Wedding dress in UCS - Newbie needs help:)

Hi All,
I've finally decided to become a paid up member & would appreciate any help you can give me. Im travelling from LGW to MCO in October (in Upper, can't wait!) and would like to know if I can carry my dress onboard in a garment carrier, rather than putting it in my suitcase?
It's a simple long dress & doesn't have lots of layers. Any answers greatfully received

Thanks,
Ang

this is from the VAA website: link

See this thread.

VS.

[HighFlyer]

Welcome to the forum, Ang!

Following on, with the current hand luggage restrictions being 'one piece' per person (even though Upper Class should technically be two), if you do decide to take your dress onboard, that would be your hand luggage allowance. You'll have to get hubby to carry the rest of your bits!

Normally, i'd have said to put it in a suit carrier, but the BAA website states:

Can I carry my wedding dress on board?
Yes, but only if it fits within the dimensions and it would be your designated bag Ð so the likelihood is that for most wedding dresses taking it in the cabin would undoubtedly cause it to crease and crush as a Òhanging bagÓ would exceed size limits. If it cannot fit, please contact your airline to discuss special arrangements for hold luggage.

Now, its entirely up to you whether you want to risk it. You could get away with it, demonstrating that your dress will fit into the specified dimensions by gently folding the carrier over, though, you could get asked to check it. Bear in mind that Virgin Atlantic's rules can be overturned by BAA/Airport Security at a whim - and those security guys are jobsworths at the best of times.

Checking it would be the safer bet, you have lots of luggage allowance with Virgin's Upper Class, but i can understand the worry that it would not make it onto the plane. Its up to you at the end of the day, i would think you'd be ok with a suit carrier if it isnt a meringue dress and can neatly fold down, but BAA's specific advice on the subject is there, and something their staff can fall back on if they are having a bad day. If in doubt, wrap it carefully in bubble wrap, pack it in its own case and ensure it goes though as fragile!

Thanks,
Sarah

[Pete]

It's also worth clearly marking the bags (especially if destined for the hold) "Wedding Garments" so those handling them know exactly how fragile (and important!) they are.

... and you can never have enough bubble wrap. (I'd recommend buying it from somewhere like Viking Direct to get a really good price, rather than from the high street - get a big roll of the stuff!)

And, just in case you haven't heard it enough - Congratulations on your big day! (Ooo, and welcome to V-Flyer as well!)

Pete

Thank you all for your help[:p]
I think I'll end up putting it in it's own suitcase along with hubby to be's suit etc then - don't want to risk any beading falling off[:0]
Also, can anyone let me know how I can access expertflyer?

Thanks,
Ang

[HighFlyer]

The ExpertFlyer password is in the Clubhouse forum, 6th post down.

Thanks,
Sarah

Felicitations!

You might also go talk to Ticketing once you get to Gatwick and get excess valuation for the suit/dress bag, which will make sure baggage takes extra special care with it!

Just in case, make sure you tag the hangers, the plastic bags the dress/suit are packed in, and at least one of the tiedown straps inside the bag with contact information/itinerary good for after you land - just so (heaven forfend) if things go awry and the outside tags come off, the kind souls in Orlando VS baggage can get it to you in time.

Then tag it with two tags on the outside, think good thoughts, and worry about something else! Since you took extra-special care with your all-important wedding garments, they'll be fine.

May your special day be wonderful - and if you can, we'd love to see pix afterwards!

Thanks Sarah:D

Merci vs-itsallgood:D Great tip, hadn't thought of that & neither had our useless travel agent!! To be honest, thinking isn't really her strong point.
Virgin have sent her 3 confirmed invoices so far & she denies ever having received them - hmm??! Just as well we've contacted Virgin direct instead for help & what a complete contrast - really friendly & helpful.
The only thing I'll be worrying about on the day will be what to scoff in the CH[:o)]
I'll be sure to post some pix afterwards & write my trip reports

Hope you have a good trip/day[y]

Why talk to a travel agent when you can come straight to v-flyer:D

VS.

When i got married in St Lucia back in Dec 05 (booked through VH) i packed my dress in a separate suitcase.Although i noticed after boarding the flight a pax in economy bringing on her huge dress and the CC stowed it for her!

So i was a bit peeved.

Anyway best advice is to pack it and get the check in agent to mark it fragile, then when i arrived i just simply took it out of the case and hung it up as the humidity took any creases out.

Have a fab time & congratulations - i hope it goes well!

[Scrooge]

If the humidity doesn't do the job any concierge worth their job will know of a cleaners that will get the creases out, won't be cheap, but better than having a crease.

Thought of sending it fedex in one of their garment bags. I sent a few items of clothing with them left behind by visitors in my days with SmithklineBeecham worth geting a quote and have it deliverd to your door.

Watch out for hidden fees on the FedEx shipping! Make sure any quote you receive includes their hefty customs fee (this is not the US customs charge, but a fee the shipper tacks on for taking your package through the Customs process), as it can cost upwards of $75. extra on top of the shipping fee itself, and you won't find out about it/be told about it until you go to pick up your items! I answer angry questions from eBayers all the time about international FedEx/UPS hidden fees. Use either service at your wallet's peril.

UPS Global does the same, as does just about any other shipping carrier other than official mail services. Unless the extra cost doesn't matter, I would suggest checking the items into the hold.

Also, depending on the gemstones/other decorations on your dress (you did mention pearls), the Customs duty might go up if the garment was sent as cargo instead of accompanied baggage - something to check into before deciding to use alternate shippers.

Evening All,
Thanks for the tips about FedEx etc, to be honest, I hadn't even thought getting it sent by courier. I think I'm going to stick with putting it in the hold & just ask them nicely at Check-In if they can mark it as fragile for me.
I'd rather make sure that it's somewhere safe & gets on the same flight as me, although if it does go walkabouts, they won't fail to miss it as it's crimson!:D

When we went to Vegas in Sept last year to get married at the Grand Canyon, the misses had to take her wedding dress in the hold as we got told by VA she couldn't take it on the plane. We bought a £30 hard back case just for the dress and packed it in lots of alternating layers of non-acidic tissue paper and wrapped the whole lot in bubble wrap.

Tell the check-in agent what it is and they will mark the suitcase fragile.

The dress only got one little crease but it came out after a day hanging up.

HAVE FUN AND CONGRATS!