Media Rates

American Airlines

We know you travel with more, so we created special baggage policies for our Entertainment and Media accounts flying on American.

Benefits and features

Each account can check up to 25 bags (including the personal bag allowance) per flight at a discounted rate, subject to operational limitations. A media bag can include: audio, camera, lighting and photography equipment, wardrobes, trunks and musical instruments.

Fees for overweight and oversized bags (excluding musical instruments) are waived, up to either 70 lbs. / 32 kg or 100 lbs. / 45 kg, depending on your origin and destination, and a maximum linear size (length + width + height) of 126 inches / 320 cm.

Overweight fees apply to musical instruments over 50 lbs. / 23 kg.

Special media bag rates

• $50 one-way per bag on flights within the U.S. and Canada
• $90/£60/€70 one-way per bag on international flights *

Customers are encouraged to purchase their outbound and return trip in advance at the first point of departure, and should retain and present their receipt as proof of purchase for return check-in for a seamless travel experience.

Media baggage payment is not available on kiosks at this time.

Preferred media baggage rates are only available when booked and traveling on the operating carrier’s code.*

Customers are required to show media photo credentials to airport agent. Some travelers may not have photo media credentials such as music band tour travel and production crews.

*Valid on all international itineraries for American Airlines. Valid on transatlantic itineraries operated by British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair.

American, along with our Atlantic Joint Business partners British Airways, Finnair, and Iberia, are introducing newly aligned/special media baggage rates for eligible travelers.

Benefits and features of these rates include:

• Special media baggage rate
  • $50 per bag on domestic itineraries one-way.
  • $70/£50/€70 per bag on international itineraries one-way. Valid on all international itineraries for American Airlines.
• Fees for overweight bags and oversized baggage will be waived
  • Cannot exceed 100lbs/45kg or 320cm in total dimensions (max length of 190cm). Max 32kg on British Airways fights operating to/from Johannesburg (JNB).
• Each eligible media entity can check up to 25 bags at above rates per flight
  • Media entity is defined as corporate account, production movement, media event
  • 25 bag limit subject to operational limitations and policies of regional carrier partners

Customers are eligible for these special rates on travel and bookings made and travel from April 22, 2015.

Customers are encouraged to purchase their outbound and return trip in advance at the first point of departure where possible, and should retain and present their receipt as proof of purchase for return check-in for a seamless travel experience. Select return legs on British Airways cannot be booked in advance and should be booked and paid for at the ticket desk on departure of the return journey.

Payment options to obtain the special media baggage rates:

• Media baggage payment is not available on kiosks at this time
• Preferred media baggage rates are only available when booked and traveling on the operating carrier’s code

 Terms and conditions

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Delta Airlines

Camera, film, video tape, lighting and sound equipment that is tendered by representatives of network or local television broadcasting companies or commercial film-making companies will be accepted as baggage at the fees noted below. All media-related passengers seeking to receive preferred media baggage rates must present proper media credentials at check-in, or request preferred baggage pricing and submit media credentials by e-mailing the Global Sales & Support desk at [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to scheduled departure for all travel on or after February 24, 2020.

*CAD amount will be charged exit Canada, and EUR amount will be charged exit Europe.

**All baggage charges are each-way. Maximum number of bags on Delta aircraft is 25. Maximum number of bags on Delta Connection carriers is four. Total linear inches** equals length + width + height per bag

JetBlue

Camera, film, video production, lighting and sound equipment that’s traveling with a customer representing a local or national television network, broadcasting or commercial film-making company may be accepted on a space-available basis. Qualified members of the media traveling with excess bags may be considered for a media bag rate if coordinated in advance on JetBlue-operated flights.

Media bag rate and limits

Media bag rate

Regardless of the fare option purchased, media bag customers who check bags will pay $50 per bag starting with the first checked bag up to 99 pounds, including oversized. This is calculated on a one-way basis.

Keep in mind, Blue Basic fares do not allow a carry-on bag. If you need to store an item in the overhead bin, be sure to book one of our other fares.

The media bag rate cannot be applied retroactively post-travel—it must be applied for and approved in advance. We reserve the right to revoke this offer at any time.

Media bag rates are not offered for interline or codeshare flights operated by other carriers.

Bag limits by aircraft

Due to weight restrictions, we can accept the following on each aircraft: 

• E190 (100 seats): 10 bags maximum
• A220 (140 seats): 10 bags maximum
• A320 (150 seats): 20 bags maximum
• A320 (162 seats): 10 bags maximum
• A321 (200 seats): 25 bags maximum
• A321 (Mint): No restriction

Excess bags will be carried on a space-available basis. If the bags cannot be carried on the same flight with the customer, they will be transported on the next available JetBlue-operated flight. The final decision on our ability to carry excess bags will be made by the flight crew on the day of travel. 

Download Media Bag Request Form, which is required with credentials to qualify for the rate. 

Southwest

Cameras and Film

• The screening equipment that inspects your checked luggage may damage undeveloped film in camera equipment. We recommend that you put undeveloped film and cameras containing undeveloped film in your carryon baggage. The screening equipment will not damage camera images.
• Camcorders are allowed in or as carry-on baggage. If carried separately from the one allowable carryon baggage, the camcorder will be counted as your one personal item.
• Media cameras are exempt from the sizing box restriction imposed on other carryon luggage, and, if carried onboard, must be stowed in accordance with FAA safety regulations. If the camera is to be secured in a seat, however, a ticket must be purchased for that seat.
• Camera, film, video, lighting, and sound equipment will be accepted when presented by a representative of a network or local television broadcasting company or a commercial filmmaking company. A fee of $75 will be charged for each item in excess of the free baggage allowance. Media equipment will not be assessed oversized or overweight charges.

United Airlines

Learn more about our discounted media bag program that gets your valued equipment exactly where it needs to be.

United is pleased to offer representative from network television, broadcasting and commercial filmmaking companies a flat service charge to check camera, film, lighting and sound equipment.

Production, crew and talents’ gear and equipment can travel to over 365 destinations at a discounted rate; our baggage charges apply for worldwide travel on flights marketed and operated by United. 

Read the full policy here.

Virgin Atlantic

If you’d like to bring extra luggage over and above your free baggage allowance, you can pay to check in up to 10 extra bags per person (weighing p to 23kg each).

The best way to increase your allowance is before you fly– you can buy your additional baggage allowance online and avoid higher charges at the airport. Just head over to Online Check In if you’d like to buy additional baggage. Please remember that Online Check In opens 24 hours before your flight.

Excess baggage charges are as follows:

For passengers departing India, an additional 4.994% tax will be payable on excess baggage charges.

Alaska Air

Alaska Air Media Baggage Rate

This is only provided to credential media personnel only. A valid media credential is required to receive the rate and they only need to show it when checking 3 or more bags to receive the $50 rate versus the $75 rate. All weight and size restrictions apply (50lbs- 62 total linear inches), excess weight /size charges can be found on the Alaska Air website.  Visit Alaska’s page on Baggage Information here.

Baggage rates are as follows:

Batteries Restrictions

Visit Alaska Air’s page on Flying with Batteries here.

Air France, KLM, Virgin Australia

Offer

Each passenger is permitted to bring a total of two carry-on items on board the train; each item should not exceed 50 lbs. (23 kg) and 28 x 22 x 14 inches.

U.S. media company travelers are given a special extra baggage rate when travelling with a number of baggage items over the free checked baggage allowance on Air France marketing and operating flights on select routings.

This policy is an aligned JV policy with AF/KL/DL/AZ.

Download the full policy here.