How to transport my Wedding Dress

I hope someone can help. We are due to fly on the 6th May from Manchester to Orlando for our wedding and I had planned on taking my wedding dress in my hand lugage bag and when I went to collect it today I have had to admit defeat and am now panicking as it is far too big to fit in my small hand lugage bag! [:0]

I would prefer to carry my dress on in a suit carrier on board rather than just put it in a suitcase, just in case it goes missing! Does anyone have any idea what chances I have of being able to take it on as hand lugage (but not in a bag - in a suit carried) as I know some people have had their dresses stored in the first class wardrobes?

Also who should I contact to see if I can do this? Do I contact Manchester Airport and be asked to speak to someone from Virgin or do I call Virgin direct? Also if I get approval what guarantee do I have that the check in staff will alllow it?

Thanks in advance x

Hi Nikki

According to the FAQ on VS' website:

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'd ring VS directly if you have any questions on that policy

Cheers

Michael

[Decker]

Also for some of the reasoning behind all of this read this thread... http://www.virginflyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=687

Decker

Great spot - I knew I'd seen that question come up before, just couldn't find it. Darn this headache [:(!]

Cheers

Michael

Thanks guys for your help, I have had to put it in a bigger suitcase anyway I will mark the suitcase fragile - and cross my fingers x

Nikki

No problem - hope that it all goes well.
Advance congratulations on the wedding - will we get a trip report with pictures in the gallery?

Cheers

Michael

The thread noted by Decker related to my daughter's experience with transporting her wedding dress back to the UK that she purchased in San Diego where she was working.

In the end she had no problem; it was stowed with the UC coats. At check-in at LAX they said that this was normal practice.

cheers

GO

[Decker]

Cheers GO - warms the cockles doesn't it