2007Cases/Carts/Stands and Transport forum
Airline baggage policies for film equipment cases and weight restrictions across carriers
19 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Northwest Airlines reduced their maximum checked baggage weight limit for film equipment from 100 pounds to 70 pounds, with excess baggage charged at $50 per bag rather than the standard $85
- Film equipment shipped as airline baggage requires documentation on production company letterhead detailing the production and dates to qualify for media rates
- British Airways enforces a strict 51-pound weight limit for checked baggage with no option to pay an overweight fee
- Delta Airlines used a graduated pricing structure for overweight baggage, charging $25 per bag over 50 pounds, more for bags over 70 pounds, and refusing to accept bags over 100 pounds
- Qantas offers a free 30-kilogram allowance per passenger with a flat $11 excess baggage rate per case for additional weight, making it economical for traveling with multiple equipment cases
- Southwest Airlines accepts media rates with minimal documentation and offers 3 free bags plus $30 per bag overage charges, with flexible enforcement of weight limits
- The weight restrictions imposed by major carriers make it impractical to check equipment carts as baggage, requiring alternative solutions such as renting carts on location or using lighter portable alternatives
Depends on
- Airlines' policies and weight limits vary significantly and may have changed since 2007
- Requirements for qualifying for media rates differ by carrier and are subject to change
- Personal accounts of enforcement vary; some airlines weigh bags strictly while others do not
- Specific weight limits mentioned are from individual experiences and may not represent official current policies
- The discussion addresses domestic and some international routes but does not comprehensively cover all carriers or destinations