Virgin Australia has launched Toy Tickets, a personalised boarding pass for children’s teddy bears and cuddly toys available at check-in and lounges nationwide.
Families flying Virgin Australia can now request a personalised boarding pass for a child’s favourite teddy or travel companion, in what the carrier says is an Australian airline first.
The free keepsake can be requested in person at Virgin check-in desks and lounges across the country, and is printed with the toy’s name.
The idea grew out of a viral moment: the reunion of a young Virgin Australia guest with his teddy bear after it was left behind on a flight to Perth, a story that drew attention well beyond Australia.
What the Toy Tickets launch includes
Toy Tickets sit within Virgin’s collaboration with Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 5.
The tie-in includes a Toy Story 5 themed aircraft featuring characters Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear, alongside a range of onboard and on-the-ground experiences.
More than 1.2 million children flew with Virgin Australia in 2025, a market segment the carrier is clearly courting with the family-focused activation.
Why Virgin created it
Virgin Australia chief marketing and customer operations officer Libby Minogue said the lost-teddy reunion prompted the airline to create something for its youngest guests.
“The global response to reuniting a young boy with his lost teddy was extraordinary, with messages pouring in from all corners of the world,” said Minogue.
“It reminded us just how important these treasured companions are to children. With more than two million children flying with us every year, we know many young travellers bring a favourite toy along for the journey and how much it means when those special items make it safely home.
“Toy Tickets are a uniquely Virgin Australia way of celebrating these special travel companions and make family holidays even more memorable from the moment our guests arrive at the airport,” she said.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Family travel is one of the easier conversations a travel seller can have, and small touches like this are the kind of detail that wins repeat bookings with parents. Paired with the Toy Story 5 aircraft and onboard experiences, it gives advisors a fresh reason to position Virgin Australia for families heading away these school holidays.
