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.
Overview
| Infant Under 2 years old |
Child 2-4 years old |
Child 5-11 years old |
Young Person 12-17 years old |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fare eligibility | Infant flight fare may be booked with or without an allocated seat. | Child flight fare must be booked. | Child flight fare must be booked. | Adult 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. Only one infant may be booked to travel with each adult or guardian. |
Must be accompanied by the parent/legal guardian^ or a passenger who is 15 years of age or over. |
May travel alone under the Unaccompanied Minor program. | May travel alone. |
| Travel assistance options | N/A | 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.* | You may book your child as a Young Person Travelling Alone.** If your child is aged |
|
^ Parent/legal guardian must be aged 13 years or over. |
||||
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 | Child |
|---|---|
Adults travelling with infants are entitled to take an additional 7kg carry-on baggage free of charge for essential baby products, as listed below*.
|
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
-
What is a special equipment item?
- Pram/stroller
- Portable cot
- Car seat
- Baby capsule
*Please note that special items and essential baby products are not restricted to the above.
-
What is a special infant item?
- Pram/stroller
- Portable cot
- Car seat
- Baby capsule
- 1 x 23kg checked bag (If the adult travelling with the infant (either infant with or without a seat) has purchased an Economy Lite fare, then the infant special item of one checked bag will be excluded as a 'special infant item' that can be carried without charge).
*Please note that special items and essential baby products are not restricted to the above.
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
-
Kids sleeping devices
Happy tots mean happy parents, which is why Virgin Australia allows the use of certain guest comfort devices on our aircraft – including Plane Pal, Fly Tot and JetKids BedBox.
Comfort items are included in your 7kg hand luggage allowance.
If you are using a comfort device onboard your flight, please ensure the following guidelines are met.
- You are responsible for device set-up and use.
- The device may only be set up once the seatbelt sign is switched off and must be stowed securely during taxi, take-off and landing.
- If inflatable, the device valve must face the aisle for easy inflation and deflation.
- Whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated, children must be seated with a seatbelt fastened and infants must have an infant seatbelt fastened or be secured in a fixed bassinet.
- Children must be secured with their head towards the back of their own seat and their feet facing forward.
- The use of the device must not affect the comfort of other passengers.
- No device may be used that requires attachment to any part of the aircraft for structural stability.
Example of use on Boeing 737 or smaller aircraft:
-
Bassinets, car seats and child restraint systems
Child restraint systems (CRS)
Virgin Australia accept the carriage of selected child restraint systems (CRS), including car seats and harnesses, onboard the aircraft subject to satisfaction of the below requirements.
Approved support devices designed to provide upper postural support for a guest with disability can be found on our mobility assistance page.
To be considered for travel, all other CRS that aren’t classified as an approved support device must be certified for carriage in the aircraft by meeting one of the below labelling/marking requirements and also the Car Seat Acceptance Criteria below. Wording on labels must be consistent with wording outlined below.
Comply with Australian design standard AS/NZS 1754: 2013 and onwards
- Be permanently and legibly marked AS/NZS 1754 and bear the label ‘This child restraint system meets the standard for use in aircraft as recommended by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia and the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.
- Car seats that comply with Australian design standard AS/NZS 1754 and which bear the approved label for fitment in an aircraft (see below) can be installed on Virgin Australia aircraft with only the use of the aircraft seat belt.
Approved Label for Aircraft Use
*May be certified for Forward or Rear facing use, Forward only use or Rear facing only use.
- Car seats that comply with Australian design standard AS/NZS 1754 which do not bear the approved label for fitment in an aircraft are currently unsuitable for carriage on Virgin Australia aircraft, as they require a top tether in addition to the fastened lap belt to secure the three-point attachment.
Comply with United States FAA design standard FMVSS No. 213
Have two markings: 'This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards' and in red lettering: ‘This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft’.
Be approved under United States FAA process TSO-C100b
Be permanently and legibly marked ‘TSO-C100b’.
Be approved under United States FAA process 21.305(d)
Be clearly marked showing FAA approval under 21.305(d) and bear the label ‘FAA Approved in Accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d)’.
Be approved under United Nations ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) Regulation No. 44
- Be clearly marked with a circle around the letter ‘E’ followed by the distinguishing number of the country which has granted approval.
- Be clearly marked with the approval number showing version ECE R44/03 or ECE R44/04.
Be clearly marked with a label showing the CRS has been certified to CMVSS 213 or 213.1
- Rear-facing restraint systems are certified to CMVSS 213.1.
- Forward-facing restraint systems are certified to CMVSS 213.
- Convertible restraint systems are certified to both CMVSS 213 and 213.1.
Car seat acceptance criteria
In addition to the above, car seats must meet the following criteria prior to being considered for travel:
- Be designed so they can be secured with a fastened to the aircraft seat with a seat belt only
- Not exceed a width of 44cm (17 inches)
- Be designed to restrain the weight of a child using the device, which unless others specified on the label is 9kg or less for rear facing restraints and 18 kg or less for forward facing restraints
- Must be in good condition, showing no signs of damage
- Have a single release that secures and releases your child’s seat belt, torso and shoulder straps. The car seat must be sufficiently secure so that the child cannot easily undo the strap
- Be quick and easy for the parent/guardian to secure and remove the child
- Have a solid back and seat
If accepted for carriage, car seats must also be:
- Fitted to the aircraft seat by parent/guardian
- Must not impede guest access to aisle or exit routes (this includes protrusion over the seat cushion edging)
- Seat allocated according to airline seating rules
-
Pre-approved support devices
Virgin Australia does not provide, but permits use of the selected Support Devices onboard for infants, children and guests with disabilities.
Pre-approved devices have been tested for fitment and safety compliance within the aircraft for use during flight. These devices must have the original label intact and must be used in accordance with operating instructions.
The Pre-Approved Support Devices are approved for use in most seats, pending legislative and fitting limitations. Additional information regarding pre-approved devices and seating requirements can be found in our Pre-Approved Support Devices List (PDF - 37KB).
See more information on support devices on the Kids Fly Safe website.
Talk to Us
If you are planning to travel with a Support Device onboard a Virgin Australia flight, we encourage you to contact our Guest Contact Centre at least 24 hours before departure.
At the Airport
A visual assessment of all devices will be conducted at check-in and onboard. All labels, supporting paperwork and operating instructions must be clearly visible and available for inspection by Virgin Australia staff, at all times.
Our priority is the safety of you, your family, our guests and crew. If it is determined that a particular device does not meet our requirements it must be carried as checked baggage.
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.
| Overview | Unaccompanied Minor | Young Person Travelling Alone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | May be booked on Domestic or International Short Haul flights operated by Virgin Australia. Cannot be booked on connecting flights. | May be booked on all Virgin Australia flights including connecting flights. | ||
| Your child's journey | Your child will be escorted to the aircraft by Ground Crew, supervised on board the aircraft by Cabin Crew and then released into the care of the person nominated on the Unaccompanied Minor form. | Your child will only be supervised in the event of a flight disruption. | ||
| Age of passenger | 5-11 years old - Must be booked as an Unaccompanied Minor 12-15 years old - Optional to be booked as an Unaccompanied Minor or an adult |
12-17 years old - Optional to be booked as a Young Person Travelling Alone |
||
| Fees | Pre-booked Unaccompanied Minor fees per child | Airport Unaccompanied Minor fees per child | ||
| Domestic | 60 | 115 | ||
| International departing AU | 100 | 185 | ||
International departing from:
|
No additional fee. | |||
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:
- Consume food and beverages (cabin crew can assist with opening packaging)
- Attend the toilet (including getting to and from the toilet onboard)
- 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
Saying goodbye
In-flight
Saying hello
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.