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Press card discounts: the honest answer

A press card does not entitle you to discounts. Some organisers, venues, software companies and trade fairs offer free press access or media rates to working journalists – but always at their own discretion, usually only after accreditation, and never just because you show a card. We do not promise any discounts.

Many websites selling press cards advertise free museum entry, cheaper travel or hotel deals. Those claims are at best misleading. This page explains what working journalists can realistically expect and how to ask for press access properly.

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At a glance

Legal entitlement to discounts: None
Press tickets: At the organiser’s discretion, usually after accreditation
Media rates: Offered by some companies, on their own terms
FJA promise: We promise no discounts

What is realistic – and what is a myth

A clear overview.

Claim	Reality	Our view
Free entry to concerts and festivals	Only with a press pass granted by the organiser for coverage	Myth as a general rule
Free museum or gallery entry	Some institutions offer press visits for coverage on request	Ask the press office; never assume
Trade fair entry	Many fairs offer free press registration for journalists covering the show	Often realistic, after registration
Discounts on travel, hotels or flights	No general press discounts	Myth
Software or equipment discounts	Some companies run media programmes with their own criteria	Possible, at their discretion
Free parking	None; parking rules apply to everyone	Myth

How to ask for press access properly

The difference between coverage and freebies.

Explain the coverage you plan: outlet, format, publication date.

Show credentials: press card number, commission, previous coverage.

Ask for what you need to report – one press place, not extra tickets for friends.

Deliver and send the link afterwards.

Ethics of accepting freebies

Independence is worth more than a free ticket.

Many newsrooms have rules on gifts and hospitality, and readers expect transparency. If you accept a free product, trip or ticket, disclose it where relevant and keep your judgement independent. Influencers and bloggers must make clear when content is advertising – the Advertising Standards Authority has published guidance on this. Using a press card to obtain personal discounts that have nothing to do with your journalism breaches our usage guidelines and can, if done dishonestly, be fraud.

Why we are so clear about this

False promises harm every journalist.

When cards are sold with promises of free entry, organisers become suspicious of all press cards – including those of honest freelancers. The UK Press Card Authority criticises sellers that advertise special advantages, and we agree. Our card is a tool for journalistic work, not a discount card. If you want to know what it really does, read press card benefits and media pass for events.

Legitimate ways journalists save money on work costs

There is no press card discount scheme – but there are honest ways to keep your working costs down.

Press tickets for coverage

When you review an event, the organiser may provide a press ticket. That is not a discount but a working arrangement: you get access, the organiser gets coverage. Ask in advance and be clear about what you will publish.

Review copies and samples

Publishers, labels and manufacturers often send review copies on request. Disclose this in your review and return or donate items if the sender asks or if keeping them would compromise your independence.

Business expenses

If you work as a freelancer, many genuine work costs – equipment, travel for assignments, subscriptions – may be allowable business expenses. Check HMRC guidance or ask an accountant; we cannot give tax advice.

How to ask without damaging your reputation

The way you ask matters as much as what you ask for.

Instead of…	Try…
“I have a press card, so I get in free, right?”	“I’m reviewing tonight’s show for [outlet]. Is there a press list I could be added to?”
Showing the card at a shop till	Paying normally – private purchases are never a press matter
Asking for a free hotel stay “for coverage” without a commission	Pitching the story to an editor first, then contacting the press office with the commission
Keeping quiet about free tickets in your review	Adding a short line: “The reviewer received a press ticket.”

Why misuse hurts every journalist

Press access only works because organisers trust that it is used for reporting.

Every time someone uses a press card to get a free coffee, a cheaper hotel room or a concert ticket for a night out, organisers become a little more suspicious of the next journalist who asks for access. Venues tighten their rules, press lists get shorter, and freelancers without a big-name outlet behind them are the first to be turned away.

That is why our usage guidelines prohibit using the FJA card for private advantages, and why misuse can lead to the card being cancelled. A press card is a tool for your work – nothing more, and nothing less.

Frequently asked questions

Do press cards give discounts?

No press card gives a general entitlement to discounts. Some organisers and companies offer press access or media rates at their discretion.

Can I get free museum entry with a press card?

Some museums arrange press visits for journalists covering an exhibition. Contact the press office in advance; a card alone is not enough.

Do press cards get you into concerts for free?

Only if the promoter grants you a press pass for coverage. Showing a card at the door does not entitle you to entry.

Are there press discounts on trains or flights?

There are no general press discounts on public transport or flights.

Does the FJA offer discounts with partners?

No. We do not run a discount programme and do not promise any discounts.

Is it wrong to accept press tickets?

No, if they are for coverage. Disclose gifts where relevant and keep your reporting independent.

Do museums or galleries give journalists free entry?

Some offer press access for coverage, usually on request through their press office and often only for exhibitions you are reviewing. There is no general right to free entry, and policies vary from venue to venue.

Is it a problem to accept a free drink or meal at a press event?

Small refreshments at press events are common and usually unproblematic. Anything of significant value should be disclosed or declined, especially if it could influence how you report. Many outlets have their own rules on gifts – follow them.

Do airlines or rail companies offer press discounts?

We are not aware of any general press discount offered by UK airlines or train operators to holders of press cards, and the FJA card does not entitle you to one. Business travel for assignments is usually paid by the commissioning outlet or claimed as an expense.

Sources and last review

Written and reviewed by the FJA editorial team. Last reviewed: 23 October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.