Airline Policies

Media baggage policies as of January 2025:

Airline media rate:

Media professionals traveling with audio or visual equipment are eligible for a special rate of $60 per piece for one-way domestic trips, and $90 per piece for one-way international trips. Overweight and oversize fees are waived for these items. To qualify, travelers must present company-issued identification or a business card along with a government-issued photo ID.

Learn more at: American Airlines. *

Delta media rate

Travel Info → Baggage → Special items → Fragile, Bulky & Other Items → Media Bags. You can read about it here.

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect from Delta Air Lines media rate.

Delta offers two options: domestic flights (for transporting media-related equipment within your country) or international flights.

Domestic

• If your gear takes up space for 1 or 2 bags that do not exceed 50 lbs. (which equals 23 kg) and 62 total linear inches (full linear inches equals length + width + height per bag), then you need to pay a media rate of $50 USD/CAD.
• If you need to transport more media bags starting from 3 bags and more (the maximum number of bags you can take with you is 25), there will be slightly different size requirements. These bags can be up to 100 lbs. (45 kg) and up to 115 linear inches. Although this will be considered an excess baggage media rate, you need to pay the same media rate of $50 USD/CAD.

International

Here a pattern is very similar:

• A 1st and 2nd bag weighing no more than 50 lbs. (23 kg) and measuring no more than 62 total linear inches will cost you a flat media rate of $70 USD/CAD, or 60 EUR.
• 3rd and up to 25th bags weighing no more than 100 lbs. (45 kg) and measuring no more than 115 total linear inches according to Delta airlines media rate will cost $70 USD/CAD, or 60 EUR.

Southwest has pretty clear guidelines for calculating the cost of carrying cameras, film, video, lighting, and sound equipment. On the official site, media bags can be found in the Special baggage and sports equipment category, and more detailed information on fees for one-way travel can be found in the Optional Travel Charges section.

To save your time, here’s a brief overview of the Southwest media rate and key details to know:

• The first and second carry-on bags (personal items) or checked bags are free of charge. This means you need to pay $0 per item for the first two checked bags with photographic equipment.
• The 3rd large media camera equipment bag will cost you $75 per item.

You will only need to pay for media bags if you have extra baggage.

What about size limitations? The first two checked bags are free if they do not exceed 50 lbs and 62 inches (L+W+H). All the following bags, as well as those that exceed the standard size, will be accepted for a fee of $75 per item. A bag's maximum weight is 100 pounds. You can bring up to 20 bags on one trip.

United Airlines Media Rate Program

• Carry-On Allowance

United Airlines allows one personal item and one carry-on bag at no charge. The carry-on bag must not exceed 45 linear inches in combined dimensions. This means that the sum of the length, width, and height of the bag must not exceed 45 inches. Passengers can choose to pay for additional carry-on bags, with fees varying depending on the route and time of purchase.

• Checked Baggage Allowance

United Airlines allows up to two checked bags per passenger, with a maximum weight of 50 pounds and maximum dimensions of 62 linear inches (length + width + height). Additional checked bags are subject to a fee of $150 each. However, for media equipment, additional baggage fees are lower.

• Media Rates

United Airlines has its own media rate program that helps to get discounted rates for carrying media equipment, including cameras, audio, and video gear, as well as other materials necessary for the work of media personnel.

Passengers transporting media equipment as checked baggage need to pay an additional baggage fee of $50 per piece, and oversize/overweight fees do not apply. This means that media equipment can exceed the size and weight limits without incurring additional fees.

Other than that, the United Airlines media rate program includes other factors:

• Travel within North America: This includes trips within the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. For this, the fee for checked bags is $50 per bag. Plus, you can bring oversized bags weighing up to 99.9 lbs.
• Travel outside North America: For trips outside of North America, the fee for checked bags is $70 per bag. But, you can still bring oversized bags weighing up to 99.9 lbs.

It's important to note that media equipment must be labeled as such and be in proper packaging to qualify for the media rate.

To travel with media equipment on United Airlines, you need to have a valid media ID as proof of your affiliation with a media organization. It will also be beneficial if you have any other documents confirming the fact that you are traveling for work-related purposes, such as covering an event or conducting an interview.

• Overweight and Oversized Baggage Fees

For checked baggage that exceeds the weight or size limits, additional fees will apply. Overweight baggage between 51-70 pounds will cost $100 per piece, while overweight baggage between 71-100 pounds will cost $200 per piece. Oversized baggage with dimensions between 63-115 inches will also cost $200 per piece.

To get more information, you can also check out United Airlines media rates on the official site.