Travelling with Children

Infants

Air Vanuatu defines an infant as any child under 2 years old.

Baggage allowance:

The amount of baggage you can check-in is printed on your ticket. You can verify online at Manage My Booking. Baggage allowances for infants may vary depending on your destination but include an additional collapsible stroller or push-chair or car seat capsule which is free of charge. Please contact the airport check-in staff to verify and apply the waiver. The number of strollers allowed onboard depends on the number of infants or children travelling.

Use of Strollers

Staff will be on hand at the boarding gate ready to collect the stroller and place it on a separate compartment in the aircraft. Item shall be returned during the disembarking process.

Child Car Seat and Child Restraint Systems:

If you do plan to use a car seat, we recommend you contact Air Vanuatu Reservations to make your booking and no later than 7 days prior to travel, as you will need to reserve and purchase a separate seat and receive pre-approval for your device at least 24 hours before departure. You are required to present your device to our airport check-in staff on the day of travel.

If your travel includes airlines other than Air Vanuatu, you will need to contact those airlines directly to gain approval to use your device, and other airlines may have different rules and requirements.

Seating

All infants booked online are booked without a seat and must travel on the lap of the adult travelling with them.

• Air Vanuatu International operates a Boeing 737-800 aircraft to/from Australia, New Zealand and Vanuatu, which does not have bassinets onboard. We do make every effort to provide a spare seat providing additional room, however this is subject to availability and is at the discretion of the Air Vanuatu duty representative.
• Infants pay 10% of the adult applicable fare and do not receive a seat.
• Each infant under 2 years of age must be escorted by a separate adult.
• For safety reasons only an adult can hold or nurse an infant onboard our flights.
• Children's booster seats can not be used onboard our aircraft.
• Infants must hold a passport for travel.

Convertible In-flight beds for children

For your child’s safety, the convertible in-flight beds may only be used at window seats. Your child must also be able to fasten the seatbelt under his or her arm when using the in-flight bed.

Infants are not permitted to use a convertible in-flight bed.

To ensure safe use of convertible in-flight beds for children (over 2 years) they :

• Must be packed and securely stowed in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front during taxi, take off and landing
• Cannot be used at the emergency exit rows
• Must not interfere with or prevent the seat in front from reclining
• Must not damage the aircraft seat if they need to be attached to any part of the seat
• Cannot be combined so as to allow two or more convertible in-flight beds to occupy several seats

Kids Meals are available on our International flights from: Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji to / from Vanuatu. Make your request at the time of booking your flight or contact Air Vanuatu. The meals are designed for children aged between 2-10 years.         

Infant meals are available onboard our International flights, please make your request at the time of booking.

Security Screening

Please refer to the Department of Transport website for Liquids Gels and Aerosols requirements and exemptions CLICK HERE

Unaccompanied Children

• In order to offer the best possible care for your child, we will need for you to provide information including: contact details of guardians at both ends of the journey. Your Air Vanuatu Sales Consultant or Travel Agent will provide you with relevant forms that you will need to complete.
• You are required to fully complete an Air Vanuatu Unaccompanied Minor form and present at the airport check-in.
• Your child will be escorted by either Air Vanuatu staff or our appointed ground handler through security, passport control and on to the aircraft, where they will be monitored by our cabin crew through to their destination.
• On arrival your child will be escorted from the aircraft, through the arrival formalities and handed to the person you have nominated on your form.
• When a child is travelling with his/her parent on the same flight but on a different class of service the child will be considered as an unaccompanied  minor.

Children Travelling with a different surname

• Customs and Immigration recommended that passengers travelling with a child under 18 years of age who has a different surname, carry a consent letter that is 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.

Luggage

• Children are permitted the same amount of luggage as adults, infants receive 10kgs.
  Air Vanuatu luggage allowance.

At the Airport & Boarding

• We suggest families allow plenty of time to get to the airport and for passenger processing i.e. check-in, security, Customs / Immigration.
  Air Vanuatu International check-in counters open 2 1/2 hours prior to the published departure time, New Zealand is 3 hours. International flights close strictly 60 minutes prior to departure.
  
  Domestic opens 90 minutes prior and closes 20minutes before departure.
• Families with young children will be invited to board first to allow plenty of time to make their way to the aircraft and get settled onboard.

Inflight

• Our International flights have a flying time of 2-4 hours, we offer AV1 entertainment onboard our flights to/from Australia and New Zealand. You can bring your own electronic entertainment device due to the limited selection we have on offer. Please remember that the use of electronic devices must not be operated in preparation for landing and take off.

Please contact your nearest Air Vanuatu office for more information on Travelling with Children.