cpotisch
Engineer
I second this. Airlines don't seem to be particularly careful with checked bags. One time I was looking out the window of an A320 when we were at the gate, and saw a small suitcase fall off the conveyer belt leading into the adjacent plane's cargo hold. The man dealing with the bags only seemed to notice that suitcase as he was leaving.And true for checked luggage when flying by air. The luggage distribution system in an airport can be similar to a sorting center. There are some baggage handlers who read "fragile" to mean "throw me!"
Another advantage of Amtrak: your checked luggage doesn't have to travel anywhere by conveyor.