How to take my wedding dress on the airplane

[Pablou]

Hi has anyone had experience with thomson?? That's who I'm flying with?

[acw271011]

Hi ladies.

 

Yes - your dress, if you're carrying it, does count as a carryon, but we were told it was an "allowable" carry on exception so it didn't count as extra for a charge, and that was with Air Transat. It was like an extra piece that we were allowed. And yes - it does have to go through security. I had to fold the bag in half and lay it in one of the trays that goes through the scanner. Everything does. I've yet to see a way of getting around that.

 

Here is something else you can do. Go to the website of the airline you're flying with and read through the allowable baggage. Air Transat has a section right on their website that deals with wedding dresses, and for Canadian brides I would think Sunwing and all the other charters do too.

 

Another tip, go to Davids Bridal wherever you are and buy one of their cloth dress bags. It says Davids Bridal in red right on the front. Everyone will know it's a wedding dress, and believe me, however they can help you they will!!

 

Happy planning!!

 

 

Just as an FYI, there are very few "closets" on airplanes. Even the attendants stow their bags. There isn't the luxury of a closet to store it and as someone already mentioned, if a wheelchair needs to get put on board, then it gets priority. All the world loves a wedding but it's highly unlikely you'll get anything special as far as your dress goes.

 

Just be prepared and get yourself a good garment bag to put your dress into. That way, you're covered and your dress is safe!

 

Happly planning!

[tygrrlily]

@@acw271011 - Great tips. Thanks!

[FutureMrsGlover]

Great tips!

[Rheannarudy]

Thanks everyone for the advice!

[sisimoon]

Maybe you can put the wedding dresses in a garment bag.

[angelajackson]

Great advice... Thank you!

[stefadile]

Excellent advice!!

[tarynh86]

I'm bringing mine as a carry on for sure!!!

[pzl101]

Hi ladies,

 

I just got back from my wedding and had no problems with my dress as a carry-on. I flew JetBlue out of JFK airport and everyone was incredible nice. I got lots of smiles and "congratulations!" Don't worry - everyone will be so happy for you. 

 

Waiting to go through security, I folded my garment bag and was about to stuff it in those buckets when one the TSA agents goes "oh no no no. Don't wrinkle your dress!" She laid it out flat on the belt and hooked the hanger to the bucket in front so it would help lead the dress through the scanner. She also made sure that there was enough space before she let another bucket go after the dress so it would not bump into it in case the scanner belt got backed up. I was pleasantly surprised because security agents can be so grumpy!

 

JetBlue let me board first and take up TWO ENTIRE overhead bins by laying it flat across. I felt bad that I was taking up space from other people but the flight attendant said "oh don't worry about it." She guarded the bins and anytime someone was about to open them she would say "sorry, these are full, please use another one."

 

On the way home, the agents at the Montego Bay airport weren't as nice but since it was after the fact, I had no problem laying the dress on top of someone's luggage.

 

Your bridal salon should give you a garment bag and if you can, get an extra plastic bag. The seamstress who did my alterations put my dress in a long clear thick plastic bag first then inside the garment bag. She did this just in case airport security wanted to unzip the garment bag to check - this way, the plastic protected them from actually touching my dress. No one questioned it but it doesn't hurt to have an extra layer.

 

Happy planning!