Wedding Dress + Airlines = confused!

[Sweetsus]

Hi girls (& guys)

I know there have been quite a few threads on this but I'm being very specific. I'm torn between travelling with 2 airlines to our wedding - Aer Lingus (the only airline that will fly direct from Ireland to Orlando) or flying to the UK and taking a Virgin Atlantic flight from there to Orlando.

The real issue at the moment is their policies on wedding dresses. I'm not willing to put my dress into the hold with the rest of the luggage and I've heard that the chances of you getting it on board and put in a closet is really dependent on the check-in agents/air stewards mood on the day

We're hoping to upgrade for our flights - it is our honeymoon after all & paying a grand or so for an extra seat for my wedding dress is a bit off-putting so I'm wondering if any of you would be able to advise on who would be best to go with? Do you know anyone who's had experiences with these airlines?? Or maybe your own experience?

Any advice or opinions would be great!

 

[Chilly]

What is Aer Lingus carry bag policy? I'm putting my dress in a cabin sized suitcase and its my carry on bag.

 

[Sweetsus]

Aer Lingus Carry On Policy:

"Baggage is restricted to one piece per passenger.
The maximum dimensions for a cabin bag are 56cms x 45cms x 25cms or 22in x 18in x 10in.
Baggage must weigh under 10 kgs/22lbs and be small enough to fit in overhead bins or under your seat.
Additional small items (cameras, personal stereos, overcoats, handbags) are allowed.
EU security rules regarding liquids, gels and aerosols in cabin baggage apply.
Flights departing the USA are subject to TSA security rules
Passengers in Row 1, or at an emergency exit, MUST store baggage in an overhead bin. "

And this is there policy re:wedding dresses:

"Wedding Dresses can be carried when travelling with Aer Lingus. The normal checked/cabin baggage rules apply. There is no requirement to advise Aer Lingus before hand that you are carrying these items. It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure they are packed/ boxed and should be able to fit in the overhead compartment in order to prevent damage, as airlines do not accept responsibility for perishable, fragile, or valuable items."

I'm reluctant to put my dress in an overhead compartment - I've seen people including airline staff - shoving and pushing stuff in so that they can squeeze in as much as possible.

 

[Sarah <3 Disney]

I know Lurkyloo shipped her dress a week or so before the wedding to Carolyn Allen's Bridal and Tuxedo. They stored the dress, steamed it, and delivered it the morning of the wedding. Then, they will collect it and ship it back home for you.

Here are a couple posts about it in her Trip Report:
#1 - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23454547&highlight=ship#post23454547
#2 - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=24384818&highlight=ship#post24384818

Maybe you can look into this option? Hope that helps!

 

[Nadders100]

who are you flying with if I may ask ?
I'm flying virgin to Orlando and my dress shop don't seem to think it will be a problem to fit it into a carry on suitcase (which they will pack for me) and then I can store it in the overhead lockers. They say they do it all the time.
We have upgraded with virgin too but they don't give you any more baggage allowance for carry on.

 

[Sweetsus]

This is what Virgin's official policy is:

Q How should I take a wedding dress on my flight?
A If possible your garments should be packed into a seperate suitcase and marked 'Fragile Wedding Garments'. This will be placed in the hold in the aircraft. Alternatively, your garments can be taken into the cabin as long as they are packed into your hand luggage and fit into the specified weight and dimension requirements. We are unable to hang wedding garments in the Economy and Premium Economy cabins due to the CAA regulations.

I know they have been more generous to other people but I'm not sure if I want to risk it..... I think I'm actually being bridezilla about this but like everyone else I want it to get there in one piece!

Nadders - what day are you flying over?

 

[Nadders100]

We are flying out on the Saturday beforehand (24th) and you ?

 

[Sweetsus]

We're going the 22nd (thursday). We want a little bit of time before everyone arrives to get our marriage license and all those annoying bits and pieces sorted. We'll pretty much lose thursday flying but we'll have friday and then everyone is arriving on saturday!

Hope you don't mind me asking but what airport are you flying out of? I'm not too sure of UK airports and if we end up going with Virgin I need to figure out where would be best for us?

 

[Nadders100]

Ask away no problem. We are flying out of Gatwick which is where we normally end up going from to America.There will be 14 of us all on the same flight as there is only a few of us that have been to America so we want to look after those that haven't. In fact I will be at Gatwick in under 2 weeks as my sister, mum and dad and I are going for our last family trip away - just like we when we were younger and it was just the 4 of us so I cant wait to spend some time with them especially as my parents live in Spain now and so all the wedding plans are being made without them so I can fill them in (or bore them to death).

Where would you fly in to here if you do decide to go with Virgin ?

 

[Sweetsus]

I'm not too sure. I think I only have a choice between Manchester and London (presume its Gatwick?) I know I could get flights to both of the airports or else (and I haven't mentioned this to DF yet!) we could get the ferry over and drive up. I have family scattered over the UK so I'm sure we could find someone who would look after the car while we're getting married!

Thats a really good idea about the family holiday! I'm trying to plan something similar (depending on money!) It's just me and my mum and this year was her 50th bday. Unfortunately she was recovering from major surgery around that time so we didn't get to do much. I promised her I would bring her over to london to see Mamma Mia on West End as part of her birthday present so I'm hoping to get that sorted in the next few months. It will kind of be our last mother/daughter family holiday.

You parents will be thrilled to hear all of your plans! It must be very hard for you not having them here while you're planning. But it will make the family holiday extra special!

 

[Nadders100]

That is why this board has been THE best find for planning my wedding. without it I think I would have gone mad !!

I hope your mum is ok now and I know when you do finally get over here to see mamma mia she is going to love it. It was my mum's 60th this year and so we all went over to spain to celebrate with her there. And the trip coming up is also my mum and dad's 40th wedding anniversary so another excuse for the holiday !!

Have you got your wedding planner yet ? do you know who it is ?
we sent back our loa yesterday so hopefully should hear soon from ours.

 

[Beep]

I've got a very full dress and it is being packed into a cabin-sized bag to take as hand luggage. No way am I putting it in the hold!

Just a word of warning about shipping dresses to the US from the UK - you are liable for customs and duty charges if the dress is over a certain value which is really low.

It doesn't make any difference if you ship the dress to your hotel or to a bridal shop, you are still liable for the the charges.

I was also told that you may be liable for the same charges bringing it back from the US unless it is a personal item and then there is no liability. A personal item is something that is 6 months old or more. I am taking my receipts with me just incase.

I know that some brides have used the vacuum bags to get the air out so that it fits in a bag but you have to be careful not to suck too much out as it can damage the bones in the dress if there are any.

Hope that helps x

 

[rosiejo]

I flew Virgin out of Gatwick. My dress was huge (there are photos via the link in my sig) but the store carefully folded it and packed it into a small roller case like the airline staff use. My mum actually took it on board as her hand luggage with nothing else.

I had a slight scare on the way back when they told me that the overheads were full and as the case was quite large it would have to go in the hold. Even though the wedding was over I wasn't risking that so I pretty much told the air hostess that I would go and look myself what overhead space there was. We were at the back of the plane and the overheads were empty!

 

[Sweetsus]

That is why this board has been THE best find for planning my wedding. without it I think I would have gone mad !!

I hope your mum is ok now and I know when you do finally get over here to see mamma mia she is going to love it. It was my mum's 60th this year and so we all went over to spain to celebrate with her there. And the trip coming up is also my mum and dad's 40th wedding anniversary so another excuse for the holiday !!

Have you got your wedding planner yet ? do you know who it is ?
we sent back our loa yesterday so hopefully should hear soon from ours.

Thanks! I know what you mean about this site being a total blessing!

No I haven't got my wedding planner yet. My LOA was delivered on Thursday - my co-ordinators assistant emailed to let me know. I'm assuming they'll call this week?! I'm holding off booking flights until I'm sure everythings ok. Did they tell you when your Save the Dates would go out? Its one question I forgot to ask..

I've got a very full dress and it is being packed into a cabin-sized bag to take as hand luggage. No way am I putting it in the hold!

Just a word of warning about shipping dresses to the US from the UK - you are liable for customs and duty charges if the dress is over a certain value which is really low.

It doesn't make any difference if you ship the dress to your hotel or to a bridal shop, you are still liable for the the charges.

I was also told that you may be liable for the same charges bringing it back from the US unless it is a personal item and then there is no liability. A personal item is something that is 6 months old or more. I am taking my receipts with me just incase.

I know that some brides have used the vacuum bags to get the air out so that it fits in a bag but you have to be careful not to suck too much out as it can damage the bones in the dress if there are any.

Hope that helps x

I don't think I'd risk vacuum bags! I'd be terrified that it would just ruin the shape. Thanks for letting me know about the customs.... I thought that I might have escaped it going over to USA but expected it coming back! Now I'm worrying about shipping over the rest of my wedding stuff......

I flew Virgin out of Gatwick. My dress was huge (there are photos via the link in my sig) but the store carefully folded it and packed it into a small roller case like the airline staff use. My mum actually took it on board as her hand luggage with nothing else.

I had a slight scare on the way back when they told me that the overheads were full and as the case was quite large it would have to go in the hold. Even though the wedding was over I wasn't risking that so I pretty much told the air hostess that I would go and look myself what overhead space there was. We were at the back of the plane and the overheads were empty!

I'd be exactly the same! I don't want to lose sight of my dress! Mine isn't too big so I'm hoping deep down that they'll put it in one of the closets or something.

 

[Nadders100]

Thanks! I know what you mean about this site being a total blessing!

No I haven't got my wedding planner yet. My LOA was delivered on Thursday - my co-ordinators assistant emailed to let me know. I'm assuming they'll call this week?! I'm holding off booking flights until I'm sure everythings ok. Did they tell you when your Save the Dates would go out? Its one question I forgot to ask..

I didn't even realise we got save the date cards!!
I have warned my DF that he might get a call while I am away from our planner & no doubt he will forget to ask any questions so I will just have to ring them when I get home.

 

[Sweetsus]

I didn't even realise we got save the date cards!!
I have warned my DF that he might get a call while I am away from our planner & no doubt he will forget to ask any questions so I will just have to ring them when I get home.

I heard they were getting rid of them but my LOA included approval for Save the Dates and a little photo of them. I'm a wishes wedding tho - are you wishes or escape?

If your DF is anything like mine, you should leave a little list of questions beside the phone for him! and a reminder!

 

[Nadders100]

No I am an escape so that would explain it.
And my DF sounds very similar to yours so I think I had better leave strict instructions on what to say to the planner ( like ring back in 2 weeks )!!

 

[Sweetsus]

No I am an escape so that would explain it.
And my DF sounds very similar to yours so I think I had better leave strict instructions on what to say to the planner ( like ring back in 2 weeks )!!

Good luck!!

 

[Soon2beMrs.]

I am currently having the same airline issue only I'm already in the U.S. I have my fingers crossed that the airline people are in good generous moods this saturday. I don't wanna be a bridezilla but it might happen by accident!

 

[shazy03]

I have just arrived in sunny Orlando, flew with Virgin, the wedding dress shop packed my dress in a case which was the right size for hand luggage, no problems and hanging now ready for Friday 09.11 x