Dress as hand luggage?

[Lisa x]

Im sorry if this has already been posted somewhere but I have tried to look and the search engine is rejecting my answers to the funny writing over and over and over!! Arrrggghhhh!

I want to take my dress as hand luggage, I dont want to check it in as Im scared to death that it might go missing on route to Orlando.......

Im flying with VA in Upper Class so thought it would be fine to hang it in their wardrobes. I contacted them a few months ago and they said it would be fine. So now I have collected my dress and have it at home in its bag woohoo and can see the dimensions.....

73 Inches long x 27 Inches wide.....quite big and quite heavy!

So I panicked and contacted Virgin and asked them again about taking it onboard with me, she said it would be fine but she wont send me anything in writing by email or anything to confirm this at check in. She said that if other people check in first and want to hang their coats or jackets up, they get priority and my dress wont be able to go in the ONE wardrobe space...

She said if this happens......guess what.......MY DRESS CANT TRAVEL...!

Im hoping you can settle my nerves here and let me know it will be ok!!!

Thanks and sorry to chatter on for so long!

 

[jennjones1]

Hiya,

What i am doing is having my dress packed in a travel box that fits in the hand luggage compartments.

Most bridal shops sell them, i know i went to 2 shops and they sold them. That way it is easier to carry and you shouldnt have any problems with being refused on because it is your hand luggage.

The shop is packing mine for me, so i do not need to worry.

 

[girli565]

I've heard of some bridal shops packing the dress in a box that can be taken on board the plane as carry on luggage. Maybe check with your shop and see if they will do that for you? There was a thread a week or so past that discussed this very topic and it was another UK bride.

 

[Lisa x]

Thanks so much.....I will contact the shop tomorrow and see if they can pack it up for me!

Thing is, they asked me this on Saturday when I collected it and I was like 'No no it will be fine, they have said I can carry it on...blah blah'....then the pesky little suckers do this to me...

 

[Sweetsus]

This is kind of worrying. I posted here a little while ago asking who I should fly with and DF and I basically decided that my dress was going to have the best chance with VA upper class. From what I hear (and I'm not sure how likely any of this is) most airlines are helpful when it comes to wedding dresses. Its just I know the bridezilla control freak in me won't take the chance!

Good luck with your dress & the airline and let us know how you get on!

 

[Lisa x]

It seems to depend on who you talk to at VA! Until today, I was dead set on the idea that I would be taking my dress in a dress bag to be hung up!

Now im kinda scared that they will tell me I have to check it in as luggage in the hold and I wouldnt have been prepared! Iv emailed my wedding co-ordinator and asked her to book my dress in for steaming and i will arrange for it to be packed in a bag of the correct dimensions for hand luggage!

 

[Chilly]

Someone I know who got married in St Lucia took her dress in a bag on VA and it wasn't a problem and she was just in economy but I'm not taking the risk and am packing it in a cabin bag as my hand luggage.

 

[Lisa x]

Someone I know who got married in St Lucia took her dress in a bag on VA and it wasn't a problem and she was just in economy but I'm not taking the risk and am packing it in a cabin bag as my hand luggage.

I too am going to pack mine into a cabin bag as hand luggage. The bridal shop is going to pack it all up for me!

I got this email back from VA today:

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding. It's a pleasure to know you're travelling with us on such a special occasion. Upper Class passengers may take two pieces of hand baggage onboard. Individual dimensions not to exceed 23 x 36 x 56cm, (approx 9 x 14 x 22 inches) and 16kg (35lbs) in combined weight, with no bag weighing more than 12kg. This can include 1 garment bag, 20cm (8ins) thick when folded, not exceeding 12kg in weight. As an Upper Class passenger you will be able to take the dress as part of your cabin baggage. Subject to space we will be able to accommodate it in one of the Upper Class wardrobes.

I am just not risking the dimensions! No chance....if they tried to tell me I couldnt take it...well...I would probably just CRY!!

 

[Sweetsus]

I too am going to pack mine into a cabin bag as hand luggage. The bridal shop is going to pack it all up for me!

I got this email back from VA today:

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding. It's a pleasure to know you're travelling with us on such a special occasion. Upper Class passengers may take two pieces of hand baggage onboard. Individual dimensions not to exceed 23 x 36 x 56cm, (approx 9 x 14 x 22 inches) and 16kg (35lbs) in combined weight, with no bag weighing more than 12kg. This can include 1 garment bag, 20cm (8ins) thick when folded, not exceeding 12kg in weight. As an Upper Class passenger you will be able to take the dress as part of your cabin baggage. Subject to space we will be able to accommodate it in one of the Upper Class wardrobes.

I am just not risking the dimensions! No chance....if they tried to tell me I couldnt take it...well...I would probably just CRY!!

I hope you don't mind me asking but did you book your wedding through VA or did you let them know if was your wedding? Still haven't booked our flights

 

[JoJo1980]

I bought a travel / storage box off ebay and popped the dress in there. We flew PE with virgin, I got to the check-in desk and the lady wasnt sure if I could take it as hand luggage so she spoke to her manager (I was preparing for war!) but luckily she said it was fine

When we boarded a member of the cabin crew put it in one of the cupboards and the dress had a safe and stress free journey

To be honest, if you can put it in some sort of box I think it would be easier for you. To begin with I was going to 'hang it' but i'm so glad I didn't - the box was a lot easier to carry and store and the dress didn't get dirty or damaged - which I was very worried about if hanging it and 'dragging' it around the airports etc... I was also scared that if they wouldnt let me hang it - how do I put it in the hold with nothing around it?!?

The box came with lots of paper to pack the dress in so it was well padded, it was folded in there for 4 days - then I unpacked it & let it hang for 2 days and looked perfect! I'd booked Carolyn Allens anyway, so they spruced it up a bit on the day too

 

[Lisa x]

I hope you don't mind me asking but did you book your wedding through VA or did you let them know if was your wedding? Still haven't booked our flights

When I emailed them to ask about hanging items, I told them it was a wedding dress. I only booked flights through them! I booked my wedding through a wedding co-ordinator in Orlando!

I bought a travel / storage box off ebay and popped the dress in there. We flew PE with virgin, I got to the check-in desk and the lady wasnt sure if I could take it as hand luggage so she spoke to her manager (I was preparing for war!) but luckily she said it was fine

When we boarded a member of the cabin crew put it in one of the cupboards and the dress had a safe and stress free journey

To be honest, if you can put it in some sort of box I think it would be easier for you. To begin with I was going to 'hang it' but i'm so glad I didn't - the box was a lot easier to carry and store and the dress didn't get dirty or damaged - which I was very worried about if hanging it and 'dragging' it around the airports etc... I was also scared that if they wouldnt let me hang it - how do I put it in the hold with nothing around it?!?

The box came with lots of paper to pack the dress in so it was well padded, it was folded in there for 4 days - then I unpacked it & let it hang for 2 days and looked perfect! I'd booked Carolyn Allens anyway, so they spruced it up a bit on the day too

Yeh I dont want to risk them saying no and then having to put it in the hold in a dress bag....

I have arranged to take it back to the Bridal Shop to be packed and I have also just got my confirmation through from Carolyn Allens for steaming on the wedding day so hopefully Im sorted and I can TRY and relax again now!