Delta Air Lines Media Baggage
Media rateDelta charges a flat media rate for camera, film, lighting and sound gear carried by TV broadcasters and commercial film companies.
The quick answer
- What do I pay per bag?
- $50 USD/CAD domestic$70 USD/CAD or €60 international, per bag
- How heavy can each bag be?
- Bags 1–2: table describes the normal 50 lb allowance. Bags 3–25: under 100 lb; maximum 70 lb to/from/through Europe, South Africa or UAE.
- How big can each bag be?
- Bags 1–2: normal 62 total inches. Bags 3–25: 115 total inches.
- Who qualifies?
- TV broadcasters and commercial film companies carrying camera, film, lighting or sound gear
- What do I show or send?
- Show credentials at check-in, or email media.bags@delta.com at least 24 hours before departure
Prices are per bag, one way. Weight includes the case. Total inches = length + width + height added together.
All the details
- Domestic
- $50 per bag, each way
- International
- $70 USD/CAD or €60 per bag, each way
- Bags 1–2
- Official table pairs the media flat rate with normal 50 lb / 62-inch allowance. Confirm extra charges for heavier first/second bags; this is not a blanket refusal rule.
- Bags 3+
- Under 100 lbs, 115 inches total (70 lbs to/from/via Europe, South Africa, UAE)
- Max bags
- 25 on Delta; 4 on Delta Connection
- Very large / fragile gear
- Can buy a seat for it (up to 165 lbs)
How it works
- Media bags fall under Delta's "Fragile, bulky and other items".
- Show media credentials at check-in, or email them to media.bags@delta.com at least 24 hours before departure.
- Delta advises carrying cameras and electronics in the cabin.
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.
- Delta — Special items include Media Bags ↗
"Including Media Bags"
- Delta — Media Bags: actual price / weight table ↗
"Flat media rate of $50"
- Delta — Excess baggage: media equipment accepted ↗
"See Media Bags for complete details"
- Delta — Cabin-seat baggage ↗
"Not exceed 165 lbs"
Guitars & musical instruments
Agent says it can't go onboard? Open these on your phone and show them:
The airline's page says: “does not exceed 165lbs (75 kg)”
Delta’s media table covers camera, film, lighting and sound equipment. Do not automatically apply its media price or weight allowance to instruments.
- Can my guitar come onboard?
- Yes, if the guitar in its case fits safely in approved cabin storage and space is available when you board. The U.S. instrument rule allows this even if it exceeds normal suitcase 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. On unusual routes, ask Delta first.
- Can I buy my instrument a seat?
- Yes. Contact Reservations for an approved, restrained seat. Maximum 165 lb. The instrument page says full fare; the cabin-seat page says best available published fare—get the actual quote.
- What do I pay to check it?
- Normal checked-bag fees plus any excess, overweight or oversize fees. The 165 lb acceptance limit is NOT a free weight allowance; the exact total depends on your route and bag number.
- How heavy and big can a checked case be?
- Maximum 165 lb / 150 total inches, including the case. Destination restrictions still apply. Delta asks for a case meeting ATA Specification 300.
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
- U.S. rule — 14 CFR 251.3: small instruments ↗
“There is space for such stowage at the time the passenger boards the aircraft.”
- Delta — Musical instruments: checked and cabin-seat rules ↗
“does not exceed 165lbs (75 kg)”
- Delta — Cabin-seat baggage price and restraints ↗
“best available published fare”
- Delta — Excess, overweight and oversized charges ↗
Use the itinerary-specific excess and weight/size fee tables; instrument maximums do not waive these charges.
Original 2024 article (historical)
Delta AirLines
Media Rate: Conditions & Pricing
Delta is a well-known name in the airline industry. It is one of the preferred ways of travel in the United States and has won customer’s trust. That’s why you can be sure that it offers a safe and enjoyable flight experience.
However, when transporting media bags with Delta, you should clarify lots of questions. Does the airline have a media rate? If so, what are the conditions and how much does it cost?
Delta Airlines Media Rates
It's challenging to find relevant information about transporting media bags on Delta's official website. It's all because this category is hidden in such a long series of pages:
Travel Info → Baggage → Special items → Fragile, Bulky & Other Items → Media Bags. However, you can read about it here.
Here’s a quick overview of what to expect from Delta Air Lines media rate.
The first thing to consider is where are you heading geographically. Delta offers two options: domestic flights (for transporting media-related equipment within your country) or international flights. Let's have a look at the conditions and rates for each case.
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.
A few words about currencies: the CAD amount will be charged upon departure from Canada, and the EUR amount will be charged upon departure from Europe.
And one more small addition. When you travel to/from/through Europe, South Africa, or the United Arab Emirates, the max weight of your media bag can be up to 70 lbs (30 kg).