2010Cases/Carts/Stands and Transport forum
Methods for marking equipment cases and transporting them by air
16 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Paint stenciled identification on cases using plastic stencils and spray paint formulated for plastic, which provides durable marking that can be refreshed periodically.
- Adhesive laminated name plates are highly durable and can be additionally secured with rivets at the corners for extra safety on flight cases.
- Including name and contact information inside the case itself helps identify lost baggage even if exterior markings are removed.
- Zip-tying cases closed and placing extra zip ties inside allows TSA to reseal cases if they must open them during inspection.
- Painting cases in bright colors like yellow makes them more visible and easier to identify at airports.
- Airlines offer different policies for media equipment baggage: American Airlines charges $50 per overweight item up to 100 pounds, Southwest offers media rates allowing oversized and overweight bags up to 75 pounds for free, Continental limits items to 70 pounds and requires a Continental Media Card, and Delta charges media representatives higher rates than general public.
- Southwest provides the most favorable media equipment rates but gate agents frequently are unfamiliar with the policy and may require a printed copy from the airline website to process correctly.
- Excess baggage can sometimes be shipped via FedEx Ground or through aggregators, and upgrading to first class tickets may provide free additional baggage allowances that reduce overall shipping costs.
- Airlines may offer media rates for baggage but typically require either a media credential or proof of commercial work.
Depends on
- Airline policies regarding media equipment rates and baggage restrictions change frequently and vary by carrier.
- Gate agents often lack knowledge of their own airlines' media equipment policies, making printed documentation essential.
- Information about specific airline policies comes from various users with different travel experiences and may reflect practices from 2010 or earlier.
- Some users report that TSA may leave items caught between case lids during inspections, suggesting security screening can still damage contents despite precautions.
- Stenciled markings can fade or scratch and require periodic refreshing.
- Heavy baggage fees on international flights can be substantially more expensive than domestic rates.