Virgin Australia Wheelchair Policy and Special Assistance Guide

Flying With Your Wheelchair on Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia recommends that you request assistance as early as possible, preferably when making your booking, in order to ensure the best possible experience. Please be prepared to provide your wheelchair’s dimensions and weight when booking to ensure that Virgin Australia can accommodate you. 

In most cases, you will be able to remain in your own wheelchair from check-in through to the boarding gate, however some circumstances may require you to check your wheelchair at the desk. In these cases, Virgin Australia will provide you with an airport wheelchair and ensure you have assistance to the boarding gate. [AMZ asins='B07YNFD9LJ,B01L28ANI2,B074MW1MTW,B00RKJUPS6']

Virgin Australia recommends that you arrive at check in at least 60 minutes before departure for domestic flights, and at least 2 hours before departure for international flights. They also recommend that you arrive at your boarding gate no less than 30 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights, and no less than 60 minutes prior to departure for international flights. 

Wheelchair Size Limits on Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia operates five types of aircraft with varying wheelchair dimensions limits on each. You can find your aircraft type on your itinerary or ticket.

Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 - 84 cm tall, 100 cm wide, 125 cm long

F70 and 7100 - 65 cm tall, 100 cm wide, 125 cm long

Saab 340B - 130 cm tall, 85 cm wide, 115 cm long

Battery Operated Mobility Aids on Virgin Australia

If your battery operated wheelchair conforms to dangerous goods regulations, you can check it for travel in the cargo hold. Virgin Australia accepts non-spillable, dry-cell, and lithium-ion batteries for transport. 

Lithium Ion Battery Regulations

If easily removed from your wheelchair, the battery must:

- Have terminals protected/insulated to prevent short circuiting
- Be placed in a protective bag or pouch to prevent damage
- Be transported with  you as carry-on baggage

Lithium ion-batteries must not exceed 300Wh (for a single battery) or 160 Wh each (for two batteries)

If not easily removed from your wheelchair, the battery must:

- Remain securely attached to the wheelchair
- Have terminals protected to prevent accidental activation

Dry Cell Battery Regulations

If easily removed from your wheelchair, the battery mus be packaged in a strong, firm container with the terminals isolated/protected to prevent short circuiting – this packaging must be provided by you.  This package must be transported in the cargo hold.

If not easily removed from your wheelchair, the battery must remain securely attached to the wheelchair, but have its terminals protected to prevent accidental activation of the wheelchair

Requesting Wheelchair Assistance at the Airport when Flying with Virgin Australia

In some cases, Virgin Australia may be able to offer you assistance from the curb – this is contingent on the availability of staff and wheelchairs at the airport. You must be accompanied by a companion who is able to tell Virgin Australia staff that assistance is needed at curbside. 

You are also able to request airport assistance when you make your reservation by using one of the following codes: 

WCHR - You require assistance from check in to the top of the jet bridge or bottom of aircraft steps, but you can go up and down stairs on your own. You are able to navigate the cabin of the aircraft to and from your seat. 

WCHS - You require assistance from check in to the door of the aircraft, whether that be at the bottom of the jet bridge or the top of aircraft steps. You are not able to navigate stairs unassisted, but you are able to get to and from your seat on the aircraft. 

WCHC - You require assistance from check in directly to your seat on the aircraft. You cannot navigate stairs unassisted, will require transfer assistance into and out of the aircraft. 

Virgin Australia also has both manual and electric wheelchairs available for use in the airport – however, the electric wheelchairs are not designed to be self propelled and are primarily used to assist passengers to your seat on the aircraft. 

Wheelchair Contact Information for Virgin Australia

You can contact Virgin Australia by calling 13-67-89 from within Australia, 0800-67-0000 from New Zealand, or 61-7-3295-2296 from anywhere else in the world. Alternatively, you can use the General Enquiries form found at https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/help/contact-us/reservation-enquiries/

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