How to Travel With a Suit | Packing, Care & Flight Guide by SUITBAE
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How to Travel With a Suit | Packing, Care & Flight Guide by SUITBAE
Travelling with a suit can be stressful — creases, crushed shoulders, wrinkled shirts and luggage restrictions all make it tricky. Whether you’re flying abroad for a wedding, heading to a destination prom, or travelling for work, there are reliable ways to keep your suit looking sharp from take-off to arrival.
This guide breaks down the safest ways to pack, carry and care for your suit, using real tips we give customers every day at SUITBAE.
1. Use a Proper Suit Travel Bag (Not a Plastic Cover)
A proper travel garment bag protects the shoulders, keeps the jacket flat and stops moisture entering the fabric.
Every SUITBAE suit comes with a free suit travel bag, made to handle flights, car journeys, trains and overhead compartments.
Benefits of a real travel bag:
- Prevents sharp creasing
- Protects fabric from dirt and spills
- Keeps the suit flat and structured
- Easier to carry through airports and stations
2. If You’re Flying, Carry the Suit — Don’t Check It
Checked luggage is the enemy of suits. Bags are thrown, compressed and stacked tightly, which is bad news for shoulders and lapels.
Wherever possible, keep your suit in the cabin.
Best options:
- Hang it in the wardrobe section (some long-haul flights still have these)
- Lay it flat on top of a cabin suitcase in the overhead bin
- Avoid stuffing it under the seat or at the bottom of a crowded locker
Even if the flight is full, a folded garment bag on top of your cabin case is far safer than checking the suit into the hold.
3. The Best Way to Fold a Suit (If You Need To)
If you have to fold your suit instead of hanging it, folding it properly will minimise deep creases.
How to Fold a Jacket
- Turn one shoulder inside out.
- Tuck the other shoulder inside it so the shoulders are nested together.
- Fold the jacket down the centre vertically.
- Lay it flat in the case rather than scrunching it.
How to Fold Trousers
- Fold along the centre crease
- Fold once more horizontally
- Avoid tight, small folds that crush the fabric
This reduces pressure on the cloth and avoids hard diagonal lines that are difficult to steam out.
4. Use Tissue Paper or a T-Shirt Between Folds
Putting a soft layer between folds helps prevent deep creases and friction damage, especially during longer journeys.
You can use:
- Tissue paper
- A cotton T-shirt
- A soft jumper
This trick works especially well for lighter colours like Charles Beige, Escobar Stone or Charles Sky, which show creasing more easily.
5. Hang Your Suit Immediately on Arrival
As soon as you arrive, hang the suit properly with space around it. Don’t leave it folded in the bag while you unpack everything else.
Quick de-crease trick:
- Hang the suit in the bathroom
- Run a hot shower for a few minutes
- Let the suit sit in the steam for 10–15 minutes
The steam will naturally loosen light creases. It’s not as strong as a steamer, but it’s surprisingly effective.
6. Pack Your Shirt the Smart Way
Shirts wrinkle easily, especially around the collar and button placket. A badly packed shirt can ruin an otherwise perfect suit.
Best ways to pack shirts:
- Keep them in their original cardboard packaging if you still have it
- Or fold around a small towel to keep the chest area smooth
- Always pack shirts away from shoes and heavy items
Arriving with a crisp shirt and a smooth collar instantly makes the whole outfit look intentional.
7. Bring a Travel Steamer (Not an Iron)
A small travel steamer is one of the best investments for destination weddings and events.
Why a steamer is essential:
- Removes creases quickly and safely
- Much gentler on suit fabrics than an iron
- Works on jackets, trousers, waistcoats, shirts and ties
We recommend steaming the suit on arrival, then giving it a light refresh on the morning of the event.
8. Don’t Iron Your Suit
Irons are great for shirts, but can easily ruin a suit. Heat and pressure can:
- Create shiny patches on the fabric
- Flatten the weave and texture
- Burn or distort fibres
If your hotel only has an iron, use it for shirts only. For the suit itself, stick to a steamer or bathroom steam trick.
9. Store Accessories the Right Way
Accessories can easily get lost, creased or damaged if they’re thrown loosely into a case.
Pack them like this:
- Ties: roll gently and place in a side pocket or inside shoes
- Pocket squares: keep flat between two shirts
- Belts: coil loosely rather than folding sharply
- Cufflinks: store in socks or a small pouch so they don’t rattle
10. Pack Shoes Separately (and Stuff Them)
Shoes are heavy and can damage your suit if they press against the fabric during travel.
Shoe-packing tips:
- Place shoes in protective bags or wrap them in a carrier
- Pack shoes at the bottom of the suitcase
- Stuff them with socks to help them keep their shape
- Avoid letting shoes sit directly against your jacket or trousers
Conclusion
Travelling with a suit doesn’t have to be stressful. With a proper garment bag, careful packing, a steamer and a bit of preparation, your suit can look perfect when you arrive — whether you're flying abroad for a wedding, heading to a hot climate or travelling for work.
Treat your suit properly in transit and it will look like it just came off the hanger when it matters most.
SUITBAE — Made for the moments that matter.