Returning to live in Scotland

You'll probably want to use a combination of methods. I'm not an expert in the subject, but here are my thoughts: 1. AA will have fees per checked bag, a charge for stuff over a certain weight (in addition to the checked bag fee), and a maximum weight allowed per bag (even if you pay fees, you can only put so much in each bag). I would take as many checked bags as you can, each weighing the maximum you can take without paying overweight fees. Beware the overweight fees - these are usually ruinous. But even if you have to pay $50 or $100 per extra bag, it's easier (and maybe cheaper) than other methods. 2. Look into not only weight limits, but size limits, for checked bags. You don't want to get to the airport and have your bags rejected. 3. I assume mail sent from the US to Scotland is reliable. I know airmail letters from New York City to London get there in 3 days, but I also know that Brigham City to Scotland could different. Look into what the US Post Office charges for boxes sent to England by "slow and cheap" as well as "fast and expensive." 3. Domestically, what used to be "book rate" is now "media mail" and can be used for any media - CD's, books, etc. It's pretty cheap. I don't know if USPS has something like this for international, but if they do, it's one way to send some things cheaply. 4. Do be sure, before bringing something, that's it's worth the hassle and expense. In particular, unless an electric/electronic item is multi-voltage, leave it in the US (sell it or give it away) and buy new in Scotland. Just chalk it up to the cost of moving. 5. If you or anyone you know is taking a trip to Scotland before the final move, be sure they take as much as they can in their checked bags (offer to pay if needed). Treat each trip as a shipping opportunity <g>.

About Harold's 3 and 3 answers - When we moved back to the UK 15 years ago I tried to lighten the weight of the shipping container by shipping our books in M-bags by sea. One M-bag made it. The other never arrived and we lost several valuable books. For us it was a wasted expense and a lot of trouble for not much return. If given a choice I wouldn't do that again.

In 1994, we moved to London, where I was an exchange teacher for a year. I had two unfortunate experiences with shipping my belongings, so I can warn you of some pitfalls. I sent a lot of teaching materials in an M bag. When it arrived, it had opened up; and some materials had been damaged. Other items were missing. Because we were arriving in August, we decided to ship our winter clothing through the U.S. Post Office. I insured the carton for $1000, simply to have a way to trace it. (You should be aware that the USPS requires purchase receipts before they pay on insurance.) We were not home when the clothes arrived, so the British Parcel Force just left the box with the people in the next house, whom we did not know and who proceeded to steal it. Initially, the Parcel Force maintained that it was perfectly correct for them to just leave the box with anyone; and that I would need to collect the insurance from the USPS. My colleagues had several horror stories to tell me about their experiences with the Parcel Force. My headmaster and the Bureau for Teacher Exchange got involved; and the Parcel Force finally coughed up the insured amount (which didn't nearly cover the cost of the stolen items, entire winter wardrobes for two people).
Bottom line: if you value the items you are shipping, use one of the private companies, even though they are more expensive.

Re: Harold's second #3 USPS does not have media mail for international. I recently tried to send a book that way, and was told that everything international had to go airmail, there was no "media mail". Consequently, the $8 book I was sending cost me just under $8 for postage.

Friends of ours recently moved to Dundee, Scotland and they did the move a novel way. They took the Queen Elizabeth from NY to Southampton and then drove to Scotland. By going by ship it was no more expensive than air and they were not limited to number of bags. They also had their dogs aboard ship and were able to play with them each day in the onboard kennel. Just a thought.

Thank you for all who have responded with suggestions.

I did the same thing in 1996 after 25 years in N America. I pruned my belongings ruthlessly, and I do mean ruthlessly. I took what I could on the plane and left the rest (10 boxes) with a friend, thinking I would be back in a year, tops. I was wrong. Didn't return til last year! But it was a good excuse to visit and when I unpacked the 10 boxes, I found most of it was not required. Which takes me back to what I said at the start- prune ruthlessly! Good luck with your move back. I suffered terrible culture shock fro the first year. I hope it's easier for you. I will say that with the advances in IT it's been very easy to stay in touch with my buddies.
Hope it goes well with you. Best of luck!

Nigel and Nancy: the problems you had with my ideas labeled 3 and 3 (sorry about that!) are exactly what I was afraid of, and why I posted my number 1: take as much as you can with you, despite the seeming cost, because it's going to work out better than other methods. I like the idea of the trans-Atlantic ship.

Regardless of cost, consider shipping those items you really can't risk losing by UPS or FedEx DHS or some other way that provides tracking. I've moved four times from the U.S. overseas, including to London. Each time I lost at least two or three boxes.

I know of someone who moved to Vienna from the US. She shipped her car and stuffed it full of clothes, books, electronics etc.