Transportation of Dress from UK help

[A whole new world]

I was wondering if someone would be able to help me. I'm going to be taking my flight hand luggage on my flight from the UK. I've just had a look at hand luggage regulations and it will mean that i will have to fold my dress into 1/3 of what it is now-nightmare.

I was hiping i would have been able to take in on just in a dress cover, but no luck. What is the best way to transport it? Anyone else carried their dress onboard? Also will i have to open the dress container through security, because i don't want the groom seeing it before the day?

I'm presuming that as i am having to fold my dress up it will need to be steamed which i was hoping not to have to do. So my next question is how much will this cost and when do i get it done?e.g on the wedding day.

Sorry for all the questions

 

[feline figaro]

This is something thats concerning me as i dont want to put my dress in the hold. I would really like to same as you carry it on board in a dress cover but am pretty sure this is nt likely to be allowed.

We re flying with Virgin, was curious to know which airline you re using. I think each individual airlines policy greatly vary on this

 

[A whole new world]

I'm also flying with them. According to the website it has to go either in the hold or it can go in the over head compartment on board, but it has to be in a container a certain size. Its i think something like 23cm x 36cm x 56cm.

This means my dress that i have spent months trying to keep crease-free is going to end up badly creased and i have to get a box or something of that nature to store it.

 

[B2B-2008]

I'm flying with virgin and have just purchased the biggest hard suitcase that will fit in the hold for my dress. I'm dreading that my dress will be lost in transit, if it does I'm sure you will all hear about it on the new in july

I having it steamed the day of the wedding which I have been quoted $85 for.

 

[orangetiggs]

i flew with virgin to my planning session and asked the check in desk and they said it would be ok in my dress bag as long as security would allow it, i then asked security when i went through and they said check with your airline. I said that virgin said it was up to security and they said it should be fine as they have a lot go through.

I am taking mine on as hand luggage either in my dress bag or I intend on buy a box for it from the empty box company. they do really nice boxes that fit to hand luggage size.

My dress shop also said it wouldnt matter if it went into a hand luugage size box for 9 hours, just hang in a steamy bathroom and it will be fine

 

[Missy H]

We are flying BA and have up to 23kg for hand luggage. I am having the dress shop pack mine and my 2 DD's bridesmaid dresses into one case and I'm goingto check it in. The dress shop are going to steam it (all for £15) and wrap it and have told me it will be fine! I am going to get them to do it on the Thurday as we leave very early on the friday morning!

 

[A whole new world]

Orangetiggs thanks for the info. Thats re-assuring. I may get a box like you. I'd like to take it hand luggage as i don't trust such a precious item in a suitcase. Steaming is quite expensive, so i was hoping i wouldn't need it. I could always try steaming it muself in the bathroom and if that fails contacting Carolyn Allen while i'm over there. I'm out there 5 days before the wedding, and my dress is silk so fingers cross will be ok.

Thanks again x

 

[Funniebunny]

I used a box from the empty box company. Not only was it great and fit into the over head locker on the plane but it was also a talking point in the airport, loads of people asked what was in there. At security it just got scanned like normal hand luggage so the groom didn't see it until the day. My Mum hung my dress and I didn't need to have it steamed. It was lacey though rather than silk

 

[A whole new world]

Has the empty box company got a website? My dress is quite bulky and heavy so i'm hoping it will fit in one.

I would have thought that if i get it out the box as soon as i get to the US then it might not crease too bad.

 

[orangetiggs]

http://www.emptybox.co.uk/products_travel.asp

 

[feline figaro]

Id be really interested in purchasing one of the boxes for our flight. Does anyone know if the Maxi box would be allowed on Virgin or if the measurements are too big for hand luggage?

The only thing im really concerned with is that the skirt to my dress is really really big so am worried my dress wont fit in the box.

Id so much rather take it on as hand luggage, i dont really like the idea of having the dress out of my sight

 

[orangetiggs]

i think the size of the maxi box is hand luggage size, thats the one i'll be getting and i'm flying with virgin in aug

 

[B2B-2008]

Can someone just double check this for me incase I have this wrong. I think the Maxi travel box is to big for virgin hand baggage. It says the size is 35 x 55 x 20 cm (deep).

Virgin state the following on their website

You are permitted ONE piece of hand luggage each. This must be able to fit under the seat in front of you, which means it must not be larger than 23cm x 36cm x 56cm (9in x 14in X 22in) overall and should also not weigh more than 6kg.

Does this mean it is to big or am I looking at the measurement wrong?

 

[feline figaro]

Can someone just double check this for me incase I have this wrong. I think the Maxi travel box is to big for virgin hand baggage. It says the size is 35 x 55 x 20 cm (deep).

Virgin state the following on their website

You are permitted ONE piece of hand luggage each. This must be able to fit under the seat in front of you, which means it must not be larger than 23cm x 36cm x 56cm (9in x 14in X 22in) overall and should also not weigh more than 6kg.

Does this mean it is to big or am I looking at the measurement wrong?

This is my concern as well, i figured when i saw the measurements that the maxi box is too big

 

[B2B-2008]

If that is the case my dress is too big for the other box I will have to stick to the original suitcase plan as much as I hate it.

 

[meryll83]

In the FAQ's on VHols site it even says 2 different things right below each other!:

Q. What is the current hand baggage policy for Virgin Atlantic flights?
A. Premium Economy/Economy
You are permitted ONE piece of hand luggage each. This must be able to fit under the seat in front of you, which means it must not be larger than 23cm x 36cm x 56cm (9in x 14in X 22in) overall and should also not weigh more than 6kg.

Q. What is the maximum size and weight of hand luggage aboard Virgin Atlantic?
A. The luggage should not exceed 55cm x 35cm x 23cm (22in x 14in x 9in) and weigh no more than 6kgs (13lbs)

You lose a centimetre the further down the page you look!

 

[B2B-2008]

I know that Gatwick has a tougher policy at the moment I will try to ring them to find out.

 

[meryll83]

If that is the case my dress is too big for the other box I will have to stick to the original suitcase plan as much as I hate it.

Me too if the Maxi is no good - shame coz it would have been a really good idea

 

[Chilly]

The way I read it the Maxi box size is fine.

 

[feline figaro]

B2B-2008:

If you find out any info from Gatwick please share this with us as this all gets so confusing

meryll83:

Yay for Virgin making up the rules as they go a long. If they cant get it right then how the hell are we suppose to??

Can you imagine trying to check in with the maxi box as your hand luggage to then be told its too big or heavy. . Now thats a moment i could have many nightmares over