How to travel with a suit

[fly4food84]

I'm flying out on Southwest Airlines this summer and have never traveled with a suit before.

Whats the best way to fly and carry a suit so that it does not wrinkle?

 

[Don Carlos]

You've got three options, really:

1) Wear the suit on the plane.
2) Use a suitcase with a foldout suit sleeve/compartment and/or a garment bag with such.
3) Fold the suit inside out and place it in a normal suitcase along with your other items.

Choice #1 is inconvenient for me most of the time, especially on longer flights. Choice #2 is how I usually roll, although minor to moderate wrinkling will still occur. I've attempted Choice #3 per the instructions offered by, if I remember correctly, Esquire or GQ. The bag was searched by the TSA, so the folding and delicacy of packing was rendered moot.

I'd say there is no great way to travel and totally avoid any degree of wrinkling. That's why I pack a hand-held steamer with me anytime I'm traveling with a suit or sportcoat or both.

 

[Steve Smith]

Search youtube for instructions on how to fold a suit coat. It is hard to explain but easy once you have seen it done. Then roll the jacket instead of folding it.

 

[JhwkMac]

Depends on the fabric. Which suit are you taking?

 

[lookinglikeaG6]

I think wearing it is going to be your best bet. Is there anyway you can ship it out there to your hotel and have them hold it till you get down there?

 

[in stitches]

Originally Posted by Don Carlos

You've got three options, really:

1) Wear the suit on the plane.
2) Use a suitcase with a foldout suit sleeve/compartment and/or a garment bag with such.
3) Fold the suit inside out and place it in a normal suitcase along with your other items.

I've attempted Choice #3 per the instructions offered by, if I remember correctly, Esquire or GQ. The bag was searched by the TSA, so the folding and delicacy of packing was rendered moot.

i do #3 and put the suit in my carry on to avoid those fat grubby tsa hands. works pretty well for me. and with good suit if you have time hang it up its almost perfect

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by in stitches

i do #3 and put the suit in my carry on to avoid those fat grubby tsa hands. works pretty well for me. and with good suit if you have time hang it up its almost perfect
I also fold and pack my suit(s) in my carry on. It works well, I've never had problems with wrinkles as a result of this.

 

[Mr. White]

..

 

[aravenel]

I do number three and hang the suit overnight to let the wrinkles work their way out. Usually works pretty well. If I'm flying somewhere where I need to wear the suit the day I arrive, I just wear the suit on the plane.

 

[dieselman89]



I think wearing it is going to be your best bet. Is there anyway you can ship it out there to your hotel and have them hold it till you get down there?

I'm also traveling soon and have the same dilemma. I was considering wearing my suit on the airplane. Do you think it's best to fold the jacket or wear it?

 

[acidboy]

wrinkles can't be avoided, I'd consider getting a portable fabric steamer if I were you- they cost between $20 to $50 and they do a satisfactory job ime

 

[Gus]

I have a roll-on Briggs&Reilly. The top has a zippered fold out, fold up suit carrier. (folds into thirds). I was just back East with a cotton/linen suit in there and wore my wool jacket on the plane. I hung it up in the bathroom while I took a shower and it looked great after an hour or so. I have no problem taking 3-4 days of clothing and gym gear in a roll-on in spring and summer. It is hard to do in winter because of sweaters and other bulky stuff.

If anything ever gets badly wrinkled, and it does, I just touch it up with a steam iron in the room. But I ALWAYS open a handkerchief and use it as an ironing cloth. I never let a hotel iron directly touch my suits or pants. I guarantee they will get shiny if you do, or worse. I also never send out my suits at a hotel-guaranteed they will come back shiny or worse. Shirts I will but never suits or pants.

 

[NaTionS]



If anything ever gets badly wrinkled, and it does, I just touch it up with a steam iron in the room. But I ALWAYS open a handkerchief and use it as an ironing cloth. I never let a hotel iron directly touch my suits or pants. I guarantee they will get shiny if you do, or worse. I also never send out my suits at a hotel-guaranteed they will come back shiny or worse. Shirts I will but never suits or pants.

Are you referring to dry cleaning or pressing?

 

[ter1413]



Are you referring to dry cleaning or pressing?

both!

 

[fwiffo]

I did 47 trips this year with just carry on. I have a duffle bag looking thing from Tumi and I do the "onebag" technique. It works with one suit. Lighter suits, like cottons, though will tend to wrinkle more if you cram it into the bag. With heavier wool or flannel, the wrinkles are virtually unnoticeable. Since I tend to bring two suits, I wear the one with the lighter weight material (i.e. a super 150).