Airline Rules for Flying while Pregnant

Are you pregnant and planning to travel by plane? Not sure if you have to have “Fit to Fly” written permission from your doctor or midwife before travelling? This topic can be especially confusing as airlines have different rules when it comes to flying while pregnant. Here, you can read the different rules by airline, following this key:

Flying while pregnant with Ryanair

Before booking flights with Ryanair, expectant mothers need to keep in mind the following rules:

When an uncomplicated pregnancy enters in week 28, pregnant women are required to have written permission from a doctor/midwife. This form must be completed and dated two weeks before the scheduled flight departure. It must then be presented at the baggage drop counter and/or boarding gate.

For uncomplicated pregnancies, it is not permitted to travel beyond the following dates:

• Women with single pregnancies are not permitted to travel after the end of the 36th week.

• Women with multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.), are not permitted to travel after the end of the 32nd week.

The newborn’s mother can travel 48 hours after giving birth, as long it was an uncomplicated childbirth that did not require surgical intervention. If the mother has had surgery or a cesarean section, the minimum period of time that must pass before travel is 10 days. However, these periods are also subject to a doctor’s approval.

Travelling during pregnancy with easyJet

If you are pregnant and flying with easyJet, you can travel up until the end of the 35th week for single pregnancies. On the other hand, you can travel up until the end of week 32 if you are expecting more than one child.

Written permission from a doctor/midwife is not required. However, if you have experienced complications during pregnancy, consult your medical professional before flying.

British Airways Pregnancy Rules

British Airways does not permit pregnant women to travel after the end of the 36th week for single pregnancies without complications. In the case of muliple pregnancies (twins, triplets), women are not allowed to travel after the 32nd week.  If the pregnancy has reached the 28th week, a note is required from a doctor/midwife indicating that there are no complications and confirming the expected delivery date. In this letter the doctor or midwife certify that you are healthy and that there is no reason why you should not be able to fly in their opinion.

Flying while pregnant with Aer Lingus

The rules for flying while pregnant with Aer Lingus depends on the route. For flights within Europe, pregnant women between weeks 28-35 must bring a “Expectant Mother Travel Advice form” completed by their medical professional. After week 36, pregnant women are not allowed to fly with Aer Lingus.

For all other Aer Lingus routes, it is allowed to travel up to week 27 of the pregnancy without written permission from a doctor/midwife. Between weeks 28-33, the woman must bring a Expectant Mother Travel Advice form completed by their medical professional. After week 34, pregnant women are not allowed to fly with Aer Lingus.

As a general rule, you can travel without need for special permission up to 28 weeks pregnant. Around the 35th week, you are no longer allowed to fly.