If anyone can provide info on shipping a folio ill go that route. I've just never shipped anything other than boxes. If they crate them perfect. I'll buy an A0 today!

PM'd

If you are shipping multiple prints, shipping them flat is safe and cost effective if you do it right. Tubes can get damaged easily and long term storage in tubes can make prints a challenge to flatten.

Shipping framed would greatly increase shipping costs and now you have to worry about damage to the frame, glass, & print.

Just a thought, but you could cut 2 pieces of 1/2" smooth faced plywood a bit larger than your largest print. Place a protective layer on the wood (acid free glassine or tissue + craft paper works well) and stack the prints with a protective layer between each print/layer of prints. You can put multiple smaller prints on a larger one to keep an even stack, but make sure you devise a way to keep them separate. Once all the prints have been stacked, secure the prints to the board by wrapping the prints and the board in saran wrap. Place a thin sheet of foam (if you think it is needed) on top of the wrapped stack and place the other board on top of it all and wrap the whole thing with plastic wrap again. Next you can box the whole thing or wrap it cardboard or what ever for shipping. All of you artwork secured between two 1/2" boards should be pretty safe and nearly as cheap to ship as a box full of tubes.

As for checking you art with an airline, on top of lost luggage (which I have experienced first hand) I leave you with this

I used a drain pipe from b&q ,also the post office cant damage it 

Better yet call your local framer I bet they'll be able to help.

Visited the local framers, here in the suburbs they tend to frame the mundane so asking for a very large tube got blank look and told to call a movers...

I heard about the PVC but they are pretty heavy when you get to such a large size. Carpet roll sound interesting. that could do the trick.

edit:

I checked online but from what I saw you need to buy in bulk, and it sounds silly to ship me a shipping tube. What would they ship it in? Another tube?? lol

then maybe find a carpet store and ask them. how big exactly are you talking about?!

I was thinking I needed around the 6 inch diameter to not roll the print too tightly.

You won't get a carpet one that big dude and some carpets tubes are real flimsy. I've got a big one, hehe. It's in the loft unless the missus has binned it, where are you based roughly?

nobody's surprised to hear you think so  ;-)

Nothing wrong with blowing your own trumpet... But that's another story and involves a surgical procedure removing ribs.

Good questions, Ivanhoe. Not sure why, but it unnerves me to see rare and expensive prints being held down with drinking glasses. I know that art supply shops sell holders just for this purpose, but I've just been too lazy to actually make the trip to buy a set.

I'd like to hear what @badrobot has to say about this.

agree with wiz..clean hands, hold by the edges, if borderless then is a little tricky not to get marks with some matt inks but if there is a white border no problem. put tissue over it and put under a board of some sort, not card wont be heavy enough, i put mine under my cutting mat. Leave until done. Then put under the bed and never look at again.