Flying without a fit to fly letter

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I've been really frustrated to be told that I can't have a fit to fly letter anymore as 28 week AN bloods came back as a little anemic. Have been taking Iron for a week now, but was told that it takes around 3 weeks for it to kick in (if so why don't they test for anemia earlier than 28 weeks?).
I was planning to fly - this Sunday - to Glasgow for a short break, a 1 hour flight. My midwife up till now assured me that I am low risk, and that the doctor would send me the letter well in time to fly.
Due to an admin mistake the letter was never ordered in the surgury, and so at the end of this week I was left to have to chase it up. I'm now 30 weeks and airline needs a letter after 27 weeks.

I'm new to the surgury, and have only seen a dr once since registering at the beginning of my pregnancy. I don't know if the drs are fobbing me off as they haven't had time to examine me properly (all AN appts have been really straightforward aside from this) or if there is a real risk to the baby - in which case I wouldn't even try to take the flight.

I have a fairly neat bump for 30 weeks, am not taking any baggage, so wonder where in the airport I would be stopped if I tried to wing it? Anyone had that experiance, or am I just being awful?

i definatly do not want to endanger my baby, its just that there doesn't seem to be any actual reason for this refusal except bad communication and doctors unwillingness to put their names to anything that is outside their policy

NO!

Actual Reason=You are mildly anaemic

And it seems thats precisely why the tests were carried out to, hopefully, clear you to fly.

Bloods were carried out as part of routine 28 week AN appt. The date of flying actually had nothing to do with it, if I had been going a week earlier, and had known the correct proceedure for getting a letter at my gp's I would have automatically had it and been none the wiser about the anaemia.

Its very confusing. In June I think I was definitly anaemic, had all the symptoms at 20 weeks pg, couldn't eat any meat or anything at the time, however flew 4 hours to cyprus and back. But the early bloods don't test you for low iron then. I just don't get why its all so inconsistant I guess, it does feel like it makes it harder to make a logical informed decision about things for yourself. Its like the 'what not to eats' and 'when to get induced' etc etc.

captaincrocfamily that is a good reason. and is helpful to have an actual condition that could harm mentioned and explained a bit to me.

commandercool am really sorry that happened to you and DC. that sounds really distressing.

At the end of the day getting turned away from a flight is the least of my worries; potential risk to baby or harm to pregnancy is the most important thing in my life at the moment, so sorry if seem flippant, just had a very patchy experiance of pregnancy advice on this subject from the medics.

( cumfy thanks for helping me work out how to spell anaemia btw)

lie, say you are less than the time reqd

Hi there
I just got the same problem with comunication.Have been told few weeks ago when I asked for ftf letter that I need to see doctor day before...booked an appointment then. It should be on Fri however have been there today (Wed) I thought maybe my midwife can give me the letter today...but she said that as there isn't any problems I should get it perhaps even without an appointment...so I asked at the desk....have been told that the doctor won't be able to write one in three days in advance!?Also if they manage they want £20 for two lines.I have another appointment and tests tomorrow in hospital so I'll ask there.....I even wrote a letter myself so they just need to sign it.

Surely planes are pressuried so you're not actually at a higher altitude and the oxygen levels are the same? Its only an hour flight!

I met someone last week who snuck on a flight from Oz to the UK at 40 weeks pg. God knows how they didn't spot it as she had a normal size bump.

From wikipedia;

"A typical cabin altitude, such as the Boeing 767's, is maintained at 6,900 feet (2,100 m) when cruising at 39,000 feet (12,000 m).[2] The trend in new aircraft is to lower the cabin altitude: the lowest currently flying is the Airbus A380 at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) when cruising at 43,000 feet (13,000 m)."