Family in Economy X seating onboard Virgin Australia flight

Flying with kids

If you’re flying with a little one, here’s some things you might want to know to help make your journey as seamless as possible.

On this page
Fares
Travel documents
Baggage allowances
Onboard the flight
Children travelling alone

Overview

Please note that information on this page only applies to flights operated by Virgin Australia. For flights operated by other airlines, please contact the airline directly.

Infant Under 2 years old

Fare eligibility: Infant flight fare may be booked with or without an allocated seat.

Travel requirements: Must be accompanied by the parent/legal guardian^ or a passenger who is 15 years of age or over.

Only one infant may be booked to travel with each adult or guardian.

Travel assistance options: N/A

Child 2-4 years old

Fare eligibility: Child flight fare must be booked.

Travel requirements: Must be accompanied by the parent/legal guardian^ or a passenger who is 15 years of age or over.

Travel assistance options: N/A

Child 5-11 years old

Fare eligibility: Child flight fare must be booked.

Travel requirements: May travel alone under the Unaccompanied Minor program.

Travel assistance options: You must book your child as an Unaccompanied Minor if they are travelling alone or travelling in a different cabin class to their Parent/Legal Guardian.*

Young Person 12-17 years old

Fare eligibility: Adult flight fare must be booked.

Travel requirements: May travel alone.

Travel assistance options: You may book your child as a Young Person Travelling Alone.**

If your child is aged 12-15 years, you may request for Unaccompanied Minor assistance.*

^ Parent/legal guardian must be aged 13 years or over.
* Unaccompanied Minors can only be booked on Domestic or International Short Haul flights operated by Virgin Australia. Unaccompanied Minors cannot be booked on connecting flights.
** Young Persons Travelling Alone can be booked on all Virgin Australia flights including connecting flights.

Fares for infants and children

Find the cost of infant and child fares across our network in the table below. Fares must be booked based on the age at the time of travel. For example, if booking for a child who will turn 12 years old during the journey, the flight must be booked as an adult.

To book fares for infants and children, book online or call our Guest Contact Centre.

Cost of fare Infant
Not occupying own seat		 Infant
Occupying own seat^		 Child
Domestic Free Full fare Full fare
Trans-Tasman 10% of full fare* Full fare Full fare
International
Short Haul		 10% of the full fare* 75% of the full fare* 75% of the full fare*

^ For infants occupying their own seat, an approved child restraint system must be used. To book fares for infants occupying their own seat, please call our Guest Contact Centre.
* Excludes taxes, fees and surcharges.

Required travel documents

At check-in, you may be asked to provide proof of date of birth. Passports, extracts or copies of birth certificates and immunisation books are acceptable. 

For International flights, all passengers will need their own passport plus any visas or authorisation letters required by the destination country. Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs website for more information about required travel documents.

Baggage allowances for infants and children
 

Carry-on baggage

Infant

Adults travelling with infants are entitled to take an additional 7kg carry-on baggage free of charge for essential baby products, as listed below*.

  • Baby milk, including breast milk
  • Sterilised water
  • Juice
  • Baby food in liquid, gel or paste form
  • Disposable wipes

Child

Children are entitled to the same carry-on baggage allowance as adults.

Checked baggage

Infants and children are entitled to carry special items as checked baggage, free of charge, as listed below. If you're travelling with an infant, you may check in a 23kg bag as part of your special item baggage allowance (except where you are flying on an Economy Lite fare).

Fare type Infant
Not occupying own seat		 Infant
Occupying own seat^		 Child
Lite 3 special infant items^ 3 special infant items^
 2 special equipment items
Choice, Flex and Business 3 special infant items
 1 x 23kg bag
+
3 special infant items		 2 special equipment items

^ Checked baggage not permitted as a special infant item when an adult is flying on an Economy Lite fare.

Special items

Onboard the flight

To help make your journey as seamless as possible, guests may bring various devices and comfort items onboard the flight. See below for a list of approved items and restrictions.

Sleeping and support devices

Specific Assistance for children travelling alone

We’re here to look after our young flyers, which is why we provide assistance for Unaccompanied Minors and Young Persons Travelling Alone. Please refer to the table below for more information.

Unaccompanied Minor form
If you have made a booking for an Unaccompanied Minor, please complete our Unaccompanied Minor form for each Unaccompanied Minor travelling and present at the check-in counter. This form must be signed by the child’s Parent/Legal Guardian, which must match the details recorded in the booking.

Travel guidelines and fees

Independent travel criteria

Children travelling alone need to satisfy our independent travel criteria or they are required to travel with a carer. They will need to be able to perform the following tasks without assistance:

  1. Consume food and beverages (cabin crew can assist with opening packaging)
  2. Attend the toilet (including getting to and from the toilet onboard)
  3. Administer any medication (including Epi Pens)
    • Children travelling alone must be capable of self-administering their own medication. Our cabin crew are unable to administer medication. The necessary medications must be accessible in carry-on baggage.
    • Children travelling alone with any medical conditions that may affect their travel, must satisfy our Medical Clearance Guidelines (PDF, 331KB). 

Your child’s journey as an Unaccompanied Minor
 

At the airport

Photo identification is required from the person escorting the child on departure.

Online check-in is not available for Unaccompanied Minor bookings, so please leave enough time to check-in, clear security and get settled at the departure gate. We recommend being at check-in at least 1 hour before departure for Domestic flights and 2 hours for International flights.

Unaccompanied Minors travelling in Business Class will be able to check-in using the Priority Check-in desks. On Domestic Business Class flights, Unaccompanied Minors will also be offered lounge access if available at the departing airport, along with one guest who must be the nominated person escorting the child on departure.

Saying goodbye

The person escorting the child on departure must remain at the airport until the flight has departed and is in the air.

For Domestic flights: The Unaccompanied Minor can be escorted to the departure gate.

For International flights: Ground staff will escort the Unaccompanied Minor through security and to the departure gate for handover to cabin crew. 

In-flight

We try to seat Unaccompanied Minors together near the Cabin Crew work areas. We also aim to seat Unaccompanied Minors next to a vacant seat, however this will be determined on the day of travel.

There is a variety of in-flight entertainment options, as well as a range of food and drink choices available for purchase from the Onboard Menu. Only credit or debit cards are accepted for in-flight purchases.

Saying hello

Unaccompanied Minors will be escorted to the arrivals area by Ground Crew. For international flights, this includes assistance through Customs, Immigration and baggage collection.

Photo identification is required from the person meeting the child on arrival. This must be identical to the name on the Unaccompanied Minor form. If photo identification is not available, then three other forms of identification must be provided (e.g. Medicare Card, credit card, debit card).

If the Unaccompanied Minor is not collected, at the destination, attempts will be made to contact the person designated to meet the child at arrival, the person who escorted the child at departure or the child’s Parent/Legal Guardian. If this attempt is unsuccessful, the Police will be contacted for the safety and welfare of the child.

Your child's journey as a Young Person Travelling Alone

No additional assistance is provided, except in the event of a flight disruption. If your child’s flight is cancelled, our Cabin Crew and Ground Crew will know to keep an eye out and provide supervision at the diversion port.

We will do our best to accommodate them on another flight to their destination and if this is not possible, we will:

  • Arrange overnight accommodation including transfers
  • Always provide supervision, including in hotel accommodation
  • Provide food and beverage
  • Provide the parent/legal guardian frequent updates

To ensure your child is assisted in the event of a flight disruption, please make a booking for Specific Assistance.