Virgin Australia welcomes kids sleep devices on flights

With the rumbling of the engines, roaring of the aircraft tearing through the air, as adults, it can be tricky to get a decent amount of shut-eye on a flight. Well, imagine being a sensitive-to-sound, don’t-feel-like-sleeping-ever baby?!

Virgin Australia has listened to its (teeny-tiny) sleep-deprived passengers’ prayers. From today, Virgin Australia is permitting kids’ sleep devices, like bed boxes, leg hammocks and inflatable cushions, on its aircrafts.

Yep, the airline is allowing Plane Pal, Fly Tot and JetKids Bedbox on every fleet.

So, why are sleep devices for kids on airlines important? Well, essentially, these sleeping tools make flying much more comfortable for kids (and, consequentially, their parents). However, while Virgin Australia have allowed them (following extensive safety assessments, the airline assures), airlines including Qantas and JetStar continue to have their own sleep-device ban in place.

Here are the guidelines, direct from Virgin Australia:

Guest is responsible for its set up and use

The item may only be used in window seats of smaller aircraft and window or centre seats of middle block on Airbus A330 or Boeing B777 aircraft (see example diagrams below)

The item may not be used in emergency exit rows

The item must be stowed securely during taxi, take-off and landing, and may only be set up once the seatbelt sign is switched off

If inflatable, the valve must face the aisle for easy inflation and deflation

Child must be seated with seatbelt fastened, whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated

Infant must be secured with infant seatbelt, or in bassinet (if fixed), whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated

Child must be secured with their head towards the back of their own seat and their feet facing forward

Guest must ensure that use of the item doesn’t affect the comfort of other passengers

The item must not interfere with the seat in front, or prevent the seat in front from reclining

If attachment to any part of the aircraft is required in order to provide structural stability to the item, it is not permitted to be used as it may cause damage to the aircraft

There may be some seat rows where an item does not fit due to the configuration of some aircraft. In this case the item cannot be used