Virgin Australia Unaccompanied Minor Policy

Virgin Australia takes every precaution to make sure children have a safe flight and is extremely concerned about their safety. The Virgin Australia unaccompanied minor policy is open to guests between the ages of 12 and 14 years. 

Please note flight bookings with an Unaccompanied Minor on another carrier’s route will not be accepted by Virgin Australia. 

In this post, we will understand all the booking restrictions and guidelines for the parents/passengers who want to book unaccompanied minor travel, the travel related to it, and more.

Guidelines for Virgin Unaccompanied Minors

VA only accepts a small number of reservations for unaccompanied minors (UMNR) on Virgin Australia Domestic and International Short Haul flights. The reason is to provide the highest degree of care. In addition, the following restriction would be applied to all reservations for unaccompanied minors.

• UMNRs are not allowed to travel on international long-haul and codeshare flights.
• The Unaccompanied Minor must be able to independently travel and meet all safety and comfort requirements.
• Any youngster traveling alone, aged 5 to 11, who is not yet 12 years old, must be booked as an unaccompanied minor (UMNR).
• Any youngster between the ages of 12 and 15 may travel as an Unaccompanied Minor provided the parent/legal guardian requests it.
• If a kid between the ages of 5 and 11 attempts to travel unaccompanied and has not been booked as an unaccompanied minor. In those cases, the airline reserves the right to deny travel until it receives all necessary information about the child’s travel arrangements.
• Virgin Australia unaccompanied minor booking can only be reserved in certain classes. For Premium Economy it is O, R, W, and P. For Business Class it is I, D, C, J, and Z.
• UMNRs are only available on direct flights with no connections.
• If UMNRs are to be booked on two or more consecutive single-sector flights traveling on the same day in a single PNR, the flights must be booked individually rather than as a connecting trip. Further, there must be:
  • A connection of minimum of 1hr and 30mins is required so that UMNRs can pick up their luggage and check in once again.
  • A responsible adult designated by the parent or legal guardian will pick up the UMNRs at each transit port and escort them to their next flight.
• Parents/legal guardians must be nominated in the Virgin unaccompanied minor form for check-in as well as for picking up.
• Any person nominated who is 18 years of age or older may send or receive messages on behalf of a minor. 
• Unaccompanied children traveling in Business Class or Premium Economy on International Short Haul flight will be eligible to use the Priority Check-In desks. 
• Unaccompanied minors will also be granted lounge access on domestic business class flights, along with one guest who must be their parent or legal guardian and must be present until after the flight has taken off.

Identification required for Parents/Guardian at the airport

At check-in and pick up, the parents must produce one form of picture ID. In addition – 

• Parents can also produce their Medicare or credit card if the photo IDs are not available. 

• Identification showing proof of age for the unaccompanied minor will be requested at check-in (Birth Certificate/Birth Extract/Passport). 
• An ID photocopy is allowed. 
• Medicare cards and other IDs that don’t clearly show the child’s proof of age won’t be accepted.

Virgin Australia ID Requirements

Please ask a Virgin Australia Customer Service Agent when you get to the airport for details on drop-off and pick-up for unaccompanied minor travel. Your child will be given a badge to wear on the journey, and you will put together a packet of boarding passes and identification for them to use while traveling. The accompanying adult must present the following information at check-in:

• a photo ID (license, passport, etc.)
• Address (as shown on ID)
• Parents/Legal Guardian contact information
• Name, location, and contact information for the adult who will meet the unaccompanied minor at their destination.

Virgin Australia Unaccompanied Minor Fee

Virgin unaccompanied minor fee would be charged per flight segment, per passenger. Below is the list of fees which varies with the country of origin – 

Please note – Unaccompanied minor fee is non-refundable upon cancellation of booking. 

Virgin Australia Unaccompanied Minor Form

Please download the Unaccompanied Minor form for your child and hand the completed form in at the check-in desk to ensure that the airlines have all the information they need on the day of travel.
You can download and fill out the Unaccompanied Minor (UMNR) form in advance of your trip for your convenience.

How to book an unaccompanied minor flight with Virgin Australia?

You can request for unaccompanied minor booking via the airline’s website. Just make sure to choose the appropriate traveler age group. 

You can also call the VA Customer Service Phone Number to book the flight for minors. Call to check eligibility and make a reservation for an unaccompanied minor in order to make sure the trip is legal and properly documented. In addition – 

• Share contact info – During the booking process, you will tell Virgin Australia who will be dropping off and picking up your children from the airport. 
• Seat selection – Because airlines want to ensure that your children receive the care they require, the airline will choose the seats for minors within 72 hours of completing the booking.

Boarding and Takeoff for Unaccompanied Minors

A parent or designated accompanying adult must accompany the unaccompanied minor to the departure gate and remain with them until the flight takes off. In addition – 

• A safety assistant would be provided if the minor is connecting through another flight.
• Virgin Australia suggests that youngsters sit in the back of the plane near a flight attendant for safety.

Safety Assistance for Unaccompanied Minors with Virgin Australia

The airline offers a personal escort or a safety assistant who will travel and accompany the minor at every step of their journey. As per the Virgin Australia unaccompanied minor policy, the safety assistance would be provided under the following circumstance – 

• A safety assistance must accompany children under 12 who have a pre-existing medical condition or have severe allergy.
• The safety assistance assigned by the airline would be 16 years or older.
• The assistance would be capable of providing the medication. 
• Children between the ages of 12 and 16 must be competent to recognise their own symptoms and provide any necessary medication/treatment

Unaccompanied children traveling in Business Class or Premium Economy on International Short Haul flight will be eligible to use the Priority Check-In desks. Unaccompanied minors will also be granted lounge access on domestic business class flights, along with one guest who must be their parent or legal guardian and must be present until after the flight has taken off.

Picking Up Unaccompanied Minors

To receive the child, parents/legal guardians must show a valid ID and have their signature recorded. The parents would be issued a gate pass. Parents/accompanying adults must arrive at the destination airport two hours prior to the scheduled arrival time. Please be aware:

• The accompanying adult must contact Virgin Australia with any changes pertaining to the pickup person at the destination airport.
• The Virgin Australia representative will speak with the original accompanying adult to confirm the identity of the pickup person at the destination if someone other than the person specified at check-in is there to pick up the minor upon arrival.
• The person picking up the unaccompanied minor at the destination must obtain a gate pass.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Virgin Australia Minor Policy