Southwest's Policies Regarding Credentialed News Media Traveling With Cameras

To accommodate the special requirements of photographers and videographers, Southwest will make the following exceptions to carryon baggage and preboarding policies.

• The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a new carryon policy for all airlines that limits Customers to one bag and one, smaller personal item. All credentialed news media utilizing Southwest Airlines will be required to adhere to the new carryon policy; there will be no exceptions to this federal requirement.

• All news media are reminded that because of enhanced security measures in place, only ticketed media will be allowed access beyond an airport's security checkpoint.

• Media cameras will be exempt from the sizing box restriction imposed on other carryon luggage. However, the equipment will count as the passenger's personal item. Also, if the camera is to be secured in a seat, a ticket must be purchased for that seat.

• Preboarding privileges will be extended to photographers and videographers to ensure that the camera equipment is stowed properly. Photographers and videographers will be allowed to preboard after Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, or other Customers needing assistance. The request to preboard must be made at the time of check-in at the gate when a boarding pass is obtained. Preboarding privileges will be extended as long as the media Customer has checked in before the preboarding process has begun.

In 1998, Southwest revised its carryon baggage and preboarding policies to improve the operation's efficiency and to enhance Customers comfort. As part of these revisions, any camera not meeting the carryon size requirements would have to be checked as luggage or a ticket would have to be purchased so that the camera could be secured in its own seat on the aircraft. These requirements simply didn't work. Based on the vast feedback the airline received, Southwest further refined its policies to meet the needs of the working news media.

If you have any questions about Southwest’s policies regarding carryon baggage or preboarding, please call the Public Relations Department at 214-792-4847 or send us an e-mail at swamedia@wnco.com