Traveling With Dress

caporrone · November 18, 2009

some advice - i would agree with most and say DO NOT SHIP. i carried on my dress and shipped 4 boxes of DIY stuff and they all got stuck in customs in Jamaica - it really was a nightmare getting them. we started our trip with a 3 hour delay in customs going back and forth and paying more and more american dollars to get all of it. it was seriously sooooooooooo ridiculous. So def carry on lol! I held that dress the entire way there of course, on the way home, it was a different story haha

inspiredfyre · November 18, 2009

I just came back from my wedding less than a week ago, we flew with American Airlines, and when we called they said it was considered carry on, as well as when we actually got to the airport. we decided to ask again, since we had to check in a few extra pieces of luggage, got the same answer, no problem!

Well, here's the thing....the captain's "closet" isn't the same aboard every plane. The first one was great, and they were super accomodating and helpful...after the layover, the plane was smaller, and they had a box like closet they held it in, and sort of folded it.

A garment bag is definitely needed after you hear this.....hold on to your seat..and i will preface this by saying the flight attendant was very lucky I had already worn my dress(es).

So the last flight home, there were two flight attendants. after 3 other flights taken on the trip, one of them said it was no problem to hold it in the closet, the other said no, because they had to wait for an entire BOOKED PlANE to store their luggage, then I could come back to see if there's room!!!! It wasn't even the overhead :x So she let me shove it behind these seats, that had a small hook behind it, and I seriously had to TRI FOLD my bag!! She kind of shoed me away to handle it, and as people were coming in at a rapid rate, i didn't want to hold the line...i angrily walked away and watched her the whole time from my seat in the back. I kept having this awful feeling like I should go back and check on it, but fi thought i was being ridiculous....oh, no i wasn't, i really wasn't!! I got my garment bag back after waiting 2 hours...and it was extra heavy at the bottom for some reason...and then I see fabric coming out of the bag!!! MY GARMENT BAG WAS RIPPED!! Serious Both dresses were double bagged in the bags they come in, so that took some real effort...Then, i notice that the reason it is so heavy is that one of my dresses came off of the hanger, and was left at the bottom, crumpling!! So awful!!

Anyway, not to deter you guys from carrying it on, it is feasible, just guard your dress no matter what, I don't want you guys to get that lady who probably did that to me on purpose!!

the end...sorry for ranting on your thread, i couldn't help it, i hadn't let that out to anyone yet!!

*Linds* · November 18, 2009

THanks for sharing all the info! I was wondering about this too!

wemkulaf · November 18, 2009

I am taking mine as a carry-on on the plane in a dark bag that it comes in from the Bridal Store.

IMPPEARL · November 18, 2009

I'm Defiantly Carrying mine on also. As said b4 you can have you dress in addition to your regular carry on and a purse. Just check out the web site of your airline to double check policies.

cbell · November 25, 2009

I ended up folding/rolling mine up and putting it in a medium duffle. The resort steamed it for free so I figured it was easier to just carry that bag and deal with the wrinkles than bother with the dress bag. I didn't think it would fit in the duffle but surprisingly it folded up really easily.

roxyqt · November 26, 2009

OMG! I am soooo sorry that they treated your dress that way Inspiredfyre!!

I agree with everyone!! Carry your dress on!! Double check with your airline and AIRPORT for there rules regarding your dress!! You will find that MOST people are extremely helpful when it comes to helping you take care of your dress. My best friend got married in Costa Rica a few years ago, we had problems at her home airport security staff at first, they were telling her she had to fold it up and show them it would fit in her rollerboard, that she could only have 1 carry-on and one personal item!! My mouth dropped!!! I didnt know what to say to her, the lady had no clue or was having a bad day or something, and bless my friend, she kindly asked to speak to the manager and they were fine with her not folding her precious dress in half!! I dont know if I would have been as nice... When we got on the plane (We flew delta on 2 different planes) they were so helpful, sweet, and excited for her!! We could not have asked for a better travel experience! But beware! You will come across some people that will not be as willing to help you, so be prepared to put the dress over-head or if you have to hold on to it. Also, Board the plane ASAP when they call your row, section, zone or whatever... you will have a better chance to ask to flight attendants or find a space to put it over-head when there room.

I am actually going to pick my dress up in Phoenix in a few weeks and plan on carrying it on for the travel home. I will give you guys a update on the experience

roxyqt · December 14, 2009

UPDATE ON TRAVELING WITH A DRESS ON A PLANE:

Ok y'all! I just got my dress this past weekend in Phoenix, and traveled back to the Gulf Coast of Florida with dress in tow.... here is my lastest experience!

Ok got to the airport a bit early just to make sure that I wasn't going through Security time stressed. I flew with Delta airlines. While getting my boarding passes I had the counter agent check into the type of aircraft and he said there was no problem with having a closet to store the dress in either cabin... Step 1, Check

The scariest part came with security, after waiting in the line and going through the airport standard security line (remove your shoes, jacket, etc.) I then placed the dress on the belt to be screened, I panicked a little as the heavy plastic flaps crushed my dress bag as it went through the door to be screened and I asked someone to just make sure that nothing got stuck on the other side so my dressed wasn't pressed like a piece of pasta if it got stuck on anything. Everyone was very nice and helpful, but before I left the area I took my time at the very end of the table, I just double checked that all the straps were still on the hangers (I didnt want to walk away and the entire dress be in the bottom of the bag) Step 2 Check.

I am fortunate enough that I fly a lot for my job and get free upgrades to First Class when available and was upgraded on both flights so I just had them help me hang the dress in the closet instead of my coat. Everyone was beyond helpful on the plane with the dress. The closets are a bit small and short, but I hung the dress and laid the bottom across the bottom of the closet and had very few wrinkles in the dress that weren't already there in the dress. Step 3 Check

When I got home I just hung the dress in the bathroom and ran a hot shower and most all the wrinkles came right out no problem, there were a few heavier wrinkles that I am hoping will come out with another steam shower or 2, but all and all I felt the dress has traveled well... Step 4 Check

I will be doing this all over again here next year some time when we travel to Key West for the Wedding! One more time

Hope the update helps all!!

Roxy

SusieQ · December 14, 2009

From years of traveling down south I have seen so many brides having their dress in hand boarding the plane and having it stored in a closet aboard the plane. Once I did see a flight attendant that was rude to the bride and push the poor girl's dress into a closet and slam the door. The look on this gals face was scary... It was between you just crushed my heart with crushing my dress and woman I am going to kill you.

I will be taking my dress on board with me.. even if I have to wear it lol