Here's what you need to know about our special fares for children, which seating aids are allowed onboard and info about bringing pushchairs and car seats with you.
Seats for children
How it works
Infants: We count any baby or toddler up to the age of 2 as an infant. Babies usually fly snugly in the comfort of your lap, so we only charge 10%* of the adult fare unless you’d like a seat for them.
You must be over 12 to accompany a lap infant, and it’s only one baby per lap please or it all gets a bit too wriggly. You can request a bassinet (more on that later), subject to availability.
Children: We count any young person between the ages of 2 and 11 as children. They will need to have their own seat, which means you'll need to book them onto your flight. You can do this online. We charge 25%* less than the adult fare for under 12’s
Young adults: We class children between 12 and 16 as young adults These fares don’t include APD (Air Passenger Duty), so are a bit cheaper.
If you'd like to book a seat for a lap infant, or for a child or young adult who is flying unaccompanied, then please contact us.
*Plus applicable taxes, fees, charges and carrier imposed surcharges.
Planning your seating
We need to make sure that each child in a car seat is supervised by a guardian aged at least 14 who is sitting right next to them. Each adult can travel with a maximum of two infants. If you’ve got two children in car seats, you’ll need to have them either side of you.
Special assistance
If you need special support seating for disabled children, take a look at our information on support seating.
Car seats
If you're travelling in Economy or Premium, you can bring your own car seat as long as it meets the standards below and you've booked a seat for it.
Booster seat
A passenger may bring their own booster seat on board provided it can be stowed in an approved stowage for taxi, take-off and landing and is not used when the Fasten Seat Belt signs are illuminated.
Travelling with a pushchair and car seat as baggage
You’re welcome to bring one fully collapsible pushchair and a car seat, in addition to your free checked baggage allowance.
Pushchairs can be checked in or used up until the boarding gate, after which they will be put in the hold. Once we land we’ll have your pushchair ready outside the aircraft doors, whenever possible. However, at some destinations you may have to reclaim it at the baggage hall, due to local customs restrictions.
Infant car seat requirements
An infant is a child less than two years old. (Children aged 2 and over are not permitted to use an Infant car seat onboard)
If you would like to use your own car seat, it must:
- Be designed to be secured by means of a normal aircraft single lap strap
- Have a separate 5-point restraining harness
- Not exceed the dimensions of the aircraft seat, and should fit into an area of 43cm x 43cm (17.ins x 17ins)
- Must be secured to its host seat at all times of the flight
- Must not require the use of a three-point harness to secure it to the aircraft seat.
- AFT facing car seats are not allowed
- If for any reason your car seat cannot be fully secured, it may have to be placed in the hold. In these circumstances, your infant will have to be secured to your lap whenever the seat belt sign comes on
The car seat must also display one of the following labels:
EU approved labelling
Approved for use in motor vehicles according to the UN standard ECE R 44, -03” or later
OR
‘Qualification Procedure for Child Restraint Systems for Use in Aircraft’ (TÜV Doc.: TÜV/958-01/2001)
FAA approved labelling
Approved for use in motor vehicles and aircraft according to US FMVSS No 213 and manufactured to these standards on or after February 26, 1985 ‘This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards.
This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft.’
Australia/New Zealand approved labelling
Australian Standard AS1754
New Zealand Standard NZS1354
OR
Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS1754
Canadian approved labelling
Standard CMVSS 213/213.1
Please note:
1. You may be asked to show the approval labelling to our ground staff and cabin crew, so please make sure you know where to find it.
2. You’ll need to show our cabin crew that you’ve fitted the seat securely and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. The seat must fit securely using a normal aircraft seatbelt, as unlike cars, we don’t have ISOFIX systems or seatbelts that are worn over the shoulder.
Premium and Upper Class
If you have a car seat, you may be aware that you can’t use them where airbags are fitted. As all of our Upper Class suites and the Premium seats on many of our aircraft have airbags you will be unable to use your own car seats.
Comfort aids and harnesses
Comfort aids and harnesses permitted for use onboard
The below devices are permitted to use for children onboard all Virgin Atlantic Aircraft. Any other devices that are not present on the list below are not permitted on board at any time.
- Burnett body support
- Travel chair
- Cares harness
- Infant seat belts - these will be provided by the cabin crew onboard your flight
- Car seats - these must meet certain requirements. Please read the below for more information
Comfort aids not permitted for use onboard
Comfort aids including, but not limited to, the items listed below are under no circumstances permitted onboard to protect the health and safety of our customers.
| Comfort Aid which is not permitted | Description of comfort aid |
| CoziGo | This is a canopy that is placed over an infant’s bassinet. |
| FlyTOT/Playing Pal | This is an inflatable cushion that can be placed in front of a seat to allow the infant/child to lay down. |
| Sky Baby Hammocks | This is a hammock for infants. |
| Bedbox | This is a suitcase that converts into a bed. |
| Fly Legs Up | This is a bucket type device for passengers to place their legs in as a leg rest. |
| JetKids Luggage pack | This is a suitcase that converts into a bed. |
| Kooshie Kids Blow-up Foot Rest | An inflatable foot rest that attaches to the seat in front and provides a foot rest for children. |
Cots onboard
Cots onboard
Refer to the tables below to help you understand cots for your baby or infant.
Economy and Premium sky cots
| Boeing 747-400 | Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330 | |
| Dimensions | 35cm wide x 21cm deep x 74cm long (13.8” wide x 8.3” deep x 29” long) | 28.6cm wide x 72.7cm long (11.25” wide x 28.6” long) |
| Maximium weight of baby | 9kg (19.8lb) | 11kg (24.25lb) |
| Maximium height of baby | 740mm (29”) | 760mm (30”) |
Upper Class sky cots
| Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330 | |
| Dimensions | 35cm wide x 24cm deep x 76cm long (13.8” wide x 9.4” deep x 29.9” long) |
| Maximium weight of baby | 11kg (24.25lb) |
| Maximium height of baby | 750mm (29.5”) |
Contact us
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