For those traveling to Vegas with a dress...

alleria

How are you planning on flying with it? i refuse to check it. We are flying Southwest Airlines boarding in PITT on Sept 15th, layover in Chicago and then off to Vegas.

I tried emailing and calling Southwest and can't get ahold of anyone.

vegasgroom

My wife bought an extra seat on Southwest so there would not be any issue of whether it could hang somewhere or get stuck in a luggage compartment; here's teh steps on how to do that:

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/extra-seat/index-pol.html

it was cheaper than shipping it with insurance.  We used Debi at http://www.fitforabride.net/ to steam/press it in Vegas.

hstaples4

When I went to Washington and had to fly back to Alaska with my dress it was just my carry on, it was pretty easy getting through security with it then when I got on the plane the flight attendant (Alaska airlines) offered to put it in the their little closet thing for me. It was a pretty painless process but it was also a direct flight if I had to deal with changing flights and/or lay overs I might have a different view. My plan is to just ship it to Fit for a Bride a week before the wedding then she can steam it and have it all ready to be picked up.

1veryluckylady

My first wedding was in Vegas (several years ago!). We flew Southwest and I carried my dress on. I figured if worst came to worse I could put it in an overhead for takeoff and landing and hold in on the my lap during the flight! lol

But many people had said that the flight attendants offered to hang their dress in the cockpit. And sure enough, the flight attendants were awesome! Hung my dress for me and even threw in several free drinks for everyone traveling with us.

I also just saw it happen again last month on my flight to vegas. Bride carried on her dress and the attendants were more than happy to hang it for her.

Best of luck!!

alleria

Thank you guys for your suggestions!! One thing I will not do is check it, right now I am torn between shipping it there and having it steamed or just taking it as a carry on and trying my luck.

[Deleted User]

Try calling Southwest again- based on your flight # they can look up the type of plane and see if it has a closet anywhere onboard. That's what I did for my flight w/United. Unfortunately they had no closet since it was a smaller plane, but I just put it in my carryon and the wrinkles fell out of the fabric once I hung it at the hotel.

kristynn

Omg that is amazing!

nycheryl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_those-traveling-vegas-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:68042b23-7c5c-4a98-be19-2a04aafac7b3Post:0993c0ac-d5d5-49fb-a454-603a6cc93770">Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress...</a>:
[QUOTE]Thank you guys for your suggestions!! One thing I will not do is check it, right now I am torn between shipping it there and having it steamed or just taking it as a carry on and trying my luck. :)
Posted by alleria[/QUOTE]


You can also carry it on THEN have it steamed by Debi :)  That's what I'm planning to do!

allyout

I was a 2006 Vegas bride, and haven't been on the knot in FOREVER. today I just wanted to browse the boards, and saw your question. I flew Southwest as well. They were extremely accomodating for me. I explained to the lady that I had my wedding dress (she could see that huge thing I was carrying) and she said that as soon as the business class boarded, she would see if there was room in their coat closet to hang my dress. there wasn't, so they put it in the captain's closet for me. they were very nice about it. I'm sure if you just explain to them that you need it handled with care, they'll do the same for you. If no closet is available, then they will reserve an overhead bin for you.

Good luck!!!

vegasgroom

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_those-traveling-vegas-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:68042b23-7c5c-4a98-be19-2a04aafac7b3Post:f9cd1a75-0a4f-4344-87dc-011322c6c39d">Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress...</a>:
[QUOTE] I'm sure if you just explain to them that you need it handled with care, they'll do the same for you. If no closet is available, then they will reserve an overhead bin for you. Good luck!!!
Posted by allyout[/QUOTE]

There have been as many reports on here about people being told no to that question as those who had success with it so I would not recommend anyone rely on that being an option; but it's nice for those who got it.

amandajean36

i shipped mine via FedEx 2 weeks before the wedding to Debi at Fit for a Bride.  with insurance, it only cost around $50 to ship (that included my dress and my husband's suit).  i was very nervous to ship ahead of time, but we had no problems at all, and it was nice to not have to haul alot of items during our layover.  if i had a direct flight, i might have crried on and had Debi steam it once we got there. 

alleria

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_those-traveling-vegas-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:68042b23-7c5c-4a98-be19-2a04aafac7b3Post:352fe496-5efb-4ca3-8738-44c1da717013">Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress...</a>:
[QUOTE]i shipped mine via FedEx 2 weeks before the wedding to Debi at Fit for a Bride.  with insurance, it only cost around $50 to ship (that included my dress and my husband's suit).  i was very nervous to ship ahead of time, but we had no problems at all, and it was nice to not have to haul alot of items during our layover.  if i had a direct flight, i might have crried on and had Debi steam it once we got there. 
Posted by amandajean36[/QUOTE]

Did you take the dress to the Fedex store and let them package it for you or did you package it yourself?

zitiqueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_those-traveling-vegas-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:68042b23-7c5c-4a98-be19-2a04aafac7b3Post:5ff3d06e-afb0-4f60-abff-8603e6cd5e1c">Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress... : Did you take the dress to the Fedex store and let them package it for you or did you package it yourself?
Posted by alleria[/QUOTE]

You're not asking me, but I packaged mine myself. We had gotten a vacuum cleaner as a shower gift so I used that box. I got a couple big drycleaning bags from the drycleaner to put it in. I sent it through the USPS and insured the hell out of it, like twice the value. No problems at all. Debi called me when she received it.

alleria

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_those-traveling-vegas-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:68042b23-7c5c-4a98-be19-2a04aafac7b3Post:974a0c2f-61a6-4cb5-a4e1-8b90bc446354">Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress... : You're not asking me, but I packaged mine myself. We had gotten a vacuum cleaner as a shower gift so I used that box. I got a couple big drycleaning bags from the drycleaner to put it in. I sent it through the USPS and insured the hell out of it, like twice the value. No problems at all. Debi called me when she received it.
Posted by zitiqueen[/QUOTE]


Oh cool! i actually have a vacuum cleaner box laying around that would be perfect! Wonderful idea! Thank you!

shannonmj24

I am flying allegiant air tomorrow to Las Vegas and they told me they don't have a closet to hang the dress in and I would have to place it above the other bags.  Getting alittle nervous about it though so hope all goes well!   I did get my dress from Davids Bridal and they will resteam it for free. 

alleria

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_those-traveling-vegas-dress?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:68042b23-7c5c-4a98-be19-2a04aafac7b3Post:156a78fa-2970-4f8c-a164-f621550006c1">Re: For those traveling to Vegas with a dress...</a>:
[QUOTE]I am flying allegiant air tomorrow to Las Vegas and they told me they don't have a closet to hang the dress in and I would have to place it above the other bags.  Getting alittle nervous about it though so hope all goes well!   I did get my dress from Davids Bridal and they will resteam it for free. 
Posted by shannonmj24[/QUOTE]


I got my dress from David's Bridal as well. Is there a David's in LV? I think I am just going to go ahead and ship my dress to Debi at Fit for a Bride and have her steam it (and also possibly press FH's suit) and just have her deliver it to the hotel. I'm sure that as stressed out as I'm going to be just getting to LV the last thing I will need to do is lug a huge dress around the airport and worry about where they are going to put it on the plane.

Let me know how it goes flying with your dress tho, I'd like to know cause who knows at this point if I will change my mind (lol) Seem to be doing that a lot lately!

amandajean36

i packaged mine myself.  i just shoved it in a box, inside the garmet bag i got from the dress store.  i knew it was being steamed so i didn't care about wrinkles - and i wasn't worried about vacuum sealing it.

again - my experience was 100% flawless.  i highly recc Debi, and i don't see any need to deal with the stress of hauling it on a plane yourself.

although, i will say.  i bought a short white dress for any sort of after party we might have (which i never ended up wearing) - but i told H a few days before we left that worst case scenario i'd be wearing the short dress down the aisle

alleria

Thanks everyone for your suggetions. I talked with Debi (awesome to work with!) and reserved my date. Shipping the dress to her around Sept 5th (wedding is on the 17th) that way i can make sure it arrives in plenty of time!