Media Rate Baggage policy change
Oct 22, 2019, 2:07 pm
#1
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Media Rate Baggage policy change
Apparently Delta has changed their policy for Media Rate baggage. The new policy:
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ems.html#media
Previously, pre-approval was not needed. Heads up to my fellow photo/film crews.
Camera, film, video tape, lighting and sound equipment that is tendered by representatives of network or local television broadcasting companies or commercial film-making companies will be accepted as baggage at the fees noted below. All media-related passengers seeking to receive preferred media baggage rates must request preferred baggage pricing by e-mailing the Global Sales & Support desk at [email protected] at least 72 hours prior to scheduled departure for all travel on or after 8 October 2019.
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...ems.html#media
Previously, pre-approval was not needed. Heads up to my fellow photo/film crews.
Oct 22, 2019, 2:32 pm
#2
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I would be willing to bet on too many amusing this. 25 bags at 50US/CAD is a steal.
Oct 22, 2019, 4:13 pm
#3
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Oct 22, 2019, 5:12 pm
#4
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I would bet the major news outlets will have agreements in place. This is more likely an issue with local news companies who are harder to verify/easier to fake being one.
Oct 22, 2019, 6:47 pm
#5
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In general, there are not pre-flight "agreements." Crews simply show up at the check-in counter, present valid, current media credentials -- either issued by their outlet and/or a government entity (e.g. state legislature, U.S. Congress, White House, police department, etc) -- the TA takes a look, verifies the name on the credential matches the name on the ticket, and that's it. It's about a 10-second process. The TAs are almost always exceedingly nice and understanding about it. As previously pointed out, often crews do not have 72 hours notice of their travels. Breaking news does not send a 72-hour "heads up."
Oct 23, 2019, 4:39 am
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In general, there are not pre-flight "agreements." Crews simply show up at the check-in counter, present valid, current media credentials -- either issued by their outlet and/or a government entity (e.g. state legislature, U.S. Congress, White House, police department, etc) -- the TA takes a look, verifies the name on the credential matches the name on the ticket, and that's it. It's about a 10-second process. The TAs are almost always exceedingly nice and understanding about it. As previously pointed out, often crews do not have 72 hours notice of their travels. Breaking news does not send a 72-hour "heads up."
If its straight up 72 hours no matter, agree that's awful. However DL doesn't always include all the details when releasing policies. Hopefully this is one of those cases.
Oct 23, 2019, 5:59 am
#7
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In general, there are not pre-flight "agreements." Crews simply show up at the check-in counter, present valid, current media credentials -- either issued by their outlet and/or a government entity (e.g. state legislature, U.S. Congress, White House, police department, etc) -- the TA takes a look, verifies the name on the credential matches the name on the ticket, and that's it.
The old policy was in place as recently as September 28th (from the Internet Archive: Special Items | Baggage : Delta Air Lines). It's a bit unreasonable to change longstanding policy with less than two weeks notice (Oct 8 activation date), and with no formal notice to anyone other than an obscure policy change buried on the website.
Oct 23, 2019, 6:36 am
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Yes, that's how it worked for years and years, until this recent change. No more. I've had colleagues in both the news side (photographer for Reuters) and the commercial filmmaking side be denied media rate in the past two weeks as they hadn't been pre-approved 72h in advance.
The old policy was in place as recently as September 28th (from the Internet Archive: Special Items | Baggage : Delta Air Lines). It's a bit unreasonable to change longstanding policy with less than two weeks notice (Oct 8 activation date), and with no formal notice to anyone other than an obscure policy change buried on the website.
The old policy was in place as recently as September 28th (from the Internet Archive: Special Items | Baggage : Delta Air Lines). It's a bit unreasonable to change longstanding policy with less than two weeks notice (Oct 8 activation date), and with no formal notice to anyone other than an obscure policy change buried on the website.
She also pointed out any tickets bought before the change in policy are still subject to old policy. Airline can't change bag policy for previously purchased tickets.
As usual you'll get airport agents that dont understand this.
Oct 23, 2019, 8:17 am
#9
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I bet bloggers and YouTubers were claiming to be media and abusing this.
Oct 23, 2019, 8:36 am
#10
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The last-minute ticket exception totally makes sense, especially when you consider the price of those tickets (not to say there aren't sometimes reasonable fares within 3 days). I would think that would still cut down 90% or more of the abuse.