This is a non-exhaustive summary of the safety rules and considerations that Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited applies to the carriage of disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility.

Virgin Atlantic's priority is to always ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers during their journeys. To do this, we encourage passengers who may need assistance during travel to contact us well in advance of their date of travel to enable us to assess their needs, make suitable arrangements and ensure that relevant information is transmitted to relevant third parties, such as a destination airport.

The final and overriding decision on any safety issue relating to carriage of any passenger on an aircraft always rests with its Captain.

Travelling with Carers
Virgin Atlantic will require a passenger to travel with a carer if such passenger is not self-reliant. Self-reliance is measured using the criteria set out in the Access to Air Travel for Disabled People: Code of Practice published by the UK Department for Transport ("Guidelines").

The passenger must be self reliant by reference to all of the categories below. If not, he or she must be accompanied by a carer who must be capable of providing the assistance required.

The Guidelines state that a passenger:

• must not be reliant on supplementary oxygen, except in circumstances where the passenger can demonstrate that he or she is capable of fitting the nasal cannula without assistance.
• must be capable of moving from seat to an on-board wheelchair unaided.
• must be capable of using toilet facilities unaided or have other arrangements in place which are acceptable to the Airline.
• must be capable of feeding unaided or have other arrangements in place which are acceptable to the Airline.
• must be capable of administering medicines and medical procedures unaided.

The decision about whether a passenger must be accompanied by a carer will be made by the Airline (or in the case of Virgin Holidays, the Customer Care Department) when the passenger makes his/her disability known to us. Reasons (written if requested, and provided within 5 days) will be supplied to the passenger where a decision is made that he or she must be accompanied by a carer.

Medical Clearance to Fly
Virgin Atlantic imposes the following requirements on all passengers:

• Prior to boarding, a passenger must be satisfied that he/she is medically fit to fly.
• No medical examination is necessary unless the passenger has any reason to suspect or ought reasonably to know they have a medical condition that may be exacerbated by the normal operation of an aircraft or could cause difficulty if access to medical help is not available before the end of the flight.
• If in doubt, the passenger is obliged to seek professional medical advice before flying and to produce evidence of fitness to fly if required by us to do so. This usually takes the form of a letter issued by the passenger' own physican.

The Airline reserves the right to seek further comfort if there is concern about any medical letter submitted to the Airline.

If doubt still remains over a passenger's fitness to fly, the Airline' Special Assistance Dept (or in the case of Virgin Holidays, the Customer Care Department) will decide whether to accept a passenger for travel. Such a decision may be made in conjunction with the Airline doctor and Medaire (a specialist external medical advisory service which provides advice to airlines).

Medaire will assess a passenger's condition based on the information given and will determine the nature and severity of the situation and make a recommendation as to whether a passenger is fit to fly or not.

Blind or Visually Impaired Passengers
Passengers who are blind or visually impaired do not need to travel with a carer unless they cannot meet the criteria set out in the Guidelines. Travel with an assistance dog is permitted (subject to certain conditions).

Passengers who are deaf or have impaired hearing
Passengers who are deaf or who have impaired hearing do not need to travel with a carer, unless they cannot meet the criteria set out in the Guidelines.

Passengers with Learning Difficulties travelling alone
Virgin Atlantic will seek the advice/clearance for such a passenger to travel alone from the Airline doctor and/or Medaire.

Carriage of Assistance Dogs
Virgin is part of the PETS Scheme run by DEFRA and permits the carriage of assistance dogs in the cabin on flights between London and East Coast American destinations.

Any assistance dog must meet the criteria set out by the Department of Health as well as other requirements details which are available from the Airline. Any assistance dog that does not meet the requirements may be carried in the aircraft hold (subject to certain conditions).

Emergency Exits
The following passengers may not be seated at an exit door where they could obstruct emergency exits, impede the crew in their duties, obstruct access to emergency equipment or hinder aircraft evacuation:

• Persons whose mobility is reduced by reason of physical or intellectual disability including passengers whose hearing or sight is impaired;
• Persons whose physical size would prevent them from being able to move quickly.

Note: Persons who have reduced mobility who would hinder the speedy evacuation of themselves and other passengers should there be an emergency, cannot be carried in the upper deck of a B747 aircraft.

Limitation on Numbers
Unaccompanied, non-ambulatory passengers will be assessed and cleared in advance of travel and aggregate numbers of such passengers per flight will be limited according to the aircraft type as follows:

• B747: 10 per flight (carriage on main deck only)
• A340-300: 6 per flight
• A340-600: 8 per flight

Battery Operated Wheelchairs
Battery operated wheelchairs are not permitted to be carried or stowed in the cabin but will be carried in the aircraft hold providing the battery is packed in an appropriate manner and complies with the ICAO Dangerous Goods Regulations. Wheelchair weight, dimensions and battery type must be advised to the Airline 48 hours in advance of travel.

Essential Medical or Life Support Equipment
Virgin Atlantic cannot accept medical equipment which requires a mains supply that uses onboard power as this can have adverse safety/medical consequences. Virgin Atlantic may carry such medical equipment if it is powered by a battery pack.

The carriage of such equipment is subject to 48 hours advance notice and Airline clearance. Such equipment can include dialysis machines.

Essential Medical Supplies
Subject to Airline requirements and applicable local law, supplies to cover 2-3 day may be carried in the cabin, with the remainder in the hold

July 2007