Note:
Air
New Zealand Tasman and Pacific flights are services
between New Zealand and Australia, Norfolk Island,
Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Fiji.
Seating for Children and
Infants
An article in
the New Zealand Herald, Wednesday 27 January, 2010,
told of a mother with her 18 months old twin girls
being unable to board her flight bound for Australia
because she was travelling alone with children under
the age of two. Below are the some airlines policy
with regards to infants (children under 2 years of
age).
Jetstar: Under-2s must
be accompanied by an adult over 15 years old and are
required to sit on an adult's knee during takeoff
and landing.
Qantas: Infants who do
not occupy a separate seat are carried for 10% of
the applicable adult fare. Each infant under 2 years
must be accompanied by a separate adult. Children
over 2 years must occupy a separate seat. All
children and infants must have their own tickets,
whether or not they are occupying a separate seat.
For additional information about travelling with
your children on Qantas
click here.
Air New Zealand policy:
Children under the age of 2, not occupying a seat
and accompanied by an adult, may travel on an infant
fare. A child travelling on an infant fare must be
held by the accompanying adult. For safety reasons
an adult can hold only one infant, and children
under the age of 15 may not hold infants.
Additional information about Air
New Zealand's policy:
If you are the only adult travelling with more than
one infant you will need to reserve a seat for the
additional infant and pay a child's fare (available
for children up to and including 11 years of age).
The additional infant must be restrained in an
approved infant car seat, which you must provide.
The age of a child that can be restrained in a car
seat is up to 4 years, provided the child does not
exceed the weight limit for the restraint system of
the car seat.
The car seat must have its own inbuilt restraint
system and be of a type approved for use in motor
vehicles. Please refer to the chart below. It must
also be in good, safe working condition and should
not exceed the given dimensions.
Please note: the Business Premier lie-flat seat is
sideways facing therefore the seatbelt has an airbag
in it. This means infant car seats are not able to
be used in the Business Premier lie-flat seats on
our refitted B747 and B777 aircraft as it would
impede the deployment of the airbag in the event of
an emergency. Infants under the age of 2 years are
still able to be seated on their parent/guardian's
lap and will be provided with a specially designed
infant's seat belt which will not inhibit the safety
features of the airbag seat belt.
Bassinets
Bassinets - up to 8 months old
(International only)
On international fights, bassinets may be installed
on Air New Zealand Boeing 747, 777 and 767 and
Airbus A320 aircraft. Currently there are no
facilities for bassinets on board B737 aircraft.
These bassinets are designed for infants of average
size up to 8 months old. The bassinets are made up
with sheets, a pillow and blankets.
There are only a limited number of bassinet
positions on any aircraft so it is important to
request a bassinet seat when making your booking. If
you are travelling Business Class on an A320
aircraft, please be aware that currently there are
no facilities for bassinets. Please note that
because the bassinets are designed for infants up to
8 months old (and weighing a maximum of
11.8kgs/26lbs), pre-allocation of bassinet seats is
only available for infants up to that age on a first
come, first served basis.
Bassinets - between 8 months and
15 months (International only)
If you are travelling with an infant aged between 8
months and 15 months (and weighing a maximum of
11.8kgs/26lbs), a bassinet seat may be allocated to
you if one is available at the time you check in on
the day of travel.
Children's Meals (International only)
Special meals for children (suitable for children
aged 2-5) and for infants are available on Air New
Zealand long-haul flights including services to and
from Perth, Noumea and Papeete and must be requested
through their contact centre or your travel agent at
the time of booking. Where possible, the cabin crew
serve children's meals before serving adults, so you
can feed your child before relaxing and enjoying
your own meal.
Children and infant meals are no longer available on
Tasman or Pacific services (except for services to
and from Perth, Noumea and Papeete). Please note
that meals are not available on Air New Zealand
Domestic New Zealand services.
You're welcome to bring your own pre-packed snacks
for your children, however Air New Zealand Cabin
Crew are unable to refrigerate, heat or add water to
any food items you bring on board. Air New Zealand
crew are happy to prepare, heat and wash bottles
whenever needed. Please remember that all food taken
on board must be either eaten or destroyed prior to
landing in another country due to quarantine
regulations. Air New Zealand can also cater for
children with special dietary needs on long-haul
flights including flights to and from Perth, Noumea
and Papeete.
On Air New Zealand long-haul flights (including
Perth, Noumea and Papeete), disposable diapers,
drinking cups and formula are available.
Pre-prepared baby food is also carried on board. Due
to limited aircraft space, only a small amount of
these products are loaded for emergency use.
Children
Travelling Alone
Children may travel unaccompanied, provided the
child does not require additional care such as
toileting, feeding or administering of medicine. If
you are concerned that your child has a medical
condition that may be affected by the flight please
seek medical advice. Air New Zealand staff will do
all they can to ensure a safe and comfortable
journey however they cannot administer medication or
be responsible for ensuring your child takes
medication at a specific time.
For
their safety children travelling in a different
cabin to their caregiver are required to be
classified as unaccompanied minors.
For
travel from 01 Sep 09 Air New Zealand will only
permit unaccompanied minors on Air New Zealand
operated flights. Please contact the operating
carrier for travel on another carrier including
Air New Zealand codeshare flights.
Unaccompanied Minor Travel Procedure
An
Unaccompanied Minor will be escorted by Air New
Zealand airline staff from check-in to their seat on
the aircraft. If travelling on an international
flight, the child will be escorted and assisted
through the departure formalities of passport
control, and security screening to the departure
gate.
At
the departure gate the Unaccompanied Minor is
escorted onto the aircraft, introduced to the cabin
crew who then assist the child to their seat.
Supervision and assistance will also be provided if
your child is making connecting flights on the same
day. This applies to transit stops less than two
hours on domestic services and for same day
connections on international services. On arrival
your child will be escorted from the aircraft,
through the arrival formalities and handed to the
person you have nominated.
In
order that we can take the best possible care of
your child, you will need to provide information
including contact details of guardians at both ends
of the journey and for any person meeting your child
at stopover points. Should any of these details
change it is important to let Air New Zealand know
prior to dropping off or picking up of the child.
You must complete an Unaccompanied Minor form
prior to check-in at the airport.
Children Travelling Alone
Please refer to
the Unaccompanied Minors Age Limits chart for
permitted Air New Zealand routes based on your
child's age on the date on commencement of travel.
Booking / Pricing
Travel as an unaccompanied minor is charged at the
best available adult fare. For travel within New
Zealand, Trans Tasman and within the Pacific islands
Unaccompanied Minors can be booked online. For other
destinations Air New Zealand's
Contact Centre is able to offer you the best
available adult fare at the time of booking. Travel
as an unaccompanied minor does not attract any
additional charges.
Groups of Children
School trips, sports tournaments, and family
reunions are just some of the occasions when groups
of children travel with Air New Zealand. Whatever
the reason, and whatever the size of the group, it
is always a very exciting adventure for children,
however, it is important that there is adequate
adult supervision to ensure their safety and
well-being.
For this reason, Air New Zealand strongly recommend
that there should be at least one adult for every
five children travelling.
Travelling
with Children with a Different Surname
Border authorities recommended that persons
travelling with a child (under 18 years of age) of a
different surname, carry a consent document or
letter (signed by both parents) as well as a copy of
the child's birth certificate, to prove that the
child has the permission of the absent lawful
parent(s) or guardian.
KidsPacks
Travelling is a wonderful experience to share with
your child. But we also know how tiring it can be
for your both. So we've developed an exciting Kids
Pack with a wide range of activities and
entertainment to keep the little ones occupied.
These specially designed packs feature native New
Zealand characters Kerry the Kiwi, Phizz the Fantail
and Ted the Tuatara, who help kids learn a little
about New Zealand in a fun way. The colourful bags
contain a range of items including an activity book,
colouring pencils, magic slate and stickers.
Please note that Kids Packs are not available on
Domestic New Zealand, Tasman or Pacific services
(except for services to and from Perth, Noumea and
Papeete).
The
safety of your children is Air New Zealand's first
concern when you are travelling with them. So it is
important that you follow any instructions from
their Cabin Crew.
Please also note that international safety and
hygiene regulations do not allow Cabin Crew to feed
children, administer medication, take children to
the toilet, change nappies, or allow children to run
through the aircraft.
While Cabin Crew cannot administer medication, they
do have eucalyptus sachets available to help
children suffering from ear-ache during take off or
descent. To assist your infant during take off and
landing we suggest you have a bottle to give your
baby to help their ears adjust to the change in air
pressure. Children do seem to be more susceptible
than adults to the changes in air pressure, and this
is especially so if they are suffering from a cold,
or have tonsil or adenoid problems. If your child
has these problems, it is advisable to see a doctor
before travelling.
Strollers
Infants are entitled to the same baggage allowance
as the accompanying passenger, including car seats
and strollers. Safety requirements mean that
strollers must be stowed in the overhead lockers of
the aircraft. If your stroller will not fit in an
overhead locker, it will need to be checked-in with
your other baggage. If the flight you are travelling
on is full, airport staff may request that your
stroller is checked-in.
On
Air New Zealand Link aircraft there is very limited
cabin stowage space so your stroller will need to be
checked-in.
On
Boeing 747, 777, 767, 737 and the Airbus A320
aircraft, strollers with a completely collapsible
frame and seating will fit in the overhead lockers.
Other strollers do not fit, including the
three-wheeled 'jogger' style and those which do not
fold inwards when collapsed.
OK on board
This style of stroller can be stowed in the overhead
locker of Boeing 747, 777, 767, 737 and A320
aircraft.
Must be checked-in
These larger styles of stroller do not fit in the
overhead locker of any aircraft and must be
checked-in with your baggage.
