Virgin Australia infant and child policy: lap infants, strollers and kids flying alone
A guide to Virgin Australia's infant and child policies. Find rules on lap infant fares, baggage allowance for baby gear, and options for kids flying alone.
Virgin Australia offers some helpful policies for families, including free travel for lap infants on domestic flights and a generous free checked baggage allowance for up to three infant items. For international flights, a lap infant fare is a percentage of the adult ticket price.
| Topic | What Virgin Australia says |
|---|---|
| Who counts as a lap infant | An infant is defined as being under 2 years old. They must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or by another passenger who is at least 15 years of age.Source |
| Lap infant, domestic flights | On domestic flights, an infant not occupying their own seat travels for free.Source |
| Lap infant, international flights | For an infant not occupying a seat, the fare is 10% of the full adult fare, excluding taxes, fees, and surcharges, on both Trans-Tasman and International Short Haul flights.Source |
| Baby in its own seat | For an infant occupying their own seat, the fare is the full adult fare on domestic and Trans-Tasman flights, and 75% of the full fare on International Short Haul flights. An approved child restraint system must be used.Source |
| Lap infant limits | Only one infant is permitted per adult or guardian. The accompanying person must be a parent or legal guardian aged 13 or over, or another passenger who is 15 years of age or older.Source |
| Stroller | A pram that exceeds carry-on dimensions can be checked at the gate for free. Guests are also entitled to check up to three infant items free of charge as checked baggage.Source |
| Service optional for | For children aged 12-15 years, you may request Unaccompanied Minor assistance.Source |
| Flights allowed | Unaccompanied Minors can only be booked on domestic or international short-haul flights operated by Virgin Australia and cannot be booked on connecting flights.Source |
Lap infants and infant fares
On Virgin Australia, a child under 2 years old is considered an infant. On domestic flights, your infant can travel on your lap for free. For Trans-Tasman and International Short Haul flights, the fare for a lap infant is 10% of the full adult fare, excluding taxes, fees, and surcharges. Only one infant is permitted per adult.
If you prefer to buy a seat for your infant, you will pay the full adult fare on domestic and Trans-Tasman routes, or 75% of the full fare on International Short Haul flights. An approved child restraint system is required for an infant in their own seat.
“Infant Under 2 years old
Fare eligibility:
Infant flight fare may be booked with or without an allocated seat.
Travel requirements:
Must be accompanied by the parent/legal guardian
^
or a passenger who is 15 years of age or over.”Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Infant – Not occupying own seat
Domestic:
Free”Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Infant – Not occupying own seat
…
Trans-Tasman:
10% of full fare*
International Short Haul:
10% of the full fare*
…
* Excludes taxes, fees and surcharges.”Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Infant – Occupying own seat^
Domestic:
Full fare
Trans-Tasman:
Full fare
International Short Haul:
75% of the full fare*
^ For infants occupying their own seat, an approved child restraint system must be used.”Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“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.
…
^ Parent/legal guardian must be aged 13 years or over.”Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Newborns and proof of age
Virgin Australia may ask you to show proof of your child’s age at check-in. The airline’s page lists passports, copies or extracts of birth certificates, and immunisation books as acceptable forms of documentation. It is a good idea to bring one of these with you to the airport.
The information we reviewed does not specify a minimum age for a newborn to fly, so we suggest you confirm this policy with the airline if you are planning to travel with a very young baby.
“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.”
Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Strollers and car seats
You can check up to three infant items for free as checked baggage. If your pram is too large for carry-on, you can check it at the gate at no charge. This is in addition to the three free checked infant items.
Virgin Australia accepts select child restraint systems, such as car seats and harnesses, for use on board the aircraft. The airline’s page states these must meet its requirements, so it is best to ask about your specific device when you book.
Full details, with the airline’s own wording: Virgin Australia car seat and stroller policy.
“If the pram exceeds the above dimensions, it can be checked free of charge at the gate. Guests are still entitled to check up to three infant items free of charge as checked baggage.”
Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Kids flying alone
Virgin Australia has different rules for children flying alone based on their age and travel route. For children aged 12 to 15, you can request Unaccompanied Minor assistance. This service is only available on domestic or international short-haul flights operated by Virgin Australia and cannot be on connecting flights.
Teens aged 12 to 17 may travel alone without this service as a ‘Young Person Travelling Alone’. This option is available on all Virgin Australia flights, including connecting flights. For Unaccompanied Minors, a form and photo ID for drop-off and pick-up are required.
“If your child is aged 12-15 years, you may request for Unaccompanied Minor assistance.*”
Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Unaccompanied Minors can only be booked on Domestic or International Short Haul flights operated by Virgin Australia. Unaccompanied Minors cannot be booked on connecting flights.”
Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“The Unaccompanied Minor form must be filled out for your child to travel and presented to a Virgin Australia team member in the bag drop area. Photo identification is required from the person escorting the child on departure and from the person meeting the child on arrival.”
Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
“Young Person 12-17 years old
…
Travel requirements:
May travel alone.
Travel assistance options:
You may book your child as a Young Person Travelling Alone.**
…
** Young Persons Travelling Alone can be booked on all Virgin Australia flights including connecting flights.”Official wording, virginaustralia.com, checked Oct 21, 2026
Related pages
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