A Question for The Road Warriors?

[PhotoDave1]

I am thinking about attending one of Rolando's workshops but to get to one I would have to fly. Now, please don't get me wrong I am not in the slightest bit afraid of flying or of heights (I spent a number of years in the U.S. military "un-assing perfectly good airplanes"), what I am afraid of is the bumbling and incredible stupidity and incompetence shown daily by the airline industry and by the TSA.

I am thinking at a minimum I would need to take 4 bags: 1) a roll-around with my clothes, shoes, toiletries and whatever else I might need; 2) my camera bag; 3) my laptop; and finally 4) a duffle style bag with my misc items in it like cell phone, PDA, sweater, etc.

Now, to be honest I am not really concerned by the TSA. A two-year old could easily out think and out wit the best of any of them on any day but I am most concerned with the airlines who have a whole bunch of people who amply prove that "a person rises to the level of their own incompetence" and they demonstrate this each and every day. I would be carrying a lot of high-value and delicate gear with me and I just don't want to see any of it get messed up or stolen.

I could take a larger roll-around and put my laptop in it but checked baggage is known for theft and while I do have insurance I don't want to go through the lose and hassle of having to deal with it. Besides, even if I stowed my laptop I would still have three bags to deal with and I think the "new" airline limit is 2 so how do I pull this off?

I am hoping that someone out there can share their travel tips with me and help me to pull this off with a minimum of wear and tear on my body and nerves. Thanks all.