Carriage of Passengers with Special Need
I. Important Notice
Travel Notices
There are currently no types of self-service check-in portal (including self-service check-in through the official website / mobile app / WeChat public account of Xiamen Airlines, as well as airport self-service check-in kiosks) available to passengers with special needs and other authorized passengers who have obtained relevant certifications for check-in from another certifying party and are eligible to board flights (including but not limited to VIP passengers, passengers with illnesses or disabilities, disabled or injured military personnel and police officers, pregnant women, infants, unaccompanied minors, passengers requesting in-flight baby bassinet service, personnel from OPOs responsible for carrying and transporting donated human organs, and as suspects or prisoners and their escorts). For such passengers, please bring your valid ID document and all other required certifications provided at the time of your ticket purchase and directly check in at our check-in counter at the airport.
Flight Irregularities
Xiamen Airlines will endeavor to transport passengers and baggage in accordance with the flight schedules effective on the day of travel. However, if there are any involuntary changes to your flight (other than temporary flight changes on the day of travel), we may not be able to guarantee the availability of the special services you previously requested.
If you still need our special services, please contact a ticket office of Xiamen Airlines or call the Xiamen Airlines 24/7 Service Hotline (95557) to request the service again. The result of your request is subject to our approval.
Restricted Carriage
Passengers who require special care or assistance during travel as a result of specific physical or mental conditions or who are eligible to board flights only under certain conditions (including infants, pregnant women, passengers requesting in-flight baby bassinet service, unaccompanied minors, passengers with illnesses or disabilities, personnel from OPOs responsible for carrying and transporting donated human organs, and suspects or prisoners and their escorts) may board flights only if they meet the specific requirements of Xiamen Airlines and other relevant carriers for in-flight travel, they have obtained prior approval from Xiamen Airlines and such relevant carriers, and all necessary and appropriate arrangements have been made beforehand.
For safety reasons, Xiamen Airlines is entitled to limit the number of such passengers for restricted carriage (or service) on each flight. Such passengers shall request approval for boarding in advance when making seat reservations or purchasing tickets.
Scope of Request for Special Services
Xiamen Airlines only accepts requests for special services made by passengers who hold tickets validated by Xiamen Airlines (ticket number beginning with 731) and provided on flights operated by, and with flight numbers beginning with MF.Special services are not available on code-share flights.
If you purchase any interline or round-trip tickets involving airlines other than Xiamen Airlines, or if your tickets are issued by other airlines, please contact those carriers to proceed with the relevant procedures.
For passengers with disabilities, Xiamen Airlines will make every effort to assist you with your request for special services on your connecting flights. However, the result of your request for such special services will be subject to the response of the operated carriers involved.
Medical Certificates / Proof of Diagnosis
1. Xiamen Airlines reserves the right to request that passengers who meet at least one of the following conditions present their relevant medical certificates or proofs of diagnosis issued by hospitals accredited by Xiamen Airlines and signed by the physicians of such passengers:
(1)Passengers carrying incubators for premature infants on board;
(2)Passengers requiring the use of oxygen delivered from medical oxygen equipment during flight;
(3)Passengers whose health conditions will be jeopardized by in-flight travel or who need special medical care during the flight;
(4)Passengers who have contracted severe contagious diseases, the spread of which can somehow be prevented if certain precautions are taken.
2. The relevant medical certificates / proofs of diagnosis shall be issued by hospitals at or above the county level or hospitals at or above Grade-II, also including overseas clinics, medical centers, and hospitals outside Mainland China. The documents must contain the description “upon medical diagnosis and given the passenger’s health conditions, the passenger is physically capable of travelling by air” or one with a similar meaning. The documents must bear the physicians’ signatures and the official seals of the relevant medical institutions.
3. The relevant proof of diagnosis required by Xiamen Airlines shall be deemed valid if such medical proof is issued within 72 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure time. Any passenger who requires the use of in-flight medical oxygen equipment shall also present a written medical certificate signed by a qualified physician or medical practitioner, which shall not only state that the passenger requires the use of such in-flight medical oxygen equipment due to his/her health conditions but also specify the maximum amount of oxygen and maximum oxygen flow required per hour at the specific cabin altitude corresponding to the pressure inside the cabin during normal flight.
4. Disabled passengers with permanent or temporary physical or mental injuries who meet the national standard of the Classification and Grading Criteria of Disability do not need to provide relevant medical certificates or proof of diagnosis for proving their suitability for air travel when requesting special services provided by Xiamen Airlines. (For more details, click here to see the following document:Classification of the disabled.)
Application Form for Air Travel for Passengers With Special Needs
Passengers applying for special travel services through any one of the ticket office of Xiamen Airlines must fill out a paper application form for air travel.
1. Any passenger requesting special services is required to fill out the “Application Form for Air Travel for Passengers With Special Needs” in quintuplicate to indicate that the applicant shall assume all the responsibilities for the aggravation of the passenger’s health conditions, passenger’s death or any harm or injury caused to others during the flight.
2. The “Application Form for Air Travel for Passengers With Special Needs” shall be signed by the passenger applicant in person. For any passenger who may experience difficulty with handwriting, such application form may also be signed by a passenger’s family member or guardian on behalf of the passenger.
3. For US-bound flights operated by Xiamen Airlines, Xiamen Airlines will take the responsibilities for any loss, damage, or death concerning any checked-in wheelchairs or service animals of passengers with disabilities.
Travel Companions
1. Travel companions should state they are accompanying the passengers who need special services when booking their own tickets, which shall then be issued separately. Such travel companions shall travel on the same flight as the passengers they are accompanying.
Travel companions should be capable of taking care of the passengers they accompany during the flight and assisting these passengers in case of an emergency evacuation. Except for safety considerations, the travel companions shall be seated next to the passengers they accompany.
II. Infants
Infants taking a plane
Infants born within 14 days or under 2 years of age should be accompanied by an adult passenger who is 18 years of age or older with full capacity to accompany the child responsibly while flying.
For safety concerns, Xiamen Airlines does not accept infants younger than 14 days old. “Patient passenger” applications must be submitted for premature infants who need to use incubators.
Infant Applicable Fare
An infant shall not occupy a seat.
Domestic carriage fares are charged at 10% of the full published fare of the passenger ticket for the same physical cabins purchased by adult passengers.
International carriage fares are charged by passenger ticket applicable fare rules for the same physical cabins purchased by adult passengers.
However, only one baby per adult can receive this fare. Infants exceeding the allowance should be paid as the corresponding child fare and occupy a separate seat.
Please note:
The valid identity documents should be provided when purchasing infant tickets.
Infant Carriers
In order to ensure flight security, the carriage standards for infants are different in each route type according to the safety regulations for the carrying amount of passengers issued by CAAC.
To ensure comfortable travel for you and your children, a baby flight ticket should be requested from sales personnel when reserving and purchasing your tickets. If we confirm that you are conforming to the baby carriage quantity standard, we will issue the ticket for you and your infant(s) to prevent you from purchasing an adult ticket alone and then bringing the infant to the airport. We will also avoid a change in travel conditions that may occur due to the number of infants on board the flight.
Infants free baggage allowance
The free baggage allowance on Xiamen Airlines domestic routes is not available for infants whose tickets do not occupy a seat. Free checked baggage on Xiamen Airlines International and Regional (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) routes can be enjoyed. The maximum weight must be less than 10kg (22 lbs.) and the volume (sum of three sides) must be less than 115 cm (45 inches). At the same time, a folding stroller (for international and regional routes only) may be transported for free.
The non-folding stroller can only be transported as checked baggage free of charge, and the folding stroller can only be transported as checked baggage free of charge if the specified storage space in the cabin is not sufficient.
Infants who pay for the corresponding child fare (infants occupying an INS seat) can receive free baggage allowance stipulated at the ticket fare level.
Infant Cradles
Xiamen Airlines provides free BSCT service on all self-operated routes. Parents of infants who satisfy the following conditions can apply for the following services:
1. Take B737-700/800, B737-8, B757-200, B787-8/9 flights.
2. If you need to choose Business Class BSCT service, the Business Class ticket needs to be purchased. (Many of the B737-700/800, B737-8 and B787-9 passenger planes do not have a BSCT service in Business Class. Please contact us for details.)
3. Infants born within 14 days and under 2 years of age, under 74cm in height and under 11kg (24 lbs).
Since the number of infant cradles for each flight is limited, if you need to reserve this service, please submit an application at the local Xiamen Airlines direct agency in person 48 hours in advance, or log into the Xiamen Airlines official website to reserve the service 72 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time shown in ticket.
III. Children
Accompanied Children
1. Age qualification
Children refers to passengers who have reached the age of two but are under the age of twelve from the start date of travel. Children who are two years of age but less than five years of age must be accompanied by an adult passenger who is at least eighteen years old with full capacity for responsible conduct in the same physical class. Children who are five years of age but less than twelve years of age on the start date of travel and with no parents or adults with full capacity for responsible conduct over the age of eighteen are accompanied in the same physical class, and children who are on board alone must have their parent or guardian apply for unaccompanied child services.
2. Fares
A corresponding child fare will apply to the child occupying a seat.
Please note:
(1) Valid documents, such as birth certificates, ID cards, residence verifications (under 16 years old), and passports should be provided when you purchase a child’s ticket, and the same original documents should be used for check-in when purchasing tickets.
(2) On domestic flights, each adult passenger who is more than 18 years of age with full capacity for responsible conduct can bring two children under the age of 12 years in the same class. Any other child exceeding the stipulated number (including tickets for children purchased under adult fare) must be checked in accordance with unaccompanied child regulations. The child group must obtain the approval of Xiamen Airlines to handle the relevant ticket purchase procedures.
3. Free Baggage Allowance
Children whose tickets are paid according to the corresponding child fare may enjoy the free baggage allowance at the ticket fare level.
Unaccompanied Children/Adolescents
1. Age qualification
(1) An unaccompanied child accepted by Xiamen Airlines to transport is a child who is more than 5 years old (including 5) but less than 12 years old from the start date of travel with no parents or adults with full capacity for responsible conduct over the age of eighteen who are accompanied in the same physical class and children who are on board alone. Such children must follow the relevant procedures for an unaccompanied child in order to be accepted by Xiamen Airlines for transport.
(2) An unaccompanied child under 5 years old will not be carried.
(3) Our additional services for unaccompanied adolescent passengers are optional; they can be selected and a small amount of service charge can be paid. Unaccompanied adolescents accepted by Xiamen Airlines for transport are adolescents who are 12 years of age (including 12) but less than 16 years of age and with no parents or adults with full capacity for responsible conduct over the age of 18 who are accompanied in the same physical class and adolescents who are on board alone and for whom an unaccompanied child services application has been submitted.
2. Carrier Flight
Unaccompanied child services and unaccompanied adolescent services are provided on Xiamen Airlines domestic, international and regional (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) direct flights and flights carried by Xiamen Airlines. Xiamen Airlines only accepts the transport of unaccompanied children/adolescents under the condition of non-transfer, and the unaccompanied children/adolescents for transit and multi-leg transportation are not available.
3. Application Acceptance
The application of unaccompanied children/adolescents is only allowed at the Xiamen Airlines direct sales agency when their seats are reserved. Their seats must be confirmed according to Xiamen Airlines' relevant carrier regulations.
In general, an application must be submitted 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure time (48 hours before the scheduled flight departure time on the Xiamen Airlines website). Check-in procedures are available 2 hours in advance on the day of check-in.
Unaccompanied children/adolescents should be accompanied by their parents/guardians at the check-in location, met and cared for by the arranged person at the drop-off point, and the pick-up person's name, contact address and telephone number should be provided to Xiamen Airlines at the flight arrival station.
Since carriers are responsible for unaccompanied children/adolescents and need to provide safe and thoughtful care and special services throughout the flight, the number of unaccompanied children/adolescents to be carried on each flight will be limited.
4. Unaccompanied child fares
Domestic flights: adults apply 50% of the full fare.
International and regional (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) routes: fares are charged according to the fare rules of the unaccompanied child of the class of cabin seat purchased.
5. Unaccompanied adolescents fares and service charge
Domestic flights: the fare is charged based on the ordinary fare for adults; the service charge is charged at 200 CNY or equivalent currency for each leg (based on the ticket display).
Non-transcontinental international and regional (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) routes: fares are charged based on the applicable fare for adults; service charge is charged at CNY 300 or equivalent currency for each leg (based on the ticket display). Additional Airport Service Fee SGD 25 or equivalent currency for each leg should be charged from/to Singapore routes.
Transcontinental international routes: the fare is charged based on the applicable fare for adults; service charge is charged at 400 CNY or equivalent currency for each leg (based on the ticket display).
IV. Pregnant Women
Due to the relatively low oxygen supply in the air and the reduced air pressure during high-altitude flight, certain restricted conditions are required to transport pregnant women. It is recommended that pregnant women consult their attending doctor before arranging the journey and provide medical or inspections or certifications that can confirm the time of pregnancy and expected due date when reserving or checking in.
Pregnant women who are pregnant for less than 32 weeks (including 32 weeks) will be transported as a general passenger by Xiamen Airlines unless they are diagnosed as people who are not suitable for flight by their doctor.
Pregnant women with singleton pregnancy who are pregnant for more than 32 weeks (including 32 weeks) and less than 36 weeks (including 36 weeks) must apply to the Xiamen Airlines direct sales agency before reserving and fill in an Application for Special Passenger Flight and provide the medical inspection certification or doctor’s diagnosis certification.
Please note:
The above-mentioned medical inspection certification should be completed within 72 hours before the passengers check in for the flight and comes into effect with the seal of a hospital above the county level or the second class (including the county level or the second class) and the signature of the doctors in that hospital.
To ensure your safety, Xiamen Airlines reserves the right to refuse your check-in under the following conditions:
If your medical diagnosis/certification is overdue or the medical certification that can prove the time of pregnancy and expected due date fails to be provided;
You are a pregnant woman with singleton pregnancy who has been pregnant for more than 36 weeks (including 36 weeks) or a pregnant woman with a multiple pregnancy who has been pregnant for more than 32 weeks (including 32 weeks);
You are a pregnant woman who is expected to have pregnancy complications;
You are a maternal woman less than 14 days after childbirth.
If you are refused carriage if you are unable to provide medical inspection certification which can prove your pregnancy time and expected due date, your ticket must be handled according to the terms of “voluntary change” or “voluntary refund”.
Pregnant Women Who Need to Travel to Hong Kong Should Pay Special Attention:
According to the notification requirements of the Hong Kong Immigration Department, Chinese mainland women pregnant 28 weeks or more must have the following documents:
1. Certification of hospital (time to prove pregnancy)
2. Appointment of Maternity Service Confirmation issued by a Hong Kong Hospital
Please be sure to provide the above documents when purchasing tickets and checking in to flights. If you are refused immigration due to not holding the above documents, all expenses (including but not limited to diagnosis fees for medical personnel, transportation costs for repatriation, etc.) will be borne by yourself.
V. Passengers with Disabilities
Xiamen Airlines provides the following types of special in-flight services for passengers with disabilities, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the destination countries(summarized as follows):
1. Wheelchairs with Ramps (WCHR) - intended only for passengers with mobility difficulties who are able to move around without further assistance inside a terminal building:
Please submit your request for such service at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure (or at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure if you submit your request online through our official website).
2. Wheelchairs for Steps (WCHS) - intended for passengers who cannot ascend or descend steps on a boarding staircase:
Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
3. On-board Wheelchairs for Cabins (WCHC):
Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
4. Service Dogs (Hearing and Guide Dogs):
Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
Attention: According to Announcement No. 5 [2019] of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China Announcement on Further Regulating the Supervision of Pet (including service dogs for the disabled) Importation and Quarantine, pet importation at all ports of entry will be subject to new quarantine regulations, effective on May 1,2019.Please checking more details here.
5. Emotional Support Animals (ESAN):
Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure. Request/Application for this service is only available to passengers on flights to/from the United States, including flights between Xiamen and Los Angeles, between Qingdao and Los Angeles, between Fuzhou and New York, between Xiamen and Seattle, and between Shenzhen and Seattle.
Attention: According to Announcement No. 5 [2019] of the General Administration of Customs, P. R. China Announcement on Further Regulating the Supervision of Pet (including service dogs for the disabled) Importation and Quarantine, pet importation at all ports of entry will be subject to new quarantine regulations, effective on May 1,2019.Please checking more details here.
6. On-board Medical Oxygen Equipment:
Xiamen Airlines provides medical oxygen cylinders for use on board. Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
7. Self-equipped On-board Oxygen Generating Equipment:
Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure. Request/Application for this service is only available to passengers on flights to/from the United States.
8. Medical Stretchers (STCR):
Please submit your request for such service at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure. Passengers requesting such service shall only purchase their tickets at one of the ticket offices of Xiamen Airlines. This service is only available for passengers travelling on B737-series aircraft.
9. Unaccompanied Blind Passengers (UM BLND):
Please submit your request for such service at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
Due to the limited capacity of our services and our need to determine your eligibility for air travel based on comprehensive judgement of your travel information, please consult our ticket offices for more details on the above in-flight services and relevant application processes for such services, and also purchase tickets and request such services at our ticket offices.
VI. Passengers with Illnesses
To ensure your safety during travel, Xiamen Airlines reserves the right to refuse to board you if you are one the following types of passengers or are suffering from or experiencing the following diseases/symptoms/conditions:
1. Critical and severe heart diseases, severe symptoms of arrhythmia or coronary occlusions caused by myocardial infarctions (even mild symptoms of which still cause physical discomfort within 6 weeks after their onset);
2. Uncontrollable severe hypertension (with systolic blood pressure ≥ 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120 mmHg);
3. Frequent, severe asthma that requires medical treatment in a hospital;
4. Respiratory diseases characterized by significant shortness of breath while at rest;
5. Inflammation of ears, nose or sinuses, and, in particular, obstruction of the auditory tubes;
6. Patients suffering from anemia, with a hemoglobin level below 6 g/L;
7. Contagious diseases such as active tuberculosis, typhoid or polio;
8. Passengers who have recently undergone surgeries and still have unhealed surgical wounds;
9. Passengers who have suffered from cerebral infarctions within the past 3 days or who have suffered from craniocerebral or eye injuries and undergone related surgeries within the past 10 days;
10. Passengers who have suffered from tension pneumothorax and undergone related thoracic surgeries within the past 21 days;
11. Passengers who have undergone gastrointestinal surgeries within the past 10 days or suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding within the past 21 days;
12. Acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT);
13. Unstable or untreated fractures;
14. Any type of disease that is likely to worsen in the aviation environment;
15. Passengers who are likely to interfere with or cause a disturbance to other passengers, or who are suffering from mental disorders and have suicidal tendencies;
16. Passengers who are suffering from alcohol poisoning or other types of drug poisoning;
17. Passengers who are experiencing obvious symptoms of certain diseases or have strong body odor and are likely to cause displeasure or discomfort of other passengers.
18. Special passengers who are unable to provide the relevant documents or certifications required by Xiamen Airlines for air travel.
If you need special medical care/assistance or medical equipment during the flight due to your own health conditions, please consult the ticket offices of Xiamen Airlines and notify us of your special in-flight needs within the following time limits:
1. Wheelchairs with Ramps(WCHR)- intended only for passengers with mobility difficulties who are able to move around without further assistance inside a terminal building:
Please submit your request for such service at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure (or at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure if you submit your request online through our official website).
2. Wheelchairs for Steps (WCHS) - intended for passengers who cannot ascend or descend steps on a boarding staircase:
Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
3. On-board Wheelchairs for Cabins (WCHC):
Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
4. Medical Stretchers (STCR):
Please submit your request for such service at least 72 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure. Passengers requesting such service shall only purchase their tickets at one of the direct sales agencies of Xiamen Airlines. This service is only available for passengers travelling on B737-series aircraft.
5. On-board Medical Oxygen Equipment:
Xiamen Airlines provides medical oxygen cylinders for use on board. Please submit your request for such service at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.
6. Passengers who have recently undergone plastic surgeries:
Please submit your request for such service at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure. Xiamen Airlines reserves the right to refuse boarding within 15 days after your plastic surgeries.
Reception of your requests/applications for such services does not mean that Xiamen Airlines has already accepted and approved such requests/applications. We shall respond to your requests and confirm whether to provide such services based on comprehensive judgement and evaluation of your actual conditions and needs.
VII. Request for Other Special Assistance
Relevant Personnel Responsible for Carrying and Transporting Donated Human Organs (Personnel from OPOs - Organ Procurement Organizations)
Xiamen Airlines will endeavor to provide you with convenient, smooth and efficient air transport services. Please request this service at least 4 hours prior to your flight departure. When requesting special assistance with the transport of donated human organs, you shall provide the Confirmation Letter of Organ Acceptance by Organ Transplant Center and make sure that the specific containers for transport of human organs as well as the contents all meet the relevant safety requirements for air transport. To ensure the safety of transport of special items, if the whole package of the organs exceeds the maximum size limit (20*40*55 cm) or weight limit of carry-on baggage allowed on board and cannot be placed on board as regular carry-on baggage, you shall then purchase an extra seat ticket for such items like passengers who are required to purchase extra seat tickets for oversized or overweight carry-on baggage.
Please call Xiamen Airlines’ 24-hour Customer Service Hotline (95557) for additional relevant details before purchasing your tickets.
Personnel Performing Special Duties (Including Escort/Repatriation of Criminals and Suspects)
Please consult the ticket offices of Xiamen Airlines or call Xiamen Airlines’ 24-hour Customer Service Hotline (95557) for additional relevant details before purchasing your tickets.