Southwest Airlines Media Baggage
Media rateSouthwest gives qualifying TV and film crews a lower price on the 3rd and later equipment bags, and waives oversize and overweight fees.
The quick answer
- What do I pay per bag?
- U.S. mainland:bag 1 $45bag 2 $55bag 3+ $75 each*Free-bag benefits may apply.
- How heavy can each bag be?
- Up to 100 lbs per media-equipment bag—no overweight fee
- How big can each bag be?
- Up to 110 total inches—no oversize fee
- Who qualifies?
- TV broadcasters and commercial film companies
- What do I show or send?
- Identify qualifying camera/film/lighting/sound equipment at check-in; carry company credentials
Prices are per bag, one way. Weight includes the case. Total inches = length + width + height added together.
All the details
- 1st / 2nd bag
- $45 / $55 (ticketed on/after Apr 9, 2026; free-bag benefits may apply)
- 3rd+ media bag
- $75 each (normally $150)
- Oversize / overweight
- Waived for TV and film companies
- Max per item
- 110 inches total, 100 lbs
- Wholly within Hawaiʻi
- 3rd+ qualifying media equipment bag: $50 each; use the interisland fee table
How it works
- Applies to camera, film, video, lighting and sound equipment.
- You must represent a network/local TV broadcaster or commercial film company.
- Musical instruments follow separate rules — this waiver doesn't cover them.
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.
- Southwest — Traveling with large media equipment ↗
"no oversize or overweight fees will apply"
- Southwest — Size and weight limit ↗
"no larger than 110 inches"
- Southwest — Current fees (U.S. Mainland, on/after April 9, 2026 → Large Media Camera Equipment) ↗
"Large Media Camera Equipment"
- Southwest — Who gets free bags (free-bag benefits) ↗
Free checked bags may apply for A-List Preferred Members, Business Select fares, and Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers—confirm on this page.
Guitars & musical instruments
Agent says it can't go onboard? Open these on your phone and show them:
The airline's page says: “Musical Instruments”
Southwest treats instruments separately from media camera equipment. Heavy instruments still have overweight charges.
- 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.
- Can I buy my instrument a seat?
- Yes—the current contract permits an adjacent seat for a large instrument unsuitable for checking. Call Southwest to confirm price, case dimensions and safe seating.
- What do I pay to check it?
- U.S. mainland: normal bag fee, plus $100 at 51–70 lb or $200 at 71–165 lb. No instrument oversize fee up to 150 total inches. Hawaiʻi interisland overweight additions are $35 / $70 instead.
- How heavy and big can a checked case be?
- Maximum 165 lb / 150 total inches, including the case. These are instrument limits, not the 100 lb / 110-inch camera-equipment waiver. Fees depend on route, ticket date and free-bag benefits.
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.”
- Southwest — Fees: Musical Instruments (current route table) ↗
“Musical Instruments”
Original 2024 article (historical)
Southwest Airlines
Media Rate: Conditions & Pricing
Southwest Airlines is one of the leading airline companies with more than 50 years of history and a good reputation. The company's concept focuses mainly on customer satisfaction, efficient operations, innovative logistics solutions, and great support for travelers with different kinds of baggage, specifically with photographic equipment.
If you plan to travel on Southwest Airlines and take media bags with you, it is important to clarify several questions, such as:
- Does the airline have a media rate? If so, how much will it cost to transfer a particular kind of baggage during a trip?
- How safe and protected is media bag transportation with Southwest Airlines?
To answer these and other questions, here is a detailed Southwest Airlines media rate and tips for optimizing such travel.
Southwest Airlines Media Rates
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.
Media cameras will not be required to fit in the same size box as other carry-on luggage. If your media equipment is oversized or overweight, you will not be charged. Additionally, if the size of your media suitcase is too large to fit on a single seat, the equipment can be considered a personal item, and you can purchase an additional ticket to lay down your devices.
Although Southwest media baggage rates appear slightly higher than those of other companies, the airline remains a low-cost carrier with no hidden baggage fees. Besides, transporting all types of baggage is always provided by enhanced security measures.
However, there is one thing to be taken into account. As mentioned on the official website, cameras, lighting, film or sound equipment, musical instruments, or any other media equipment will be accepted when presented by a representative of a network or local television broadcasting company or a commercial filming company. In other words, you need to prove that you are a media person.