Virgin Australia Flying and Travel Policies for Expectant Mothers, Infants and Children

Virgin Australia is Australia’s second-largest airline and directly serves 29 cities in Australia with hubs at Brisbane Airport, Sydney Airport and Melbourne Airport. Here’s a summary of Virgin Australia’s pregnancy, infant and children travel policies.

*This is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most up to date airline policies. For specific questions on traveling with children on Virgin Australia, please click here or contact the airline directly.

Expectant Mothers

Many women fly while pregnant and have no difficulties. If you are pregnant and intend to fly we recommend that you discuss your travel plans with your doctor before you fly – particularly during the later stages of pregnancy.

If you are 28 weeks pregnant or more, you will be required to carry a letter from your doctor or midwife, dated no more than 10 days prior to travel, outlining the estimated due date, single or multiple pregnancies, the absence of complications, and your fitness to fly for the duration of the flight(s) booked.

We require you to travel with medical clearance during pregnancy if the following applies:

Medical Clearance Required

Any pregnancy with complications will require medical clearance
Within 5 days of normal vaginal delivery (Exclusion: caesarean)

Unacceptable for travel

Flights greater than 4 hours

Single pregnancy – after the 36^th week
Multiple pregnancy – after the 32^nd week
Within 48 hours of delivery Normal Vaginal Delivery (NVD)

Flights less than 4 hours

Single pregnancy – after the 38^th week
Multiple pregnancy – after the 36^th week
Within 48 hours of delivery Normal Vaginal Delivery (NVD)

Infants (under 2 years old)

Virgin Australia does not allow infants under three days old to fly.

Any guest 23 months or younger is classed as an infant, and must be accompanied by a guest 15 years of age and over, or the parent/legal guardian – who is 13 years of age and over.

Infants travel free on our domestic and international short haul service; and at 10% of the fare (excluding taxes, fees and surcharges) on our international long haul service – but only if they do not occupy a separate seat.

If you wish, you may purchase a seat for your infant for extra comfort. This seat will be charged at a child’s seat rate: of 75% of the fare (excluding taxes, fees and surcharges) on our international long haul service; and at full price on our domestic and international short haul services.

Children (2 to 11 years old)

Any guest over 2 years of age, who is not yet 12 is classed as a child and must occupy a seat with their own ticket.

Children (between 2-11 years of age), in addition to the checked baggage allowance, are permitted one car seat or booster seat per child as checked-in baggage, free of charge and irrespective of weight.

Baggage Allowance for Infants

Guests travelling with an infant may carry-on an extra bag containing articles for use in the cabin such as nappies or baby food.

Specific infant equipment can be carried free of charge on Virgin Australia domestic flights. All other infant baggage is included as part of the parent’s/guardian’s baggage allowance.

Items of specific infant equipment include, but are not restricted to:

Pram/stroller
Portable cot
Car seat
Baby capsule

Bassinets and baby car seats cannot be taken aboard Virgin Australia flights. Infant restraint belts are available on all aircraft and must be worn by infants on take-off, landing, during turbulence and whenever the seat belt sign is illuminated.

Strollers, Bassinets and Child Restraint Devices

Strollers:

One infant stroller and one infant or child safety seat can be checked for each fare-paying guest at no charge. We do not allow strollers in the cabin of the aircraft but you may check strollers planeside at the boarding gate for no additional charge.

Bassinets:

To facilitate the comfort of your infant, bassinets are available onboard our international long haul flights and domestic flights operated by A330 aircraft – subject to availability. Our bassinets are designed for infants only, and size and weight restrictions, as recorded in the tables below, apply.

Bassinets are limited, so please request a bassinet for your infant at the time of booking. Pre-allocation of bassinets is on a first come, first served basis.

Bassinet dimensions are as follows:

Bassinet Dimensions	International Long Haul	A330 Aircraft
Maximum	Centimetres / Inches	Centimetres / Inches
Length	74.8cm / 27.5 inches	75cm / 29.5 inches
Width	36cm / 14.2 inches	34cm / 13.4 inches
Height	22.5cm / 8.85 inches	22.4cm / 8.8 inches

Infant Weight Restrictions
Maximum	Kilograms / lbs	Kilograms / lbs
Weight	18kg / 40lbs	11kg / 24lbs

Child Restraint Devices:

Virgin Australia accept the carriage of selected child restraint systems (which include car seats and harness type restraints) onboard. Approved CRSs must be certified for carriage in an aircraft and meet the acceptance criteria described below.

Note: To be considered for travel, a CRS must meet one of the below labelling/marking requirements stipulating that it meets the below standards. Wording on labels will be consistent with wording outlined below.

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

Note:

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 lap belt only
Not exceed a width of 40.6cm (16 inches)
Be designed to restrain the weight of a child using the device – which unless otherwise specified on the label is 9kg or less for rear facing restraints and 18kg or less for forward facing restraints
Must be in good condition, showing no signs of damage
Have a single release harness that secures your child’s lap belt, and torso and shoulder straps – it cannot be unreasonably easy for children to undo
Be quick and easy to secure or remove your 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

Important Information: Australian Design Standard As/NZS 1754

Seats that comply with Australian design standard AS/NZS 1754 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.

Australia is one of a few countries with the requirement for a three point attachment and compulsory bolt/anchorage in vehicles to attach car seats. These bolts are not part of an aircraft configuration; therefore, without an approved modification Australian standard car seats currently cannot be secured to our aircraft seats.

CARES Child Restraint

Virgin Australia does not provide, but permits use of the CARES Child Restraint onboard for infants and children. This device must have the original label intact and must be used in accordance with operating instructions.

The CARES restraint is approved for use on aircraft and is manufactured by leading aviation restraint manufacturer AMSAFE.

Special Services

Cabin crew will heat bottles and assist you with preparing and washing bottles or pacifiers. There are no private areas set aside for breastfeeding, but you are welcome to feed your baby in your seat.

Baby-changing tables are available in selected onboard washrooms. For your own comfort and the comfort of fellow guests, we ask that you use these facilities rather than change your baby at your seat.

Virgin Australia Pregnancy, Infant and Children Travel Policy