Age rules when travelling with Infant on Virgin

[d-adamson]

Hi,

A quick question that I can't find an answer for on the Virgin Australia website

I'm looking to book a flight and travel with my infant daughter - Outbound flight is on February 1st and return is on February 28th, she turns 2 on February 15th

How do I book this return flight? Is she classed as an infant for the whole trip or only one way?

Is there a policy or something in writing I can reference?

Thanks is advance

 

[serfty]

This does not help much: Flying With Infants | Virgin Australia

Some airlines base it on age at date of travel for each segment, others do it based on age at date of travel on the first segment of a booking for the entire booking.

 

[williamsf1]

Hi,

A quick question that I can't find an answer for on the Virgin Australia website

I'm looking to book a flight and travel with my infant daughter - Outbound flight is on February 1st and return is on February 28th, she turns 2 on February 15th

How do I book this return flight? Is she classed as an infant for the whole trip or only one way?

Is there a policy or something in writing I can reference?

Thanks is advance

Is it a domestic or International journey ? this will make a difference... domestic are normally sold as one way fares where international are return

 

[Natalie_B]

Depending on the length of the flight, you may want to book your daughter as a child so she has her own seat as opposed to being on your lap for the whole flight.

 

[kamchatsky]

If it is domestic flight only then it should be OK as no one is gonna check infant's age. If it is international it is enforced as they would have checked the date of birth (passport) at checkin.

 

[d-adamson]

Is it a domestic or International journey ?

It's an international flight (paying with points)

 

[Quickstatus]

I would buy a return child fare for any infant on an international flight. Im assuming infant ticket means no seat - "lap-baby"

Reasons:
You may request a bassinet but not get it. Imagine a full flight with no bassinet.
If the seat belt sign comes on inflight you will be required to take infant out of bassinet (even though infant has just settled)
A child seat will entitle you to the luggage allowance of that seat, and extra space to put said infant.

If you are a 2+1 travelling party this is another option:

Check you have a row of 3 on the flight
Buy 2 Adult seats and one infant ticket
Also buy an "extra seat" sometimes known as a "comfort seat"
Make sure airline puts the extra seat between the 2 adult seats
This can only be done via TA or phone airline

The infant ticket would put you in request queue for basinet row. The "extra seat" will entitle you to the luggage allowance for that seat but the usual taxes and surcharges are not attached because technically no one is seated in that extra seat. You might find that the infant seat cost is similar to the taxes that would otherwise be paid.

 

[Natalie_B]

I expect that your child will be too big for the bassinet. Most max out at 11 kg but there are a few airlines that go slightly higher. From experience a child of that age will not want to stay in a bassinet even if they fitted. Plus even if you request a bassinet, you'll lose it to anyone with a small baby.

Unless you are traveling from the east coast to NZ/Fiji etc, I'd be getting an extra seat, purely for the extra comfort of everyone in your party.

 

[smatho10]

I expect that your child will be too big for the bassinet. Most max out at 11 kg but there are a few airlines that go slightly higher.

Yes I agree - Ms smatho10 was 10 months old in a bassinet on a NZ773 and she just fit - and I describe her as average size...

As you would probably going to experience - 2 year olds aren't going to be sitting on your lap for a while, let alone for 17 seconds, especially with a lap belt around them...