Special Services

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Unaccompanied children

1. Where can I apply for the unaccompanied children service?
Please apply for the unaccompanied children service at the local Air China office in the flight departure city.

2. Is there a limit on the number of infant passengers allowed on each flight?
To ensure flight safety, each aircraft on each route has a specified regulation regarding the number of infant passengers to be allowed on the flight. If you plan to fly with a baby, please notify us about the baby at the time of ticket booking or seat reservation to avoid any flight delays that might result from exceeding the number of infant passengers allowed per flight. We will issue a ticket for you and your accompanying baby as long as doing so complies with the corresponding flight limits on baby carriage.

3. What is the procedure for requesting an infant cradle?
For routes other than Sao Paulo, passengers requesting an infant cradle should go to Air China's designated ticket offices in the departure city at least 48 hours prior to their flight departure time to request a cradle; For the Sao Paulo route, passengers should go to Air China's designated ticket offices at least 72 hours prior to their flight departure time to request a cradle. Remember to bring all travel documents for the adult passenger and the infant when you purchase tickets. Because the number of aircraft with cradles is limited, advance consultation with an Air China business department representative is recommended.

4. Age limit of "Unaccompanied Minors"
"Unaccompanied minors" refers to children between the ages of 5 and 12 who board the plane without adult accompaniment (those who are at least 18 years of age, with full ability for civil conduct). If your child is over 12 years of age but under 18, you may voluntarily apply for the unaccompanied minor service. Currently, Air China does not operate the Unaccompanied Minor service on connecting flights, so if the itinerary includes connecting or return flights involving other airlines, please contact the actual carrier.

5. What is the service charge for the unaccompanied children service?

• International and regional routes
  A service fee of RMB 260 or equivalent currency will be charged for each unaccompanied child on a one-way direct flight.
  
  
• Domestic routes
  Unaccompanied children who are above the age of 5 and under the age of 12 will not be charged a service fee. Unaccompanied travelers who are above the age of 12 and under the age of 18 will be charged a service fee of RMB 200.
  For groups of two or more unaccompanied children traveling together, only one service charge will be applied for each one-way trip.

6. What documents need to be provided when requesting the unaccompanied children service?
To apply for the unaccompanied children service, you will need to provide your identification and passport as well as the travel documents for your child. You will also need to provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons who are bringing your child to the airport and picking your child up from the airport so we can contact them.
 
7. What documents need to be provided if my child is flying by himself/herself?
Your child should have all valid travel documents including tickets, receipts and the application for the unaccompanied children service. Please be sure that all of the documents are safely packed with your child's hand luggage.

8. How does Air China assist my child during check-in and security?
During departure and arrival, we will appoint a special ground handling person to assist your child with all check-in procedures, customs, security checks and baggage retrieval. The special ground handling person will also look after your child and their travel documents while waiting for the flight. Once on the plane, we will send your child to the chief purser who will make sure the flight is enjoyable for your child.

9. What services does Air China provide to my child to ensure security when a flight is cancelled or delayed?
If the flight is delayed, we will appoint someone to look after your child and arrange for accommodations and transportation if needed. We will also contact the person picking up your child and any other Air China departments that might be affected. If the flight is cancelled, we will contact you and return your child safely.

10. How does the person picking up my child at the destination meet my child when the plane arrives?
We will inform the person picking up your child of all flight information in advance. When the flight arrives, we will appoint someone to meet your child and complete all arrival formalities with the chief purser. Once the person picking up your child shows proper identification, a ground handling person will release your child.

 

Disabilities

1. How far in advance do I need to contact Air China if I need stretcher service?
Please contact Air China at least 72 hours before the flight departure if stretcher service is needed.

2. What are the regulations for transporting a wheelchair?
Both manual and electronic wheelchairs are transported as checked baggage. They qualify as free checked-baggage so they are not included in baggage allowance limits. If a wheelchair is needed during check-in and has been given the consent of Air China, it will be delivered at the departure gate before boarding.

If an electronic wheelchair is checked, the packing should be as follows:

• Wheelchair with leak-proof battery – Ensure the battery does not have a short circuit and it should be securely installed on the wheelchair.
• Wheelchair without leak-proof battery – The battery should not be installed on the wheelchair and should have protective packaging. It should be leak-proof and fixed with a belt, fixture or bracket on the pallet or in the cargo compartment. Ensure the battery does not have a short circuit and it is filled with suitable absorption material to absorb any leaked liquid.
• The packing will be marked as either “BATTERY, WET, WHEELCHAIR”, or “BATTERY, WET, WITH MOBILITY AID”. Additional labels will be added saying “CORROSIVE” and “UPWARD”.

3. How do I order a wheelchair?
Please contact Air China at least 24 hours prior to the flight departure if you need a wheelchair for any part of your trip. If you need an on-board wheelchair, please contact Air China at least 36 hours prior to flight departure. Please arrive at the airport two hours before departure to allow sufficient time for completing check-in procedures Please note that there is no charge for wheelchair services.

WCHR refers to wheelchairs provided to passengers who are able to board and disembark aircraft independently, walk to their seats in the cabin and require assistance only between terminal buildings, tarmac and aircraft.

Applicants for WCHR please register with the ticketing office of Air China (including sales agents) within the prescribed time limit:

• For US flights, please apply no later than 48 hours before scheduled flight departure.
• For international and regional flights other than the US, please apply no later than 72 hours before scheduled flight departure.
• For domestic flights in China, please apply no later than 24 hours before scheduled flight departure.

 

Pregnant Women

1. Can pregnant woman fly with Air China?
Women who are under 32 weeks pregnant can travel as a regular passenger unless they are advised by a doctor not to travel. Women who are over 32 weeks and under 35 weeks pregnant, require a medical certificate that is issued within 7 days prior to departure.

Air China does not allow women on flights in the following circumstances:

• Over 35 weeks pregnant
• Within 4 weeks of delivery
• Less than 7 days after delivery

 

Special Meals

1. May I order special meals on Air China flights?
Yes. A variety of special meals are available on Air China flights. The choice of special meals is shown here. You may request a special meal when you are booking online, or you may contact a local Air China office. Please note that all special meal requests require a minimum 24 hour notice prior to flight departure. (Exception: Kosher meals require 72 hours notice prior to departure.)

2. How long before my flight do I need to contact Air China if I need a special meal?
Please contact Air China at least 24 hours prior to departure if a special meal (other than a kosher meal) is needed. We do not accept requests for special meals within 24 hours of a flight’s departure time.

3. How long before my flight do I need to contact Air China if I need a kosher meal?
Please contact Air China at least 48 hours prior to departure if a kosher meal is needed. We do not accept requests for kosher meals within 48 hours of a flight’s departure time.

4. If flying on a code-share flight or a charter flight, should the passenger contact the actual carrier or the code-share carrier to request special meals?
For charter flights and code-share flights operated by any Air China code-share partners, passengers should contact the actual carrier to request special meals and must follow the special meal standards of the actual carrier. For charter flights and code-share flights operated by Air China with code-share partners' codes, Air China will confirm special meal requests in accordance with Air China's rules for special meals, if the passenger made the special meal request at the time of booking.

5. How many special meals can one passenger request for one flight?
Each passenger may request only one special meal per flight. In cases of passengers flying with a baby, in addition to the special meal for you, you can also request one baby meal (BBML) for the infant passenger included in your reservation record.