Travelling with a carer

Qantas values our customers with specific needs, including customers with disability.  Your safety and comfort is important to us and we have independent traveller requirements for all of our customers.  If a customer does not meet the independent traveller requirements, they will need to travel with a carer who can assist them. 

To be able to travel independently, (without a carer), you must be able to do all of the following without assistance:

• self-toilet and manage personal hygiene care; and
• eat and drink during the course of the flight (if needing or wanting to do so); and
• administer any medication, or carry out routine medical procedures and correctly use any medical equipment during the flight. A medical clearance form (PDF) should be completed if there is any uncertainty about medical needs inflight; and
• self-transfer or be transferred by our staff using our approved transfer methods, when moving between mobility aids and/or the aircraft seat (these may include Eagle Hoist, sling and/or slide board).

To travel independently, you should also be able to:

• comprehend the passenger safety briefing and/or safety card; and
• communicate with crew members, using your preferred method (including verbal electronic means, communication boards, sign language, lip reading or using diagrams). 

If a customer does not meet all of the independent traveller requirements, they will need to travel with a carer or carers who do meet the independent traveller requirements.  

Carers must travel in an adjoining seat in the same class of service (ie, if customer is in economy class, then the carer needs to travel in economy class).  

Carers need to be self-reliant, and both mentally and physically able to assist the customer with the above support as well as: 

• toilet and sanitary requirements both on the aircraft and on the ground
• inflight and ground emergencies
• check-in, carry-on baggage and equipment
• medicating and medical procedures
• eating and drinking
• immigration and customs procedures
• boarding and disembarkation
• communicating the needs or preferences of the customer if the customer cannot do so themselves.

If you require assistance while travelling and are accompanied by a carer, you may be eligible for reduced fares for both passengers when travelling on Qantas flights within Australia, and overseas flights departing from Australia, provided that you hold: 

• a current Australian Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) with blind entitlement, or
• a current travel pass for Pension with Vision Impaired issued by an Australian state or territory authority.

Details regarding Qantas Carer Concession Card applications, renewals and available discounts for eligible travellers can be found on the People with Disability Australia (PWDA) website, by calling them on 1800 422 015 (toll free within Australia) or by emailing: qccc@pwd.org.au.