Flying with Wedding Dress
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 812
Flying with Wedding Dress
Long story that I don't want to get into, but we have been tasked with transporting a wedding dress to PVR for an upcoming wedding.
Flying UA, through IAH, in economy. I am Silver.
Should we keep it in the dress bag, board ASAP, and ask them to hang it? Or what is the best course of action here? Obviously need to avoid wrinkles, don't think checking is an option.
Flying UA, through IAH, in economy. I am Silver.
Should we keep it in the dress bag, board ASAP, and ask them to hang it? Or what is the best course of action here? Obviously need to avoid wrinkles, don't think checking is an option.
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
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While a bit dated, suggest
Wedding Dress Aboard UA?
and
What tips are there for taking a wedding dress as a carry on?
Wedding Dress Aboard UA?
and
What tips are there for taking a wedding dress as a carry on?
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Notwithstanding the cabin of your purchased seat, I would ask the flight attendant to put it in the closet upon boarding. There should be plenty of room nowadays with warmer weather.
You could try laying it on top of carryons in the overhead bin, but I would not do this until the bin in full. I was done this for suits, not dresses.
You could try laying it on top of carryons in the overhead bin, but I would not do this until the bin in full. I was done this for suits, not dresses.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
While being in F might surely help with getting this accommodation, I have seen attendants hang suit bags for Y passengers many times. Generally they just ask when they board, and I can't remember anyone being rebuffed.
As an alternative, my standard for traveling with suits is to pack them in my carry on, sort of on the perimeter of the bag, i.e. put the suit bag in first, half hanging out, then pack everything else in the middle, then drape the suit bag across everything and close. I think this would work for a dress.
As an alternative, my standard for traveling with suits is to pack them in my carry on, sort of on the perimeter of the bag, i.e. put the suit bag in first, half hanging out, then pack everything else in the middle, then drape the suit bag across everything and close. I think this would work for a dress.
#8
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Good to check on AC ... that's true ... not all have closets.
#10
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
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As to the Plan B comment: I flew with my wedding dress and encountered a (non-UA) FA having a very bad day who did nothing to help me and threatened to make me check my dress silk dress with many layers. (We ended up flying with my dress was crammed beneath our feet for two hours.) Make sure the bride has located a dry cleaner capable of pressing the dress upon arrival. I knew mine would need pressing regardless, but was so relieved that our wedding coordinator helped line up a dry cleaner who was expecting the dress and able to press it within the our required timeframe.
#11
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E75 has a closet upfront where the crew luggage is usually stored. Given the smallish plane (seat count), there should be more than sufficient space in the closet for the FA to hang the wedding dress; though I would let the FA know the content, even if it may seem obvious, so additional care can be taken.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,357
E75 has a closet upfront where the crew luggage is usually stored. Given the smallish plane (seat count), there should be more than sufficient space in the closet for the FA to hang the wedding dress; though I would let the FA know the content, even if it may seem obvious, so additional care can be taken.
#13
Suspended
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Posts: 50,262
Bottom line is that you have to plan on not having closet access. Thus, the dry cleaner plan seems best. On the 175, the dress may still be folded if there is anything bellow it (wheel chair?)
#15
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
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Posts: 255
Mrs. thesun and I flew her wedding dress on a mainline narrowbody in the F closet without any problem. We were seated in paid F. Note that the closets aren't really that tall and the dress may be longer than the closet is tall. Even though the Mrs is quite short, the dress was substantially taller when in its bag. For our particular dress this wasn't an issue to have the bottom draped on the floor of the closet. I'd talk to whoever made or sold the dress for their recommendation. For us, it would have been acceptable to fold the dress into thirds in the dress bag but we opted not to do that as we knew we had the closet.