Passengers that are children for the outbound and adults for the inbound?

[Ansettaddict123]

Hey everyone, just come across a little quirk booking flights for new years.
Looking at some flights where kids are involved and the children in question turn 12 during the trip, the day before the return leg. Whats the Virgin policy on this with regards to booking as an adult/ child?
2 sets of credit card charges isnt desirable so wondering if we could plead ignorance because its so close?

Cheers,
AA123

 

[JessicaTam]

Hey everyone, just come across a little quirk booking flights for new years.
Looking at some flights where kids are involved and the children in question turn 12 during the trip, the day before the return leg. Whats the Virgin policy on this with regards to booking as an adult/ child?
2 sets of credit card charges isnt desirable so wondering if we could plead ignorance because its so close?

Cheers,
AA123

I am not sure of the actual answer, but it could be argued that they were <12 at the start of the journey (booking) and so that is what you booked them in as.

 

[anat0l]

Having trouble finding the answer myself. Using the search function on VA's website yields this page:

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children

Any Guest over two (2) years of age but is not yet twelve (12) is classed as a child and must occupy a seat with their own ticket. A child must travel with a Guest who is 15 years of age and over or the parent/legal guardian who is 13 years of age and over.

Children may be required to show proof of age at check-in, at which time the evidence must be presented on request. The child’s valid passport and/or travel documents will fulfil this condition.

A child must be able to sit upright unaided in the seat purchased, with the seat belt adjusted securely without slack around the waist.

A child fare is valid for the entire return journey as long as the child is under 12 years of age on the date of the forward journey. A return child fare is still valid, even if the child turns 12 years of age after the forward journey, but before the return journey.

Basically, I think you're in the clear - even if a child turns 12 after travel has commenced, the ticket will still be valid for travel (within the validity of the ticket).

Qantas has a similar policy which I had to use their FAQ to find the answer for: https://qantas.custhelp.com/app/ans...sion/L3RpbWUvMTM4MDIxNTkyNi9zaWQvNE5EdUppQmw=

Question
What conditions surround travel with children and infants on Qantas?

Answer

A child is a passenger aged between 2 and 11 years inclusive. An infant is a passenger aged up to 23 months inclusive.

If your child turns 12, or your infant turns 2, after travel has commenced, Qantas will allow you to use the ticket at the reduced fare within its validity. For other carriers, we recommend that you check their policy before booking.

A couple of caveats. One is that you should check the operating airlines involved in a booking, as it is likely their policy and not the ticketing or marketing carriers' that will apply (in any case, it's a "cover bases" check; as it stands, I'd like to think the policy is fairly "consistent" - the only time airlines may vary policy greatly is if the child is travelling alone).

The second is that depending on the kind of travel, there may not be any fare difference between adult and child fares (e.g. domestic, international Business Class), but booking for children will afford them things like child meals, etc.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Having trouble finding the answer myself. Using the search function on VA's website yields this page:

Enable Cookies | Virgin Australia

Basically, I think you're in the clear - even if a child turns 12 after travel has commenced, the ticket will still be valid for travel (within the validity of the ticket).

Cheers anat0l, we ended up booking them as adults in the end to be safe, but there's no fare difference domestically anyway as you also pointed out, crisis averted!