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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to fib to the airline...

51 replies

AshForrest · 20/04/2022 14:19

29 weeks pregnant today, flying out at the start of May (I'll be 30-31 weeks for departure and return) for our last peaceful holiday before the arrival of our first.

The airline states that they MIGHT ask for a letter from my GP or Midwife stating my EDD / current health / that I've had no complications so far. Trouble is, both GP and Midwife have said they're unable to provide. Have looked privately and the only option locally is going to cost £160 (!!!). Bit reluctant to pay that much for a letter that they may not even check. Times are tight etc etc and could do with that money going elsewhere.

Thankfully, have had a totally uneventful, uncomplicated pregnancy so far. My bump is also fairly small... could definitely pass for much earlier on in pregnancy (or go completely unnoticed with the right clothes). Would it be unreasonable to chance it and try and hide the belly? Has anyone had any recent experiences or done similar? I'm massively stressing and overthinking this so any thoughts or advice would be appreciated!

OP posts:
RoseAndRose · 20/04/2022 16:34

At 29 weeks, wont you want to be travelling with your notes?

I mean it's unlikely anything will happen on your holiday, but it could, and having your notes will be helpful.

I thought the main purpose (especially shorthaul) was to confirm dates so the airline does not inadvertently carry a passenger outside the cut-off

Mybestyear · 20/04/2022 16:37

AshForrest · 20/04/2022 14:40

Good point @araiwa .. it's not much in comparison with the cost of the trip...

We're flying with TUI. Have checked insurance and both myself and baby are all covered from that perspective.

You are covered even if you are lying? I doubt that. Insurance will usually use any excuse not to pay out so I would triple check that. If insurance is ok, I’d probably risk it.

SmiteTheeWithThunderbolts · 20/04/2022 16:42

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 20/04/2022 14:50

What would you do if you are refused boarding on your RETURN flight? So stuck in a foreign country?

That happened to a friend's daughter. She was under the fit to fly limit so didn't have a doctor's letter. Outward flight was fine. But on the return flight, if I remember correctly, she had already boarded the plane when a member of the cabin crew noticed the size of her bump. The airline disembarked her and her husband and they were stuck in the destination for a couple of days while they sorted out paperwork.

I don't know how much the additional costs were (eg accommodation, meals etc) or if they were covered by their travel insurance or had to pay it themselves.

ZerotwoZero · 20/04/2022 16:48

If you lie and something occurs during the flight and the plane has to be redirected to another airport, who do you think is going to billed for all the flight costs, fuel, airline staff and landing fees as well as all your medical fees. It's sure won't be the flight line paying for if it's discovered you lied to board the plane. 🙄

TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek · 20/04/2022 17:03

Your insurance will not pay out if you lied to the airline, but I am interested to know the outcome of your question to the insurance company :

You: "I know that you have already agreed that both my baby and I are are insured for this holiday, but I am not sure whether that includes me lying to the airline about how pregnant I am, and then me going into labour while I am on the plane, or at the destination and then the airline flying both me and the now born baby home again, will we both still be covered in circumstances like these?"

Insurers: "Do you often lie to professional organisations about details that could, or do, make your life more awkward and/or expensive for you?
Unfortunately, I have to inform you that in asking us that question, we can no longer legally accept you as our customer, and we will not be returning your money, as there is no legal requirement for us to do so under these circumstances and you are a cheeky fucker to even ask us that question."

After everything PPs have said to you on here OP, do you still intend to lie to the airline?

HerbErtlinger · 20/04/2022 17:36

I wouldn't risk it personally but then I had a premature birth at 31 weeks with no warning, completely normal pregnancy

Moochio · 20/04/2022 17:39

Maybe ask your insurance company if they are OK with you lying

Inlovewitharagorn · 20/04/2022 17:45

The GP / midwife should never do a "fit to fly" letter.
However they will usually do a "she is due on xx/xx" letter for around £50.

crackingreward · 20/04/2022 17:47

Can you type up a form letter and then ask your midwife if she will just sign it,

Do people seriously think you can type a letter and ask for a signature from a medical professional?

I must live in another world.

PAFMO · 20/04/2022 17:50

I flew at 28 (to do a 6 week contract in another country) and back at 36 weeks (2 weeks holiday after) I got a letter from my GP but nobody asked to see it.
I wouldn't have dreamed of not getting it. As others have said, lying about your health (a lie of omission in this case) would probably make your insurers a tad pissed off should you need them.

Needtogetoffmyphone · 20/04/2022 17:53

Is there a good reason why GP/ midwife can’t give the letter?
This isn’t about just you - there’s another person involved. Don’t be foolish

SofieM0 · 20/04/2022 17:57

I flew back with TUI after being on one of their cruises for 2 weeks…I wasn’t even pregnant but they asked for a letter. Had no idea what they were talking about. I was just massively bloated from the cruise and I have a small frame! They didn’t believe me for ages and it was a nightmare (not to mention highly embarrassing!). Get the letter!!!

FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 20/04/2022 18:01

I flew at 24 weeks and was asked to prove how far along I was with my notes at check in. So it's unlikely they'd take your word for how many weeks you are ime. Get a letter.

SW1amp · 20/04/2022 18:05

I travel a lot for my job, and flew all the way through all my pregnancies

i wasn’t asked once to provide a letter, or even verbally confirm how far along I was
and I was MASSIVE with my last baby, so was expecting to be questioned

I flew almost entirely with BA, KLM and Swiss, so charter airlines might be stricter with it, but even when I had a babymoon to a holiday (rather than business) destination, no one commented on my pregnancies

Kiitos · 20/04/2022 18:06

Exactly @crackingreward !! I’m a healthcare professional and someone once brought in a referral letter with ‘proposed wording’ that he had written himself, and apparently I just needed to sign it. He got pretty short shrift I can tell you!

Also terrible advice on that post regarding getting a non-medical doctor to write a letter. Who in their right mind would agree to that? And what good would a ‘medical’ letter be without the doctor’s registration number?

OP I think for the sake of £160 it’s no way worth the risk to lie. What if there was a genuine emergency and they only had the false information to go off? And like others have pointed out I’m sure you risk invalidating your insurance. Don’t do it.

MsTSwift · 20/04/2022 18:07

Went into labour suddenly at 35 weeks so flying at 34 weekswould have been too close for comfort for me

Original poster
AshForrest · 20/04/2022 18:15

Am definitely being unreasonable then! Will have one last try with my GP before going to the private doc, what a pain. They've just switched carriers (flight was previously out-sourced to a smaller airline) and the last company didn't require any documentation at all, just that you're under 36 weeks. Now we're back to flying with TUI the risk isn't worth it. It's only a 2hr flight but better safe than sorry in any case.

OP posts:
IDontHaveAnOutingHobby · 20/04/2022 18:25

Maydaysoonenough · 20/04/2022 14:56

Imagine you become unwell on the flight... They might divert the plane and throw you off!! Yabu to hide your pregnancy..

£15,000 minimum to land a plane as well
Insurance wouldn't cover it

Bryonny84 · 20/04/2022 18:40

If you start lieing, no matter who to, you may well find your insurance is invalid if things go wrong and you try to claim. Just get the letter and pay it.

whynotwhatknot · 20/04/2022 18:48

best to get the letter not worth risking voiding your insurance if they find out you lied

Giraffesandbottoms · 20/04/2022 18:55

I’m just here to say I was going to do the same thing. But then I flew at 28 weeks 2 weeks before the planned fibbing trip and my legs swelled so so so badly that I could not fly again. Just be aware - you have 3 x the amount of blood in the third trimester and when you fly for some reason, even with compression socks, it can go to your legs. It’s no joke.

Twentypast · 20/04/2022 19:24

IDontHaveAnOutingHobby · 20/04/2022 18:25

£15,000 minimum to land a plane as well
Insurance wouldn't cover it

Show quote history

No way is it £15,000 to divert an aircraft. It's at least 4 times that, potentially a lot more. You have the cost of dumping fuel for landing, refueling, possible accommodation overnight for all passengers and crew if the diversion puts the crew out of hours, landing fees, parking fees, possible ground handling fees if it's not an airport with the airline's own staff.

My airline budgets £100k for each diversion. And if the OP has lied, the airline will definitely come after her for that money.

FlippityFlippityFlop · 20/04/2022 19:31

I flew out at 32 weeks - back at the end of my 33rd week. I had a fit to fly note from my GP (no one asked for it) and had travel insurance that covered me. On the way back I was asked how far along I was but the airline policy was that it was ok up to the end of the 35th week.

As long as your travel insurance is valid and you haven't been told not to fly/have a condition like low lying placenta etc. then you should be fine. I also made sure that I knew where the local hospitals were just incase.

Are you sure that your GP realises that you are asking for a pregnancy fit note. I had to email mine a couple of times as they kept thinking I was asking for a COVID fit to fly note.

Plantlover12 · 20/04/2022 19:34

As ex cabin crew, don't lie. God forbid anything happened to you & baby on the flight and the aircraft had to divert and do an emergency landing, the bill would be going your way. And you can imagine how many thousands that would cost. We had it on a flight before!

EastEndQueen · 20/04/2022 20:14

You do need a letter but as a Midwife it’s very weird that your Midwife won’t supply one - it’s a standard request we do many many times for women in our care (I walked around with a plastic wallet of printed-off ‘fit to fly’ letters as a community midwife as did all my colleagues.

Did she say why? Is it that she is going on leave herself soon and doesn’t have time to get one to you/ doesn’t have access to a printer? Printer drama is rife in the NHS 😫

How soon are you going? I would ring the maternity helpline if there is such a thing and request again and offer to collect it. If refused ask for the details of PALS to complain. I am certain that either that or going and sitting in antenatal clinic and not leaving until you get a letter will get you the letter you need.

I am pretty ashamed of the maternity services when I hear rubbish like this. You shouldn’t have to pay £160 to save the midwife a few seconds work!

If you want then PM me the hospital you are booked at and I can help you navigate the website for the right person to escalate it to

Don’t lie to the airline though!