There are some medical conditions that may restrict travel or require clearance from a medical practitioner before a person can fly with Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue or Polynesian Blue.

Travel may be refused for persons with a relevant medical condition if our Medical Clearance Form has not been completed in advance.

• Please refer to our Medical Clearance Guidelines (PDF, 124k) to determine if you need to complete a Medical Clearance Form (PDF, 143k) prior to travelling with us.
• If you have experienced any of the medical conditions Considered Unacceptable for Travel listed in the Medical Clearance Guidelines, you may be unable to travel.
• If travel is intended while affected by Conditions Requiring Medical Clearance to Travel listed in the Medical Clearance Guidelines, clearance from a medical practitioner (registered doctor) must be obtained and the Medical Clearance Form or suitable letter will need to be completed and provided at check-in and onboard the aircraft.
• The Guidelines are not an exhaustive list of conditions. If you have had recent surgery or have an ailment that is not specified in the lists below that you feel may affect your travel, please consult a medical practitioner for travel advice and medical clearance.
• Please Note: A number of conditions (e.g. Heart attack) appear as Conditions Considered Unacceptable for Travel and Conditions Requiring Medical Clearance to Travel, depending on the time that has elapsed since experiencing the condition. Please check the medical categories in each list.
• If medical clearance is required, you MUST make your booking by calling our Guest Contact Centre (internet discount fare will be honoured).
  View a printable copy of our Medical Clearance Guidelines (PDF, 124k)

Important info regarding medical clearance:

• The Medical Clearance Guidelines (PDF, 124k) must be used in conjunction with our Medical Clearance Form (PDF, 143k)
• The code and category details of your condition are to be reflected on the Medical Clearance Form (PDF, 143k)
• If you present physically ill (e.g. vomiting or requiring first aid oxygen) in the terminal area or while boarding the aircraft, you may be denied boarding and not permitted to travel until medical clearance has been obtained
• Our aircraft are not equipped with medical equipment and our staff are not medically trained. We cannot in any circumstances guarantee that you will receive appropriate medical attention in any situation
• Our staff are not able to assist with the administration of medication or toileting needs under any circumstances and if you cannot administer your own medication or take care of your own toileting needs, you must travel with a companion who is able to provide this assistance
  

If travel is intended whilst affected by conditions requiring Medical Clearance to travel as listed in the Medical Clearance Guidelines, clearance from a medical practitioner (registered doctor) must be obtained and the Medical Clearance Form  or a letter from a medical practitioner will need to be provided at check-in and onboard the aircraft.

A letter from a medical practitioner must contain the following minimum information:

• The medical practitioner’s name
• The address of the medical practice
• The medical practitioner’s telephone number
• The category and condition as described in these guidelines
• The date of issue
• The period of validity of the clearance to fly and an end date of the clearance.

The Medical Clearance Form must be presented at time of check-in for review. Failure to carry Medical Clearance Forms or a letter from a medical practitioner may result in denied boarding.

A copy of the completed Medical Clearance Form or a letter from a medical practitioner is required for each flight and will need to be provided to cabin crew upon boarding, please photocopy prior to arrival at the airport.

There is no need to notify us in advance when travelling on one of our flights with Medical Sharps unless you suffer from a life threatening allergy.

Current aviation security measures allow you to take a sharp item such as a syringe or Epi-Pen into a security screened sterile area for personal medical purposes. When travelling on one of our flights with Medical Sharps please ensure that the following criteria are met:

•  If you have a medical condition which requires the use of medical sharps and/or if you have diabetes, you must be able to administer your own medication. Those who are unable to self administer medication, must travel with a Carer
•  If you require any medication during flight or in the airports, please remember to pack it in your carry-on baggage.
• You cannot take empty syringes in your carry-on baggage unless you are also carrying medication for use onboard.
• In the event that you require a sharp item to be taken onto our aircraft for medical purposes, for example a syringe for diabetes, you will need to provide at least one of the following for inspection at check-in, security screening and onboard the aircraft:
  • Corresponding Medication - Medication containers should be affixed with a pharmaceutical label clearly identifying the medication and your name. IMPORTANT: If you have an empty syringe, you MUST also have the corresponding Medication for that syringe. You cannot travel with empty syringes and no medication in the cabin; OR
  • Documentation - in the form of a letter from a qualified medical practitioner. Please note that there are no minimum validity date requirements for this letter i.e. you do not need to obtain regular updates of the letter from your doctor as you can use the same letter regardless of the date of travel; OR
  • A National Diabetes Services Scheme card - issued by Diabetes Australia which confirms that you have been diagnosed with diabetes. For international travellers – an internationally recognised diabetes identification card or wrist tag will be acceptable; OR
  • Prescription - the prescription must contain the name of the patient, the name of the medication or supply, and contact information for the medical practitioner.

Note: Medical Scissors are permitted if they have blunt/round ends with a blade less than 6 cm in length.

If your medication needs to be kept chilled, please seek advice from your pharmacist. You will need to provide a suitable container with the cooling agent (ice or dry ice) inside. Our staff cannot take care of medication or store it in aircraft cooled service carts.  Our aircraft do not have refrigeration on board. Please refer to our Dangerous Goods Regulations for guidelines on the transport of dry ice.

If you have an allergy that results in Anaphylaxis you must make your booking through our Guest Contact Centre (internet discount fare will be honoured)

A medical clearance form, a letter from a medical practitioner or a management plan signed by a medical practitioner is required if a passenger
believes they suffer this condition and they do not have the appropriate medication.

Please be aware of the following prior to travel:

• Medical clearance will be required by persons who believe that they have this
  condition but are not in possession of appropriate medication for treatment, a
  letter or management plan from their medical practitioner  (Please note that there is no minimum validity date required for this clearance, that is, the Guest does not need to obtain regular Medical Clearance from their doctor as they can utilise the same Medical Clearance regardless of the date of travel).
• Failure to carry either appropriate medication, a management plan signed by a medical practitioner, a letter from a medical practitioner or a Medical Clearance Form (PDF, 143k) may result in boarding being denied.
• Appropriate medication must be carried on board for any life-threatening allergy.
• We cannot guarantee that our aircraft are free of nut products or other allergens onboard.
• Food sold onboard the aircraft may contain traces of nut products and other allergens. In light of this, you may prefer to bring your own food on board for consumption.
• We are unable to prevent other Guests from carrying on board (and consuming) nut products and other allergens.
• Our aircraft are only superficially cleaned during the daily schedule and it is therefore possible that residue from nut products or other allergens will be present in the cabin from Guests on previous flights.
• In no circumstances do we accept any responsibility for any adverse reaction you may suffer while flying.

If you require supplementary oxygen or use a portable oxygen concentrator in-flight you must make your booking through our Guest Contact Centre (internet discount fare will be honoured) as restrictions apply. You must supply your own oxygen or concentrator from selected suppliers.

Prior to travel please be aware of the following:

• You must present a Medical Clearance Form (PDF, 143k) validated by a qualified medical practitioner indicating your fitness for travel in accordance with our Medical Clearance Guidelines (PDF, 124k) (Please be aware that there is no minimum validity date required for a medical clearance form related to Oxygen).
• Failure to carry a Medical Clearance Form (PDF, 143k) may result in denied boarding.
• Except for medical emergencies, our Cabin Crew cannot provide in-flight medical treatment.
• You or your Carer must know how to operate the oxygen bottle or oxygen concentrator and ensure that there is sufficient oxygen or battery life for the duration of the flight.
• Refer to individual conditions of carriage for travel with supplementary oxygen bottle or portable oxygen concentrator, depending on your preferred method of oxygen onboard.

Supplementary Oxygen Bottle (Domestic & International)

• The only three acceptable oxygen bottles which can be used on board Virgin Blue flights are:
  • BOC (Australia or New Zealand)
  • Air Liquide; (within or departing Australia) OR
  • Linde (within or departing Australia)
• The oxygen bottle must be a Type A or Type C, weighing no more than 5 kg, with a maximum capacity of 490 litres.
• It must be carried in a BOC Gases OxyCare or Air Liquide Oxycare travel pack, and the travel pack must contain the restraint strap to secure the oxygen bottle to the aircraft. Should you require personal in-flight oxygen, it can be pre-booked from one of the 3 companies mentioned above, and can be delivered or you can personally pick it up.
• Should you require personal in-flight oxygen, it can be pre-booked from one of the following companies, and you can have it delivered or you can pick it up:
  • BOC (Australia)
  • BOC (New Zealand)
  • Air Liquide (Australia)
  • Linde Gas (Australia)

In Addition, for International Guest’s;

• We currently do not have an oxygen supplier in the Pacific Islands.
• Some companies do not allow hired oxygen bottles to be taken out of the country. You must arrange this with the oxygen company prior to travel. Some companies also do not allow their bottles to be re-filled by any other company, in any other country. In this case, Guests may need to supply enough oxygen for the return flight (if applicable). Extra oxygen tanks for the return flight must be carried as checked baggage.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator (Domestic & International)

Conditions of Carriage

• The only three acceptable oxygen concentrators, which can be used onboard Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue flights are:
  • Inogen One
  • Airsep Lifestyle
  • Airsep Freestyle
  • Ever Go
• You must provide your own oxygen concentrator.
• Your oxygen concentrator should no be used at over 80% for day-to-day use or the device will not be sufficient for air travel and you will need to travel with a supplementary oxygen bottle.
• The concentrator must adhere to cabin baggage size and weight restrictions.
• The device must be battery operated. Virgin Blue aircrafts are not fitted with a power port.
• Only two additional lithium batteries (plus the one already stored in the oxygen concentrator) may be taken on board.

• Please note that due to safety requirements and aircraft configurations, we are unable to carry or transport humidicribs or stretchers. We are also unable to accommodate devices requiring external electrical power. Devices requiring an internal electrical power source must meet the applicable standards for carriage of Dangerous Goods.
• Our aircraft are not equipped with medical equipment and our team members are not medically trained. We cannot in any circumstances guarantee that you will receive appropriate medical attention in any situation.
• You may use your own nebuliser onboard the aircraft if it is battery powered only.
• Stretcher cases – our aircraft are unable to accommodate you if you require a stretcher.
• Strict safety regulations govern the operation of electronic devices on board any of our aircraft. Heart pacemakers and hearing aids are permitted.
• Medical equipment must be approved for carriage prior to travel via the Guest Contact Centre.

If you are travelling with medical equipment, please contact our Guest Contact Centre to make your booking.