Hawaiian Airlines Media Baggage

Media rate not verified — contact airlineNo current public media rate could be verified — contact Hawaiian. Until then, budget with standard bag fees, which depend on the route.

The quick answer

What do I pay per bag?: Media price not verified. Ordinary North America: $45 / $55 / $200. Within Hawaiʻi: $30 / $40 / $50.
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; oversize fees apply above that. Special media size is unverified.
Who qualifies?: Media eligibility unverified; standard allowance depends on ticket and route
What do I show or send?: Request written media approval; otherwise use the shared Alaska/Hawaiian ordinary fee table

Prices are per bag, one way. Weight includes the case. Total inches = length + width + height added together.

All the details

Within Hawaiʻi: 1st $302nd $403rd+ $50
North America (booked on/after Apr 10, 2026): 1st $452nd $553rd+ $200
Ordinary weight / size extras: General: 51–70 lb +$100; 71–100 lb +$200; oversize +$200. Within Hawaiʻi: +$35 / +$70 / +$35. Charges stack with the base fee.

How it works

Ask Hawaiian directly about equipment and any negotiated media rate.
Neighbor Island fees were not changed by the April 2026 increase.

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/Hawaiian — Shared standard bag fees and limits ↗
"When Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines baggage policy applies"

Guitars & musical instruments

Agent says it can't go onboard? Open these on your phone and show them:

The airline's own instrument policy ↗U.S. law (14 CFR 251.3) ↗

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)

Hawaiian AirlineS

Media Rate: Conditions & Pricing

Transporting media equipment can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to air travel.Hawaiian Airlines, the largest airline based in the state of Hawaii, offers a range of options for carrying media equipment onboard their flights.

If you are a media professional planning to travel with Hawaiian Airlines, you may want to figure out rules and regulations for transporting media gear before you embark on your journey. Here are some key questions to consider:

Does the airline have a media rate?
What are the conditions and fees for transporting media equipment?
Do you need a media ID?
How can you minimize your travel costs?

To save you time, we have prepared a quick and comprehensive overview of Hawaiian Airlines media rates including advice on how to save your cost on transporting media bags.

Hawaiian Airlines Media Rates

Transporting media equipment can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to choosing the right airline and calculating the cost. For those planning to fly with Hawaiian Airlines, it's important to understand the airline's policies on baggage and fees when it comes to media equipment.

Carry-on baggage

Hawaiian Airlines allows one carry-on bag (up to 45 linear inches) and one personal item per passenger at no charge. However, it's important to note that the size and weight restrictions for carry-on bags apply to media equipment as well.

Checked baggage

Hawaiian 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). The first checked bag is subject to a fee of $30, while the second checked bag costs $40. Any additional checked bags will cost $100 each.

First-class passengers can check two bags at no charge, while HawaiianMiles members receive baggage discounts on inter-island travel.

Overweight and Oversized Baggage Fees

Media equipment can be heavy and bulky, which means that it's important to consider overweight and oversized baggage fees when planning a trip with Hawaiian Airlines. Overweight baggage between 51-70 pounds will cost $50 per piece, while overweight baggage between 71-100 pounds will cost $200 per piece.

Oversized baggage with dimensions between 63-80 inches will cost $35 per piece. It's important to note that the combined weight and dimensions of the baggage will determine the fees charged.

Important notes:

It's important to note that media equipment is not covered under Hawaiian Airlines' liability for lost or damaged baggage. Therefore, it's recommended to purchase additional insurance to cover the value of the equipment.

To ensure a smooth travel experience with media equipment, it's advised to inform Hawaiian Airlines in advance and arrive at the airport early to allow time for any necessary screening or inspection.