Flying w/ Suits

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xylem29

xylem29

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For those who are flying into their interviews - how are you guys going to bring along your suits and dress shoes? You're only allowed to bring two pieces of carry-on, and I don't feel safe checking my suit and shoes, so these will be with me on the plane - of course, I may have to fold my suit if the staff will not allow me to hang it in first class.

Any suggestions? What should I check, and what should I carry-on?
 
ive never had them not let me hang it in first class
 
xylem29 said:
For those who are flying into their interviews - how are you guys going to bring along your suits and dress shoes? You're only allowed to bring two pieces of carry-on, and I don't feel safe checking my suit and shoes, so these will be with me on the plane - of course, I may have to fold my suit if the staff will not allow me to hang it in first class.

Any suggestions? What should I check, and what should I carry-on?
Click to expand...

problem solved, fly first class! 😉 :laugh:
 
you can almost always hang a suit bag in the comaprtment in the front of the plane. If the flight's really crowded, just try and board a little early.


I would def. wear your shoes on the plane, keep your suit, tie, and 1 shirt in a suitor kinda bag. (the kind where you can fold it once if needed). If you dont want to wear your shoes, wear like flip flops and put the shoes in the suit bag...it might make it a bit more bulky and if your bag doesnt have separate comparments for shoes, then you run the risk of getting your suit dirtier/more wrinkled.

That one fold does almost nothing to suit in terms of wrinkles.

The airlines are pretty good about letting suit bags on to the planes...they know you dont want to mess it up / wrinkle it. But to avoid problems, you should always try and checkin / get on the plane a little early if you know the flight is going to be packed.
 
personally, i prefer to leave nothing to chance. i bring one small rolling suitcase that can fit in the overhead compartment. there's enough room in it for my suit, shoes, and clothes for my visit (be it one night or a weekend). when i fold the suit, i don't try to crush it, and it stays relatively wrinkle-free. plus, once you put it on and sit down for 10 minutes, it'll get wrinkled regardless. if worse comes to worst, i bring a shoulder bag for laptop or airplane reading material, etc. just remember that if you carry-on, you need to buy travel-size toiletries (3 oz. size or less) and put them in a clear 1-quart, ziplock bag. checking bags is convenient while in the airport, but i prefer the reassurance that i won't be that guy in the interview wearing board shorts (though i've read posts from people who have been successful in spite of such setbacks).

good luck
 
If you roll up an article of clothing, it wont wrinkle. Just don't roll wrinkles into it when you are packing. Roll carefully.

Ive been using this trick for years to pack jeans, pants, skirts, etc. Swear it works. I flew to my interviews with my suit in a backpack with no problems. I rolled up my suit pants and suit jacket.

Shirts are a little tricker. I fold mine the way they do in the display cases (kind of a rectangle, with the front and collar flat on top and the sleeves and sides folded behind). My shirt got really wrinkled when I was sitting with it on all day, so I didnt take my suit jacket off anyway.

I am so broke, it isn't funny, so I traveled coach. Plus, I took some extra time to sight-see in the cities I interviewed in. Even small rolling bags are a pain when you are walking around. So I stick to my backpack, and its worked out so far. Dress shoes also traveled well in the backpack.
 
i just fold my suit into my carry-on suitcase, on the very top of everything else. there's not much pressure on it, so it doesn't really get wrinkled at all. and i think the material of the suit matters, some wrinkle easier than others. most people have one already, but personally, i would just invest in a good suit. and hey you'll need it for more interviews in 4 yrs...
 
lilold3chordme said:
personally, i prefer to leave nothing to chance. i bring one small rolling suitcase that can fit in the overhead compartment. there's enough room in it for my suit, shoes, and clothes for my visit (be it one night or a weekend). when i fold the suit, i don't try to crush it, and it stays relatively wrinkle-free. plus, once you put it on and sit down for 10 minutes, it'll get wrinkled regardless. if worse comes to worst, i bring a shoulder bag for laptop or airplane reading material, etc. just remember that if you carry-on, you need to buy travel-size toiletries (3 oz. size or less) and put them in a clear 1-quart, ziplock bag. checking bags is convenient while in the airport, but i prefer the reassurance that i won't be that guy in the interview wearing board shorts (though i've read posts from people who have been successful in spite of such setbacks).

good luck
Click to expand...
👍
I purchased one before interviews and it's been my best purchase this year. And travelling with the whole toiletry thing, and not checking luggage is awesome - no waiting at the airport. The luggage I purchased is from Delsey and has an insert that folds your suit in thirds without wrinkles.
 
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Carry on suitcase. Pack the pants and shirt, if you are staying at a hotel they always have an iron and those are easy to touch up if they get wrinkled. Wear your jacket and shoes. Hold the jacket in your lap if you can't hang it up front. Works like a charm.
 
Karakiz79 said:
If you roll up an article of clothing, it wont wrinkle. Just don't roll wrinkles into it when you are packing. Roll carefully.

Ive been using this trick for years to pack jeans, pants, skirts, etc. Swear it works. I flew to my interviews with my suit in a backpack with no problems. I rolled up my suit pants and suit jacket.

Shirts are a little tricker. I fold mine the way they do in the display cases (kind of a rectangle, with the front and collar flat on top and the sleeves and sides folded behind). My shirt got really wrinkled when I was sitting with it on all day, so I didnt take my suit jacket off anyway.

I am so broke, it isn't funny, so I traveled coach. Plus, I took some extra time to sight-see in the cities I interviewed in. Even small rolling bags are a pain when you are walking around. So I stick to my backpack, and its worked out so far. Dress shoes also traveled well in the backpack.
Click to expand...

What do you actually bring to the interview? Just a binder? A pen? Do you put it on your ear or swirl it between your fingers as the interviewer poses questions? :idea:
 
stop being a ***** and put your suit in the garment bag...if you had a ****ing wrinkle in your shirt, I promise you it wasn't the reason that you got rejected.
 
plutonium said:
What do you actually bring to the interview? Just a binder? A pen? Do you put it on your ear or swirl it between your fingers as the interviewer poses questions? :idea:
Click to expand...

I brought my purse. I left my pen in it. You can bring whatever you want, just remember to spit your gum out before you get there.
 
I am forced to play Russian roulette with my suit. I am breastfeeding so I have o bring a pump with me on trips. As a result, I need to check my suit. I have not had any problems but now that I have said that and tempted fate I'm sure I will end up at an interview in my jeans.
 
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skyroll- the entire outfit w/ shoes fits in one bag.
 
i have flown east from the midwest now for 8 interviews. always in coach and have always been allowed to hand the suit in first class. often i do this with 2 carry-ons (2 bags + suit). for some reason the suit is always overlooked as a third carry on. i think they just treat it like im carrying around a jacket. shoes in ond of the carry ons.

to help keep the suit nice i alwyas have it dry cleaned before traveling. leave it in the plastic they return it to you in (helps prevent wrinkles). the bag i put it in is nothing more than that suit bag they sold it to me with.
 
MWillie said:
http://www.luggage.com/Garment-Bags-C13869.html?refid=G2295.garment+bag

not too expensive
Click to expand...

If you are strapped for cash, Wal-Mart sells American Tourister folding garment bags similar to the ones at that website for about 30 dollars. I had to buy one prior to my trip to Chicago.

Even better than that is this rolling garment bag...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4003157

Still much much less than MWillie's site. The American Tourister I bought was durable and had many compartments. The rolling feature would be nice seeing as ORD was like a deathmarch with no rolling luggage. My fiance got me a bunch of rolling luggage for Xmas, thank God.
 
quantummechanic said:
stop being a ***** and put your suit in the garment bag...if you had a ****ing wrinkle in your shirt, I promise you it wasn't the reason that you got rejected.
Click to expand...
hahhaha i agree.

(but i still use a Tumi 1-fold garment carrier on flights. I just check it though--i HATE bringing things with me on flights. I fly coach, and so many people these days are overweight and they freakin SPILL over from their seat into mine...so the less things I carry with me, the more room I have for myself...) 😀
 
Okay I learned the hard way not to check your suit when my trip was re-routed 4 times this October and I had to go to an all night Walmart & buy something to wear the next morning. (I got accepted in spite of it all.)

Just bring it in the carry-on. It doesn't get that wrinkled, and the hotel will have an iron you can use to touch everything up when you get there. You DO know how to use one, right?? 🙄

I'm not sure what the big deal is with garment bags. My suit didn't get any less wrinkled in a garment bag then it did using a duffel bag or a small suitcase.
 
Easy tip...

If your suit gets slightly wrinkled from the trip, hang it in the bathroom during your shower. Leave the shower on even when you get out so that the room continues to be steamy... when you're ready, put the suit directly on... it should settle and be much less wrinkly. Worked for me in chicago, although
my suit didn't have many wrinkles...
 
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