (that's the crux of my point).

I dunno ... maybe I'm paranoid. It is my job to worry about how things could go wrong, so it's likely that I am. But, I'd rather maintain control over where my gear goes and how it's handled instead of trusting it to an over-harassed, under-paid bagage screener with no immediate accountability for how they handle your things. I know I wouldn't be more careful than I percieved was absolutely necessary were I in that position.

I guess that my perception is that the screeners & baggage handlers are not necessarily any more of a hazard than the shippers & clueless store clerks that handle the gear in the shop before I buy it. I don't think that they have the time nor inclination to damage the rope, provided I wrap it in my bag.

I'm not sure I appreciate what stresses you're concerned with. My understanding is that the cargo hold will be exposed to lowered air pressure, and colder temperatures.

Also, it will receive slightly more cosmic radiation than it would at the earth's surface.

Also, it will receive slightly more cosmic radiation than it would at the earth's surface.