Travel During Pregnancy

Thousands of pregnant women every year travel both in the UK and abroad without any complication whatsoever. In fact, armed with the right information and with the right planning, many travel well into their pregnancy perfectly safely.

The best time to travel is usually in your second trimester, between roughly 14 and 28 weeks. Although the first three months are a sensitive stage, there's no reason not to travel if you're generally feeling well. Many choose not to though as it's often during this early stage that nausea and exhaustion are felt most.

Providing there are no complications, there's usually no reason not to travel past 28 weeks. The biggest issue during this stage is really the risk of going into labour early.

If you decided to travel whilst you're pregnant, it's generally a good idea to take your hospital notes with you in case you need any medical attention whilst you're away. During the later stages of your pregnancy, it's also worth having a plan should you go into labour early. Make a note of where the local hospitals are and how you can get there.

Travel Insurance and Pregnancy

Generally, many travel insurance providers will not have an issue with you travelling whilst you're pregnant providing you're not travelling against the advice of your doctor and so long as you satisfy the airline or carrier's requirements. Check carefully though as this isn't always the case and we've seen some policies that won't let you travel past 20 weeks!

Do bear in mind that you probably won't be covered by your travel insurance policy for anything that is pregnancy related though as it's not an "unforeseen circumstance". So, if you go into labour early whilst abroad or if you have to cancel your holiday, you probably wouldn't be able to claim.

As always, you should carefully check your policy terms and conditions before you travel.

Travelling Whilst Pregnant - Airline Regulations

Every airline seems to have different rules as to when you can travel whilst you're pregnant and at what stage you need a Doctor's note or medical certificate.

Here we've tried to summarise the policy of many of the major airlines serving the UK. Whilst this information was correct at the time of writing, please do check to make sure your airline's policy hasn't changed.

If the airline you're travelling with isn't listed here or if you find any of the information on travelling whilst you're pregnant incorrect, please contact us.

UK and Irish Airlines

	Airline	Policy	Policy Link
	Aer Lingus	Doctor's written permission needed before 32 weeks. Between 32 and 35 weeks, Doctor must complete "Expectant Mother Travel Advice Form". Different rules apply if travelling outside UK/Ireland.	Link to policy »
	BMI	Doctor's note between 30 and 36 weeks (32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	British Airways	Doctor's note between 28 and 36 weeks (32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	Easyjet	Doctor's note between 28 and 36 weeks.	Link to policy »
	First Choice	Doctor's certificate needed between 28 and 32 weeks. In-house airline will accept passengers up to 34 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Flybe	Doctor's note between 28 and 34 weeks. Some routes are OK at any stage of pregnancy.	Link to policy »
	Jet2	Doctor's note between 28 and 34 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Monarch	Doctor's note between 28 and 34 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Ryanair	Doctor's note between 28 and 36 weeks (32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	Thomas Cook	Doctor's note between 29 and 34 weeks (32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	Thomson Airways	Doctor's note between 28 and 36 weeks (34 for long haul and 32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	Virgin Atlantic	Between 28 and 36 weeks (32 for twins) a "Pregnancy Information Form" is required.	Link to policy »

European Airlines

	Airline	Policy	Policy Link
	Air Berlin	Travel allowed up to 36 weeks but medical certificate may be necessary to prove pregnancy has not progressed beyond 36 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Air France	No medical clearence required but it's recommended to seek Doctor's permission before trip.	Link to policy »
	Alitalia	Doctor's certificate/Medical Information Form recommended and obligatory if beyond 36 weeks pregnant or carrying twins.	Link to policy »
	Austrian Airlines	Passengers accepted up to 36 weeks.	Link to policy »
	CSA Czech Airlines	Travel up to 34 weeks is allowed if there are no complications. Beyond 34 weeks (or if there are complications in your pregnancy) a medical certificate is required.	Link to policy »
	Cyprus Airways	Doctor's certificate required between 28 and 32 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Iberia	Doctor's certificate between 28 and 36 weeks (32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	KLM	Travel up to 36 weeks is fine, 32 if you are expecting more than one baby.	Link to policy »
	Lufthansa	Travel up to 36 weeks is permitted without a medical certificate providing the pregnancy has been free of complication.	Link to policy »
	SAS	Travel is permitted up to 36 weeks without a medical certificate if carrying one child. For twins, a medical certificate is required between 28 and 32 weeks.	Link to policy »
	TAP Air Portugal	Travel is allowed up to 36 weeks (with some restrictions) and even later with relevant medical forms.	Link to policy »
	Wizz Air	Medical certificate required between 28 and 34 weeks.	Link to policy »

American Airlines

	Airline	Policy	Policy Link
	American Airlines	Travel up to 36 weeks is fine and even later under certain circumstances.	Link to policy »
	Continental Airlines	Passengers accepted at any stage of pregnancy but Doctor's certificate required if travel is within 7 days of expected delivery.	Link to policy »
	Delta	No restrictions on travel for pregnancy women.	Link to policy »
	United	Doctor's certificate is required is delivery is expected within 7 days.	Link to policy »
	US Airways	Medical certificate required between 28 and 34 weeks.	Link to policy »

Worldwide Airlines

	Airline	Policy	Policy Link
	Aeroflot	Travel is permitted up to 36 weeks but a Doctor's note is required.	Link to policy »
	Air Canada	Travel is permitted up to 36 weeks providing the pregnancy has progressed normally.	Link to policy »
	Air India	Medical certificate required between 32 and 36 weeks. No travel is allowed for multiple pregnancies beyond 32 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Air New Zealand	A Medical certificate is required if travelling beyond 36 weeks, if the flight is longer than 5 hours, or if carrying twins.	Link to policy »
	Cathay Pacific	Medical certificate between 28 and 36 weeks (32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	El Al	Travel is permitted up to 36 weeks with written approval of a Doctor. Beyond 36 weeks, medical aprroval is needed from an El Al Doctor.	Link to policy »
	Emirates	Medical certificate between 29 and 36 weeks (32 for twins). For single pregnancies, travel beyond 36 weeks is permitted after prior clearence from the Emirates medical department.	Link to policy »
	Etihad Airways	Medical certificate required between 28 and 36 weeks (32 for twins).	Link to policy »
	Japan Airlines	Travel is allowed at any time. After 36 weeks a Medical Information Form is required and if delivery is expected within 7 days, an escort by Doctor is required.	Link to policy »
	Korean Air	Medical certificate required between 32 and 36 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Pakistan International Airlines	Medical certificate required between 25 and 32 weeks. Prior clearance required after 32 weeks.	Link to policy »
	Qantas	International travel is permitted up to 36 weeks (32 for multiple pregnancies). Medical clearence is only required if there are complications.	Link to policy »
	Qatar Airways	Medical certificate required for single/non-complicated pregnancies between 29 and 32 weeks. Between 32 and 36 weeks, prior medical clearance is required.	Link to policy »
	Singapore Airlines	Medical certificate required for all pregnant women. Travel is allowed up to 36 weeks for uncomplicated single pregnancies, or 32 weeks for uncomplicated multiple pregnancies.	Link to policy »

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