Skeeter. That sounds great — my recipe for traveling.
Pack your bags well. No Cab's mounted in the chassis, EVER!
Rent a bigger car if needed!
Drive to the airport, longterm parking, shuttle to the departure hall.
Check-in you're prepaid bags. Always Prepay your bags, they will charge an arm and two legs at the airport if you don't. Do not have a layover, (risk for delayed bags) Take a direct flight, and drive to the destination, even if you could have changed flight and landed closer, I've tried that, it did not work out well.
Do NOT have any batteries what so ever in the checked luggage!!!
Place all batteries in a carry-on bag. And tell the officer at the security you have batteries, they want to check all of them for explosives, Leave the AA batteries at home, get new fresh ones at the destination. If you have just a tiny cell in the checked bags, they will find it, and your bag will be searched and also delayed. Make sure you have good insurance, and I mean Good.
A good carrier makes your journey so much easier.
This guys are very helpful with an oversized carry-on.
Please let me know if I can help further with any tips.