Virgin Atlantic Orlando to Gatwick and large whale

uknick

We're going to Orlando in April, coming back early May, with Virgin Atlantic. Travelling economy both ways.

On the flight back there is a very good chance my other half will have with her a rather large cuddly whale. It'll be too big to go into our hold luggage. But, it should fit into an overhead locker.

Does anybody know if we'll be able to bring it on as hand luggage in addition to our usual carry on? Does it depend on how busy the flight is?

I'm sure if I call Virgin they'll give me the official answer about cabin luggage allowance, but in the past I've seen people do this on other airlines.

restless6

I bought a Harry Potter broomstick and they put it in a cupboard on the plane
I guess they could be awakward and make you pay for it to go in the hold but I doubt it

alanrowell

If it's too big to go into hold luggage then it's going to be far too big to be hand luggage.

k3lvc

1) Buy it a seat ? (or if it's less than 2yo it could go on your lap)
2) How 'big' - can you compress it into one of those suction bags ?
3) On a purely moral ground why should your large whale be allowed space instead of other passengers hand baggage ?

uknick

k3lvc wrote: »

1) Buy it a seat ? (or if it's less than 2yo it could go on your lap)
2) How 'big' - can you compress it into one of those suction bags ?
3) On a purely moral ground why should your large whale be allowed space instead of other passengers hand baggage ?

The last one was 40" long and about 12" tall. But, last time we travelled premium on the way back so it was no problem putting it into a 2nd case to go into the hold.

I've got no moral dilemma to worry about as I'm not sure I ever said it should take preference over another passenger's luggage, hence my comment about being on a empty flight.

When we flew back from SFO with Virgin last year the economy was only 1/3 full and most of the back of the plane was empty. Which is why I was asking about Virgin's practice on the day.

If taking it as carry on is not an option without additional cost, I'll pack it into my check in luggage first and what's left out I'll put into my carry on. Luckily, my carry on is usually just camera, iPhone, a couple of magazines and a wash bag, so I usually have some room.

Westin

Well rather strangely (and for some reason I feel that I am at an AA meeting when confessing this, although not sure why).... I have been in the same situation as you are facing. How do you get a stuffed Shamu home on a Virgin Atlantic flight, particular one that is the size of a small car?

When the kids were younger I was on a business trip in Orlando and one of my clients thought it would be a nice ideal to get me a Shamu to give to my daughter who was six at the time. My daugher was smaller than the size of this massive soft toy. The client also thought it a weeze to have this placed in my hotel room whilst I was out. When I got back to the hotel in the evening, with the lights off but the glow of the outside lights through the net curtains, I opened the door and could see a large body splayed out on the sofa in the room. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Turning on the lights I was expecting to have to beat the intruder in my room with the contents of my Walmart carrier bags. I however discovered the largest stuffed Shamu toy I had ever seen just beached on the sofa.

I now faced the dilemma of what to do with the thing. I was tempted to leave it for the housekeeper. I then had second thoughts - I knew my daughter would love it but worryingly I thought if I left it in the room I would have the hotel helpfully forwarding it on to me (at great cost) so I had to work out how to get in back to the UK.

In the end I managed to get a large and strong cardboard box from Walmart and two large plastic bin bags from the housekeeper. Shamu was double bagged, the air extracted from him and the bag and placed into the cardboard box. The box was then checked in on VS for the flight home costing me I think another £30.

Shamu arrived in the UK safely and lived with us for a good few years until we passed him on to another family with younger children.

Anyway, my tail and story shows you that it has been done before.

My feeling is that you really should prepare to package and check Shamu in as checked luggage.

As others have pointed out, it is unfair to expect to take it in the cabin of the aircraft. These Shamu's are enormous and could easily take up a full seat in economy. Filling the overhead locker with Shamu is not fair on the other passengers who have baggage. It would anyway exceed your cabin baggage allowance.

Pack Shamu well and let him travel in the hold.

richardw

I think Virgin have cancelled their A380 aircraft order so your chances of flying a whale from Orlando to Gatwick are nil.

Mr.Generous

Get some "Save The Whale" T shirts printed up and pretend its a charity stunt.

uknick

The hold it is then for Shamu

uknick

richardw wrote: »

I think Virgin have cancelled their A380 aircraft order so your chances of flying a whale from Orlando to Gatwick are nil.

Blast them; just when you think you've got it sorted along comes another problem

Voyager2002

Couldn't you ask her to swim? Whales are intelligent and could surely cope with GPS.