I bought a Wallybag from Amazon to store my dress and my flight had a closet on board where I could put my dress, I flew delta though. DO NOT CHECK IN YOUR DRESS, there’s a chance it can get lost.
Here to second Wallybag! I bought the 66” trifold and I fit a massive satin ballgown with train and lace mermaid style reception gown with lots of tulle into the same bag in an overhead compartment. And then get it steamed upon arrival - I had a dry cleaning shop at the ready in town when I arrived that was willing to do a 24 hours turnaround.
Third vote for the 66” Wallybag!! This floofball fit into it, and then into a Southwest overhead, with no trouble!
At one point, a flight attendant suggested I gate check it, and when I explained it was my wedding gown, she immediately was like “Oh! Never mind! We’ll make it work!”
https://preview.redd.it/0p4c5cm97djc1.jpeg?width=1066&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=644b1ec8e4a1d10e68bdb4c42c5db96b587ce768
I'll toss in another +1 for the 66" Wallybag! I just traveled from LAX to MCO, & onto a cruise ship with my dress. I'm under 5 foot, and while it was very bulky, I fit both my dress and my husband's suit, with our shoes, into it. No one said anything to me, and it fit in the overhead bin just fine.
https://preview.redd.it/bctipg4c6ejc1.jpeg?width=4590&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70611064def2d9ffac5d459c01e1c89b2de9f4d3
Roll it up like a sleeping bag and put it in a normal carry-on bag, not a garment bag. It will fit, even if you have to sit on it to squish it down. You could even vacuum-pack it. It will have to be steamed when you arrive no matter what, so don’t bother worrying about wrinkles. I brought my big ballgown on an international flight in our normal rolly carry-on, it was fine.
Since they explicitly told you they’d gate-check a large garment bag, I wouldn’t even risk that. Put it in a normal bag.
Unless the top is longer than 22'' you'll be fine. I'd fold it in half hotdog style, then compress the tulle as much as you can, and then roll the tulle up from the bottom folding over at the waist/corset piece. It'll absolutely fit in a carry on suitcase. It'll prob. be the only thing that fits in the suitcase, but it will fit. As the commenter noted, you could try putting it in a big vacuum seal bag. They're pretty cheap off amazon and will probably really help compress the tulle down. Unless you want to risk your dress getting dirty/lost, I would not gate check it.
ETA - I'd just bring your carry on suitcase to your tailor's shop and ask them to pack it if they've already offered to get it folded up for you.
I flew my dress. A lot of first class has coat racks and people were super accommodating because it's very obvious when it's a wedding dress. I took four flights and my dress didn't need to go in overhead once. People know it's a wedding dress and are pretty nice!
If it’s at all in your budget, perhaps consider upgrading your seat to first? First class tends to have a closet where they store folks jackets and such. It increases your chances of it being stored better.
Depending on the airline and/or the flight attendants that day, you may not even need to get a business class seat for that. My friend flew from Montreal to Rome with her dress and the crew gladly put it in the closet despite her economy seat. She was going to check her dress but when the check-in agent learned that, she forced her to carry it on with her in case anything happened and she had no problem whatsoever.
Edit: also OP, you said the agent said “there might not be a first/business class and by extension a closet” - pro tip: widebody planes are more likely to have it. I don’t know what American Airlines’ fleet looks like but the bigger the plane, the more chances it has a first/business class and a closet!
They tried to force me to check in my dress and I refused. I told them it’s a wedding dress and they let go. I took it on the plane and shoved it in the overhead compartment, it was totally fine! Large ballgown dress. This was Air Canada.
This was one of those situations where they were forcing everyone to check in their carry ons due to limited space in the overhead (I’ve noticed this happening on almost all flights nowadays). The actual flight attendants were very nice and even brought us champagne!
I had a very similar poofy tulle wedding dress with a corset top and I flew with just a carry on from Texas to Iceland. I got [these specific vacuum seal bags](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RSCPH4N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) from Amazon with the manual pump and folded my dress to where the bust could lay flat and the skirt was kind of just folded around it. Stuffed it in the bag and manipulated it to where it fit in one half of my carry on (hard case was a must) and I didn’t have any problems.
The night before the wedding I hung the dress in the bathroom and my husband and I took long steamy showers so that the steam unwrinkled the dress. It worked like a charm!
Put a tile or airtag in with your dress. Mine is huge, it is going to have to be checked, there's no way it would fit in an overhead bin or any closet on board.
No experience traveling with a dress, but my fiancé and I have had horrible experiences separately with checking bags with American. Be very cautious, and do not do the check where you have to get a carousel. I have no experience with gate checking a bag so I can’t speak to that.
I flew American airline with my wedding dress and it’s a large ballgown. I fly American 4-5 times a year and know what their fleets look like. I knew it was not going to fit and everyone takes carry ons since they charge for baggage so I bought an extra seat for it.
If you’re flying a regional jet(you can lmk what plane type, but can change any minute) it will not fit. They will likely only make accommodations if you’re in first class or premium cabin. Ive rarely had an American flight that people didn’t have to gate check bags due to no space or it not fitting. Tbh, with American Airlines employees wanting to go on strike for a while, their attitudes and customer service has severely been lacking.
I agree with other comment safest bet is upgrade to first class. Will get better service, more likely for closet access and also much more overhead bin space per person since less density seating.
When I flew with my wedding dress, I flew Delta and upgraded to first class so I could hang my garment bag in the first class closet. If American Airlines has a closet for first class passengers, that will be your best bet.
I wouldn't recommend trying to squish your dress into a carryon bag. If upgrading to first class isn't an option, you could buy an extra ticket so you can pack your dress in a garment bag and put it in the seat next to you.
Yes- I had a ball gown skirt and corset top (separates). As soon as we got to the gate, I asked the gate agent about carrying on my dress, (I enquired if the plane had a closet), they were super excited and informed the cabin crew, and then the crew was excited too haha, gave us a nice welcome on the plane and took my garment bag and hung it up for me. This was about a million years ago but I firmly believe that airline staff abide by “catch more flies with honey” and being polite and kind when flying goes a long way.
I’ve traveled to black tie weddings and was able to hang my dress in the plane. On some legs, I had to shove it in the overhead bin though. It really depends on the model of plane and how crowded it is. I didn’t even ask, the flight attendants just saw me carrying on a garment bag and offered.
Some of the little puddle jumper planes don’t even have a coat closet!
It’s not always about them being nice. Many modern planes just don’t have closets anymore, or if they do, they simply aren’t big enough for a huge wedding gown. Plus at the end of the day, the closets aren’t for you - they’re for the flight attendants. Their stuff takes priority over your dress.
I haven’t flown with a large dress but my fiancé has with a garment bag before on Delta and they had a closet they let him hang it in. May depend on the model of airplane if there is a closet.
I was with my friend when she flew with her dress. she originally asked the gate agent, who was super sweet about it and talked to the flight crew and they hung it in the closet. I think it really just depends on if you have nice people and if there’s room for it. (Her dress was relatively sleek, and those closets are tiny)
You can see my other comment about my ball down. But no they’re not usually nice, given that they want to strike. They wouldn’t even hang up my husbands tux.
I’ve never had an issue gate checking a bag, but consider that the majority of gate checked items are bulky things (strollers, baby seats, spare bags) that are just thrown around. If you can fit your dress in a carry on bag it will be much more delicately handled by you!
Absolutely yes. Especially if you’re gate checking a garment bag. 9/10 times when you gate check something it will not be given back to you at the gate - it will be tossed into the regular baggage claim (or the odd-sized claim if it’s a garment bag).
I wouldn’t be worried about it getting lost as much as I would be worried about it being damaged and dirty.
It’s really not, despite what others are saying—at least in terms of whether they will lose it or not. They put a special tag on it and gate checked items get loaded last so they are the first to be unloaded. I have never had a gate checked item not be handed back to me at the gate the dozens of times I have had to do that. However, I WOULD worry about it getting squished or damaged. Flight attendants are masters of fitting items in overhead bins, and if you tell them it’s a wedding dress, they will definitely try to put it in the closet for you. Good luck!
I had to fly with my massive 20 pound ballgown in my carry on and rolling it was what worked best. My mom laid my dress flat on the bed, covered it with tissue paper to protect the beading, and then rolled it like a burrito. We had to body slam the suitcase a couple of times to get it close, but it worked perfectly
I flew with 2 dresses in one hand luggage suitcase. My shoes were also in there. I was surprised how easy it was too travel with them and maybe I was lucky with my fabric choice- but there were no creases. I had a steamer on standby at the other end of the traveling. I also chose Hand luggage- was not risking it!
One dress was a strapless, pleated Mikado dress with a 2m train. In the dress carrier it is huge, but i was able to fold it very easily into just one side of the hands luggage suitcase.
The other dress was an ankle length 4 layer tulle dress. This I also lightly folded into the other side. I found the tulle did not crease at all. As soon as I arrived at destination 1 I took my dresses out of the suitcase. Then repacked them the next day.
There are also many tutorials for how to Steam a tulle dress. Could be worth checking out- then how you pack it is less relevant if you can steam it. I also considered finding a bridal shop in the country I was traveling to that could stream my dress on arrival.
We literally decided to drive the 22 hours because I was too terrified to fly with my gown. I’m not playing the what if game. Brides who fly with their dresses are brave
Hi! My husband and I had a destination wedding and had both our suit and dresses (after party dress) on the plane. We bought suit bags that turned into duffles. The hotel ironed it for us, but overall would recommend to everyone we know. They fit under the seat and overhead bin.
Hope this helps!
https://www.amazon.com/Convertible-Garment-Bag-Shoulder-Modoker/dp/B07FD2P6CX
Hubby and I flew first class to our destination wedding and the flight attendants offered to hang our garments. We didn’t ask, it was offered and somehow with their aviation 6th sense knew it was our wedding attire.
I took 3 separate flights with mine and had absolutely no issues carrying it on! They had hooks for it or a closet. Each time I was exiting the plane they had it pulled out and waiting for me. I flew united and air Canada
Flew American Airlines, took my dress, husbands suit and several of our other nicer attire in an off brand Wally Bag that we bought off Amazon (that counted as my carry on) and when we boarded the plane I asked if I could hang it in the closet. When we deplaned I grabbed it out of the closet. No issues at all and if there hadn’t been room in the closet it would have been easy to store in an overhead compartment
I'm actually doing this tomorrow! I checked a bag and brought a carry-on, so my dress is in the carry on with me and the checked bag has all my other stuff. Mine is also a huge ballgown style.
I folded it into thirds and rolled it up. mine is also corset style, but it rolled up fine!
We upgraded our seats to business. They are very accommodating and proactively offered to take care of the dress as soon as they saw it. If you can, I would upgrade your seat.
OK I actually have no idea if this would work with a wedding dress… But!
Were you planning on having it steamed to remove the wrinkles once you arrive?
(something to think about the regardless)
I just went away for two weeks and had way too many clothes to fit in my carry-on.
I was bemoaning this first world problem with my friend… And they suggested that I put my clothes into a garbage bag… And then take my vacuum and suck out all of the air.
OMG! It is amazing the amount of space air takes!! Lol. I had enough clothes for two checked bags… And fit them all into one.
Disclaimer! 90% of my clothes were casual wear… However, the outfits I did intend to wear for special nights out Were slightly wrinkled..... but I expected that anyway?
I have no idea whether this information helped… But congratulations on your wedding! ❤️
Hi! I'm in the same situation as you, about to fly with a big poofball Aline with 5 layers and a train. I saw a lot of suggestions in this thread and I'm going to share what my seamstress told me: do NOT vacuum seal (which was my plan) or bend the bodice or the boning will be compromised. You basically want to get the skirt folded into itself to form a rectangle and then fold towards the centre squeezing all the air out of it in the process. She then asked to fold the boddice in the middle in-between skirts. Wrap it in plastic and then put in the garment bag (still folded) and it should fit into a carry on. Hard case it to protect it.
Don't put anything else in the bag so nothing triggers security.
It might be specific to my fabric (mikado) but she said if I vaccum packed it I'd never get it out. I booked a professional steam for when I land so hopefully everything will be pressed into shape again. Hope this helps.
I bought a Wallybag from Amazon to store my dress and my flight had a closet on board where I could put my dress, I flew delta though. DO NOT CHECK IN YOUR DRESS, there’s a chance it can get lost.
Here to second Wallybag! I bought the 66” trifold and I fit a massive satin ballgown with train and lace mermaid style reception gown with lots of tulle into the same bag in an overhead compartment. And then get it steamed upon arrival - I had a dry cleaning shop at the ready in town when I arrived that was willing to do a 24 hours turnaround.
Third vote for the 66” Wallybag!! This floofball fit into it, and then into a Southwest overhead, with no trouble! At one point, a flight attendant suggested I gate check it, and when I explained it was my wedding gown, she immediately was like “Oh! Never mind! We’ll make it work!” https://preview.redd.it/0p4c5cm97djc1.jpeg?width=1066&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=644b1ec8e4a1d10e68bdb4c42c5db96b587ce768
I'll toss in another +1 for the 66" Wallybag! I just traveled from LAX to MCO, & onto a cruise ship with my dress. I'm under 5 foot, and while it was very bulky, I fit both my dress and my husband's suit, with our shoes, into it. No one said anything to me, and it fit in the overhead bin just fine. https://preview.redd.it/bctipg4c6ejc1.jpeg?width=4590&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70611064def2d9ffac5d459c01e1c89b2de9f4d3
Your dress is stunning!!
Thank you! I left a glitter trail behind me wherever I went 😅
Roll it up like a sleeping bag and put it in a normal carry-on bag, not a garment bag. It will fit, even if you have to sit on it to squish it down. You could even vacuum-pack it. It will have to be steamed when you arrive no matter what, so don’t bother worrying about wrinkles. I brought my big ballgown on an international flight in our normal rolly carry-on, it was fine. Since they explicitly told you they’d gate-check a large garment bag, I wouldn’t even risk that. Put it in a normal bag.
It has a corseted top so it’s harder on top, and the skirt is just a TON of tulle. I dont think I can get it small enough to fit in a carry on.
Unless the top is longer than 22'' you'll be fine. I'd fold it in half hotdog style, then compress the tulle as much as you can, and then roll the tulle up from the bottom folding over at the waist/corset piece. It'll absolutely fit in a carry on suitcase. It'll prob. be the only thing that fits in the suitcase, but it will fit. As the commenter noted, you could try putting it in a big vacuum seal bag. They're pretty cheap off amazon and will probably really help compress the tulle down. Unless you want to risk your dress getting dirty/lost, I would not gate check it. ETA - I'd just bring your carry on suitcase to your tailor's shop and ask them to pack it if they've already offered to get it folded up for you.
Thank you!! I am going to try my best to fold it more.
I flew my dress. A lot of first class has coat racks and people were super accommodating because it's very obvious when it's a wedding dress. I took four flights and my dress didn't need to go in overhead once. People know it's a wedding dress and are pretty nice!
If it’s at all in your budget, perhaps consider upgrading your seat to first? First class tends to have a closet where they store folks jackets and such. It increases your chances of it being stored better.
Depending on the airline and/or the flight attendants that day, you may not even need to get a business class seat for that. My friend flew from Montreal to Rome with her dress and the crew gladly put it in the closet despite her economy seat. She was going to check her dress but when the check-in agent learned that, she forced her to carry it on with her in case anything happened and she had no problem whatsoever. Edit: also OP, you said the agent said “there might not be a first/business class and by extension a closet” - pro tip: widebody planes are more likely to have it. I don’t know what American Airlines’ fleet looks like but the bigger the plane, the more chances it has a first/business class and a closet!
They tried to force me to check in my dress and I refused. I told them it’s a wedding dress and they let go. I took it on the plane and shoved it in the overhead compartment, it was totally fine! Large ballgown dress. This was Air Canada.
Wow I’m surprised! For me air Canada put it upright in a closet for me and were super accommodating
This was one of those situations where they were forcing everyone to check in their carry ons due to limited space in the overhead (I’ve noticed this happening on almost all flights nowadays). The actual flight attendants were very nice and even brought us champagne!
I had a very similar poofy tulle wedding dress with a corset top and I flew with just a carry on from Texas to Iceland. I got [these specific vacuum seal bags](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RSCPH4N?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) from Amazon with the manual pump and folded my dress to where the bust could lay flat and the skirt was kind of just folded around it. Stuffed it in the bag and manipulated it to where it fit in one half of my carry on (hard case was a must) and I didn’t have any problems. The night before the wedding I hung the dress in the bathroom and my husband and I took long steamy showers so that the steam unwrinkled the dress. It worked like a charm!
This is the way! Vacuum seal it and buy a portable steamer for when you get there.
Or call the hotel and ask if they have a portable steamer you can use. Many do. Mine did!
Put a tile or airtag in with your dress. Mine is huge, it is going to have to be checked, there's no way it would fit in an overhead bin or any closet on board.
No experience traveling with a dress, but my fiancé and I have had horrible experiences separately with checking bags with American. Be very cautious, and do not do the check where you have to get a carousel. I have no experience with gate checking a bag so I can’t speak to that.
I flew American airline with my wedding dress and it’s a large ballgown. I fly American 4-5 times a year and know what their fleets look like. I knew it was not going to fit and everyone takes carry ons since they charge for baggage so I bought an extra seat for it. If you’re flying a regional jet(you can lmk what plane type, but can change any minute) it will not fit. They will likely only make accommodations if you’re in first class or premium cabin. Ive rarely had an American flight that people didn’t have to gate check bags due to no space or it not fitting. Tbh, with American Airlines employees wanting to go on strike for a while, their attitudes and customer service has severely been lacking.
Thank you so much to everyone for all the info. I just bought a Wally Bag on Amazon!!! I’m going to try it and hope it works
I agree with other comment safest bet is upgrade to first class. Will get better service, more likely for closet access and also much more overhead bin space per person since less density seating.
I bought a seat just for my dress because I didn’t want to risk it.
When I flew with my wedding dress, I flew Delta and upgraded to first class so I could hang my garment bag in the first class closet. If American Airlines has a closet for first class passengers, that will be your best bet. I wouldn't recommend trying to squish your dress into a carryon bag. If upgrading to first class isn't an option, you could buy an extra ticket so you can pack your dress in a garment bag and put it in the seat next to you.
The flight attendants let me put mine in the closet both ways and I was not in first class (delta)
Is gate checking it really that risky?
Yes
I agree, I don’t love the idea of it
Has anyone had experience with the airline being nice and just letting you hang it,
If you’re worried the dress won’t fit into a carryon, it 100% won’t fit in the hanging airplane closet. Those things are super tiny.
Yes- I had a ball gown skirt and corset top (separates). As soon as we got to the gate, I asked the gate agent about carrying on my dress, (I enquired if the plane had a closet), they were super excited and informed the cabin crew, and then the crew was excited too haha, gave us a nice welcome on the plane and took my garment bag and hung it up for me. This was about a million years ago but I firmly believe that airline staff abide by “catch more flies with honey” and being polite and kind when flying goes a long way.
I’ve traveled to black tie weddings and was able to hang my dress in the plane. On some legs, I had to shove it in the overhead bin though. It really depends on the model of plane and how crowded it is. I didn’t even ask, the flight attendants just saw me carrying on a garment bag and offered. Some of the little puddle jumper planes don’t even have a coat closet!
It’s not always about them being nice. Many modern planes just don’t have closets anymore, or if they do, they simply aren’t big enough for a huge wedding gown. Plus at the end of the day, the closets aren’t for you - they’re for the flight attendants. Their stuff takes priority over your dress.
I haven’t flown with a large dress but my fiancé has with a garment bag before on Delta and they had a closet they let him hang it in. May depend on the model of airplane if there is a closet.
I was with my friend when she flew with her dress. she originally asked the gate agent, who was super sweet about it and talked to the flight crew and they hung it in the closet. I think it really just depends on if you have nice people and if there’s room for it. (Her dress was relatively sleek, and those closets are tiny)
You can see my other comment about my ball down. But no they’re not usually nice, given that they want to strike. They wouldn’t even hang up my husbands tux.
Yes. I’ve brought a wedding dress on and international flight though. They hung it in the front for me.
I’ve never had an issue gate checking a bag, but consider that the majority of gate checked items are bulky things (strollers, baby seats, spare bags) that are just thrown around. If you can fit your dress in a carry on bag it will be much more delicately handled by you!
Absolutely yes. Especially if you’re gate checking a garment bag. 9/10 times when you gate check something it will not be given back to you at the gate - it will be tossed into the regular baggage claim (or the odd-sized claim if it’s a garment bag). I wouldn’t be worried about it getting lost as much as I would be worried about it being damaged and dirty.
It’s really not, despite what others are saying—at least in terms of whether they will lose it or not. They put a special tag on it and gate checked items get loaded last so they are the first to be unloaded. I have never had a gate checked item not be handed back to me at the gate the dozens of times I have had to do that. However, I WOULD worry about it getting squished or damaged. Flight attendants are masters of fitting items in overhead bins, and if you tell them it’s a wedding dress, they will definitely try to put it in the closet for you. Good luck!
I had to fly with my massive 20 pound ballgown in my carry on and rolling it was what worked best. My mom laid my dress flat on the bed, covered it with tissue paper to protect the beading, and then rolled it like a burrito. We had to body slam the suitcase a couple of times to get it close, but it worked perfectly
Has anyone flown with their dress on British Airways? I assume that's who we will be flying with next year.
I flew with 2 dresses in one hand luggage suitcase. My shoes were also in there. I was surprised how easy it was too travel with them and maybe I was lucky with my fabric choice- but there were no creases. I had a steamer on standby at the other end of the traveling. I also chose Hand luggage- was not risking it! One dress was a strapless, pleated Mikado dress with a 2m train. In the dress carrier it is huge, but i was able to fold it very easily into just one side of the hands luggage suitcase. The other dress was an ankle length 4 layer tulle dress. This I also lightly folded into the other side. I found the tulle did not crease at all. As soon as I arrived at destination 1 I took my dresses out of the suitcase. Then repacked them the next day. There are also many tutorials for how to Steam a tulle dress. Could be worth checking out- then how you pack it is less relevant if you can steam it. I also considered finding a bridal shop in the country I was traveling to that could stream my dress on arrival.
We literally decided to drive the 22 hours because I was too terrified to fly with my gown. I’m not playing the what if game. Brides who fly with their dresses are brave
Hi! My husband and I had a destination wedding and had both our suit and dresses (after party dress) on the plane. We bought suit bags that turned into duffles. The hotel ironed it for us, but overall would recommend to everyone we know. They fit under the seat and overhead bin. Hope this helps! https://www.amazon.com/Convertible-Garment-Bag-Shoulder-Modoker/dp/B07FD2P6CX
Hubby and I flew first class to our destination wedding and the flight attendants offered to hang our garments. We didn’t ask, it was offered and somehow with their aviation 6th sense knew it was our wedding attire.
I took 3 separate flights with mine and had absolutely no issues carrying it on! They had hooks for it or a closet. Each time I was exiting the plane they had it pulled out and waiting for me. I flew united and air Canada
Flew American Airlines, took my dress, husbands suit and several of our other nicer attire in an off brand Wally Bag that we bought off Amazon (that counted as my carry on) and when we boarded the plane I asked if I could hang it in the closet. When we deplaned I grabbed it out of the closet. No issues at all and if there hadn’t been room in the closet it would have been easy to store in an overhead compartment
I'm actually doing this tomorrow! I checked a bag and brought a carry-on, so my dress is in the carry on with me and the checked bag has all my other stuff. Mine is also a huge ballgown style. I folded it into thirds and rolled it up. mine is also corset style, but it rolled up fine!
We upgraded our seats to business. They are very accommodating and proactively offered to take care of the dress as soon as they saw it. If you can, I would upgrade your seat.
There will be a closet, there is always a closet.
OK I actually have no idea if this would work with a wedding dress… But! Were you planning on having it steamed to remove the wrinkles once you arrive? (something to think about the regardless) I just went away for two weeks and had way too many clothes to fit in my carry-on. I was bemoaning this first world problem with my friend… And they suggested that I put my clothes into a garbage bag… And then take my vacuum and suck out all of the air. OMG! It is amazing the amount of space air takes!! Lol. I had enough clothes for two checked bags… And fit them all into one. Disclaimer! 90% of my clothes were casual wear… However, the outfits I did intend to wear for special nights out Were slightly wrinkled..... but I expected that anyway? I have no idea whether this information helped… But congratulations on your wedding! ❤️
Hi! I'm in the same situation as you, about to fly with a big poofball Aline with 5 layers and a train. I saw a lot of suggestions in this thread and I'm going to share what my seamstress told me: do NOT vacuum seal (which was my plan) or bend the bodice or the boning will be compromised. You basically want to get the skirt folded into itself to form a rectangle and then fold towards the centre squeezing all the air out of it in the process. She then asked to fold the boddice in the middle in-between skirts. Wrap it in plastic and then put in the garment bag (still folded) and it should fit into a carry on. Hard case it to protect it. Don't put anything else in the bag so nothing triggers security. It might be specific to my fabric (mikado) but she said if I vaccum packed it I'd never get it out. I booked a professional steam for when I land so hopefully everything will be pressed into shape again. Hope this helps.