Alaska Airlines Media Baggage
Media rate not verified — contact airlineNo current public media rate could be verified — contact Alaska. Until then, budget with standard bag fees.
The quick answer
- What do I pay per bag?
- Media price not verified. Ordinary North America bags: $45 first / $55 second / $200 each additional.
- How heavy can each bag be?
- Ordinary allowance: 50 lb per bag; Business/First: 2 included bags at 70 lb. Special media weight is unverified.
- How big can each bag be?
- Ordinary allowance: 62 total inches. 63–115 inches costs extra. Special media size is unverified.
- Who qualifies?
- Media eligibility unverified; standard benefits depend on your ticket
- What do I show or send?
- Request written media approval; otherwise use the ordinary baggage rules
Prices are per bag, one way. Weight includes the case. Total inches = length + width + height added together.
All the details
- North America (booked on/after Apr 10, 2026)
- 1st $452nd $553rd+ $200
- Exceptions
- See Alaska's fee waivers page
- Ordinary weight / size extras
- 51–70 lb +$100; 71–100 lb +$200; 63–115 inches +$200. Added to the base fee and each other.
How it works
- Check Alaska's waivers page for any exception that fits your trip.
- Peak travel periods may limit how many bags you can check.
Where the airline says this
Official airline pages and quoted wording to show at check-in. Look for the section named in each link. Highlighting depends on your browser; PDFs may need a search. Reviewed October 28, 2026; any unverified allowance is labeled above.
- Alaska — Baggage fee waivers & exceptions ↗
"Exceptions and waivers"
- Alaska/Hawaiian — Standard fees, weight and size ↗
"Up to 50 lbs. and 62 linear inches"
Guitars & musical instruments
Agent says it can't go onboard? Open these on your phone and show them:
The airline's page says: “you can purchase a seat for it”
These are instrument rules, not a verified media discount. Weight and size charges can be added to the base bag fee and to each other.
- Can my guitar come onboard?
- Yes, if it fits safely in an approved cabin compartment and space is available. Small instruments may exceed normal carry-on dimensions.
- What does it replace?
- Your carry-on bag—not an extra free overhead suitcase. A small personal item must still meet the airline’s rules.
- What do I pay in the cabin?
- Nothing extra. The guitar counts as your one carry-on bag.
- Can I buy my instrument a seat?
- Yes. Call Reservations; this cannot be booked online. Published charge: adult base fare plus 6.25% cargo tax. Have the case approved before paying.
- What do I pay to check it?
- Normal bag fee through 50 lb / 62 total inches. Add overweight and/or oversize charges above those limits. General fees: +$100 at 51–70 lb, +$200 at 71–100 lb, +$200 for oversize; Hawaiʻi-only fees are lower. The published surcharge table does not resolve 101–165 lb instruments—get a written quote.
- How heavy and big can a checked case be?
- Maximum 165 lb, including the case. Use a case made for the instrument. Up to 150 total inches on flights 1–1999; the instrument table limits Alaska flights 2000–2999 and 3420–3499 to 115 inches. Another paragraph conflicts with that flight list: confirm your actual flight and aircraft before taking a large case.
Weight and size include the case. Cabin space must be available when you board. Use a protective case suitable for checking if the cabin is full.
U.S. law protects your guitar. On U.S. flights, airlines must let a guitar in its case ride in the cabin if it fits safely in the overhead bin or under the seat and there is room when you board. Show this page — the rule itself (14 CFR 251.3) — if an agent says no: Read the rule ↗
Official instrument rules
- Alaska/Hawaiian — Carry on and check your instruments ↗
“you can purchase a seat for it”
- Alaska/Hawaiian — Instrument-specific case requirement ↗
“packed in a case designed specifically for the equipment”
- Alaska/Hawaiian — Base, overweight and oversize fees ↗
“Overweight and Oversize fees compound with base bag fees, and with each other”
- Alaska/Hawaiian — Buying a cabin seat ↗
“Cabin seat baggage cannot be booked online”
Original 2024 article (historical)
Alaska Airlines
Media Rate: Conditions & Pricing
Navigating the world of travel as a creative professional can be daunting, especially when transporting sensitive media equipment. Fortunately, Alaska Airlines is renowned for accommodating the unique needs of creatives, ensuring your cameras, lighting equipment, and more are transported safely.
This article provides an in-depth look at Alaska Airlines' media baggage policies, offering valuable tips to economize and secure your gear. Whether you’re a photographer or videographer planning your next shoot, here’s everything you need to know about flying with Alaska Airlines.
Alaska Airlines Media Rates
Alaska Airlines is committed to offering specialized rates for media equipment transport, acknowledging its critical role in global assignments, shoots, and production tasks. Below is a detailed exploration of policies and costs associated with media bag transportation:
- Carry-On Media Equipment
Alaska Airlines permits small media equipment items as carry-ons. This includes cameras, lenses, and other compact gear. Notably, these items may surpass standard carry-on dimensions (9" x 14" x 22" or 23 x 36 x 56 cm) but must fit within an overhead bin or under the seat to qualify. This policy benefits those needing immediate access to their gear.
Quick Note: For Smart bags or eBags, please refer to the Batteries and Electronics page for specific guidelines.
- Cabin Seats for Larger Equipment
For items too large or fragile for overhead storage or checking, purchasing an additional seat is an option. The charge is the adult base fare plus a 6.25% cargo tax. Early reservations are recommended for group bookings to ensure smooth preparation for your item's transport. Despite this option, the standard one carry-on and one personal item limit applies.
- Checking Your Media Bags
Alaska Airlines also welcomes checked media equipment, provided they are securely packed in appropriate cases. This method suits larger items like tripods and lighting kits. Be mindful of potential variances in policies if your itinerary includes other airlines.
Weight and Dimensional Fees for Media Bags:
- Up to 50 lbs.: Standard checked baggage rates apply, which is $35 for the first bag, $45 for the second, and $150 for each additional bag).
- 51-165 lbs.: Standard rates plus a $100 overweight fee.
- Up to 62" (linear): Standard rates apply.
- 63-150" (linear) for Flights 1-1999: An oversize bag fee of $150 is added to the standard checked baggage fees.
- 63-115" (linear) for Flights 2000-2999 and 3420-3499: Standard rates plus a $150 oversize fee.
Maximum Dimensions Allowed:
- Flights 1-1999: A checked media bag's total linear dimensions (length + height + width) must not exceed 150 inches.
- Flights 2000-2999 and 3300-3499: The total linear dimensions of a checked media bag must not exceed 115 inches.
Booking and Preparations
Planning ahead and understanding Alaska Airlines’ requirements can facilitate a stress-free travel experience. Here’s some more useful details to know:
- Measuring Your Media Equipment. Before your flight, measure your equipment accurately to ensure compliance with the guidelines. Measure the height from the bottom to the top, the width from side to side, and the depth from front to back. Add these measurements to determine the total linear dimensions of your case.
- Secure and Identify Your Equipment. Enhance the security of your checked media equipment by placing an identification tag inside your bag. Alaska Airlines offers a free, downloadable tag that aids in quickly identifying and returning your equipment, should it be misplaced.