Flying with dress as carryon with Southwest - what to do? I NEED HELP AND SUGGESTIONS

[TinkBride]

They have a restriction for carryons that they have to be less than 10x16x24 inches. Obviously my dress is bigger than that . I was also told TSA would have to put it through the conveyor and they can not hand check it.

Also, SW has no captain's closet. So it has to fit under my seat or be in an overhead bin.

What am I going to do?

 

[Tammy32]

It is true there is no closet on SWA. You need to go online 24 hours before your flight to get your boarding pass, so you can get A boarding group. Once you have that you will be the first boarding group and you will have plenty of space to put your dress in the overhead bin. if it isn't to big you could place it on the top of bags, so no one throws their bag on it. You could also buy an extra seat and use it for your dress. I took my dress on board and it was huge. I just folded it in half and shoved it in the overhead. I wasn't worried about the wrinkles because I was getting it steamed at Disney.

 

[jmmastra]

I am also flying SW with my dress. I called the airline and they said exactly what Tammy said. Security will put your dress on the conveyor belt. I am going to buy a heavier garment bag to put the dress in so it will be double protected. You could also ship it to the resort you are staying at or to Carolyn Allens

 

[Tammy32]

Let the people know that it is your wedding....you may get a surprise. We got a bottle of champagne during the flight.

 

[heathrow42]

What am I going to do?

Lol You cram that baby into a carryon suitcase and don't let it out of your sight! atleast that's what I did. I had a big poofy dress with a looooong train, and I kept it in the thin plastic it was in, then folded that into a regular carryon size suitcase. Sort of fold the dress in half, with the the long train, skirt part on the bottom of the suitcase, fold the bodice over top, and then fold up the remainder of the train around it. I also put my veil in the same bag.

I packed it the night before, it went perfectly and easily through security, I could wheel it down to the gate, and it fit perfectly overhead. I didn't have to worry about people smushing around a dress bag in the over head. It was easy to manage because I didn't have to carry a dress bag that was bigger than I was. I unpacked the dress when we got to our room. I'm so glad I did it this way.. it would have been too much of a hassle to carry a big dress bag. I swear it *really* did NOT get wrinkled. Carolyn Allen's came the day of the wedding and steamed both the dress and my veil, as well as the Flower Girl dress and all the bridesmaids dresses.

..and I flew Southwest!

--h

 

[DisBride2007]

Are you sure it won't fit in the overhead dimensions? I have a fairly poufy dress and mine is fitting into a box of those dimensions ... and getting crammed in the overhead.

 

[catwub]

Can you buy a seat for your dress on SW? I know JetBlue allows this and there were a few posters that mentioned they actually did this....I will be flying SW and I am also wondering what to do.


Cat

 

[TinkBride]

Lol You cram that baby into a carryon suitcase and don't let it out of your sight! atleast that's what I did. I had a big poofy dress with a looooong train, and I kept it in the thin plastic it was in, then folded that into a regular carryon size suitcase. Sort of fold the dress in half, with the the long train, skirt part on the bottom of the suitcase, fold the bodice over top, and then fold up the remainder of the train around it. I also put my veil in the same bag.

I packed it the night before, it went perfectly and easily through security, I could wheel it down to the gate, and it fit perfectly overhead. I didn't have to worry about people smushing around a dress bag in the over head. It was easy to manage because I didn't have to carry a dress bag that was bigger than I was. I unpacked the dress when we got to our room. I'm so glad I did it this way.. it would have been too much of a hassle to carry a big dress bag. I swear it *really* did NOT get wrinkled. Carolyn Allen's came the day of the wedding and steamed both the dress and my veil, as well as the Flower Girl dress and all the bridesmaids dresses.

..and I flew Southwest!

--h

I like this idea, i will be searching for a suitcase that size this weekend!