sjbisanz1

Wow! This brought back memories! I forgot I had carried mine on the plane along with all our legal documents and both our wedding rings. Everything was packed nice and neat in my carry-on. I was close to last getting on and when I couldn't find a place for my bag, I explained to the FA what was inside after he offered to gate check it. I had been on standby for this earlier flight so I told him I would wait for my later flight and he said not a problem, he would stow it up front. So, I approach him upon our arrival at the connecting city and ask for it back. He informs me that he had indeed gate-checked it and that it should arrive at my next stop and that I shouldn't be so worried. I almost passed out right there. Never in a million years would I have checked any of those items. Now, this was pre-9/11. If it had been post-9/11, I would have been arrested for what I had to say to him. Luckily it all worked out and it was at my final destination when we arrived, but for that one flight, my heart was in my throat thinking of any of those things coming up missing. I was taking them 2 weeks before the wedding to have time for the dress to be pressed. I say, one more vote for FedEx or UPS.

Either way, congratulations and good luck!

ejcrowe

We traveled to the Caribbean in June 2003 for our wedding on American. we called ahead to ask about cabin closet space, and though they said they would do what they could to hang it up, if there was no more space by the time I boarded in coach, there would be no other choice other than to put in in overhead compartment--flight was pretty full, you see. So, my husband and I decided to book first class seats as a guarantee for the dress and his tuxedo. We normally never upgrade like that, but we were glad we did. It was very festive feeling when the FA opened a bottle of champagne for us and it was nice to relax into the first class cabin for the long flight after weeks of planning for the wedding. You might want to consider the upgrade, too.

No_name

I also have a friend who took her dress with her on the plane and basically there was not room to hang it so it was horrible wrinkled. Unless you are willing to purchase a first class seat DO NOT count on the closet having room for your dress. Send it Fed Ex.

lisettemac

Whatever route you chooose, be sure to make arrangements through your hotel or wherever for the very *best* cleaners in the area to press the dress when you arrive. They will usually pick up and deliver. Just be sure you ask them to deliver it back to you in plenty of time (like the day before!).

janisj

kjenn: I do hope youy come back to the thread (you seem to have made up your mind to carry it on)

PLEASE re-think this. There are too many "what if's" that could happen and by the time you are boarding it will be too late to change plans.

What if there isn't a 1st class cabin - no place to hang the gown (though you can easily find out by checking the airline's website for the equipment on your flight)

What if there is someone else on the flight doing the same thing - and they beat you to the only hanging space?

What if the plane is totally full and there is simply no space anywhere?

What if the only space available is in the overhead - the gown will be a total mess by the time you get to NJ.

Ship it to a relative well ahead of time and they can have it pressed and ready before you even arrive.

sharon7752002

I carried on my simple no train dress when I flew to Maui for my wedding 2 years ago. We had no problems - they put it in the first class closet along with my husband's tuxedo. I had a contact in Maui to get it steamed when we got there, but did not need it. It got wrinkled anyway driving in the jeep to our beach wedding! Good luck and best wishes.

ejcrowe

Just wanted to add to my previous post about flying to the Caribbean and carrying on a wedding dress. There were other brides on both of my flight, both going into San Juan and going into Antigua. I can't remember now which leg it was, but on one of those two, there were two other brides flying in coach and one of them didn't have space for her gown up front so she had to put it in overhead bin. I realize that the Caribbean in June is probably a more popular wedding destination than NJ in May, but I just wanted to add that info FYI.

connecticut_lady

Two years ago my husband and I were on a flight out of Kona going to Los Angeles. A couple boarded in full wedding attire. He was in a tux and she was in a long white gown complete with train. They were in a different section of the cabin than we were so we didn't get to talk to them but we kept wondering whether they had just gotten married in Hawaii and were taking their honeymoon in California or whether they were planning to get married in CA and this was the best way they could think of to get their wedding clothes safely -- if not terribly wrinkled -- to their destination. I kept wondering how the bride was going to use the tiny bathroom on the plane.....

In any event, congratulations to you.

Judy24

Can you stand one more opinion?

Since you don't have any automatic right to use the first class closet, you're basically going to be relying on the kindness of the FAs as well as the chance that the first class closet will have room to spare. I'd be concerned about these things as they're both beyond your control. Since the first class closet is for the use of first class passengers, you're left with whatever space is leftover. What if there isn't any, or if it's very tight. (Although the good news is that since you're not flying in the winter, that does eliminate all the usual heavy coats.)

I'd also like to point out that in the last six months, every flight I've flown on has been completely filled. In fact, in each instance, the last 10% of passengers to board had a real problem finding any room in the overhead bins for their carryons, and the FAs were going around cramming stuff in so as to get everyone accommodated. Do you really want to risk having to end up squishing your dress in an already stuffed overhead bin?? Or folding it five times to get it under the seat?? I'm getting nervous for you just thinking about it!

Good luck with whichever way you decide.

kjenn

I have just found out that my mom and brother will be flying on the same flight with me, so i have decided to brave it and try to carry it on. If no room is available, I guess I will drape it across our laps! Thanks to all who responded...

Statia

Let us know how it goes. Good luck and congrats!

No_name

topping for mscarls

m_g_h

I am flying Hawaiian Airlines this spring 2011 for my wedding. We just called the airline to confirm we could have a place to hang my dress-since it will be pre-pressed in the lower 48. The customer service agent told us we could either stuff it in the over-head cabin or BUY MY DRESS A SEAT! Can you believe that? I'm calling to yell at someone later today. There's got to be better accommodations!

BlueSwimmer

I carried mine on with no problem. I had it in a plastic garment bag with a bunch of those clear cleaner bags around it which we bunched up in the fold where the skirt had to be folded to fit in the closet. It didn't even need pressing when we arrived.

The funny part is that my parents and siblings went on another flight, and when they told the agent at checkin that they were going to my wedding, they ALL got bumped to first class! We had heard that they sometimes bump the bride and groom but no luck for us- we got to stay in coach!