Flying when pregnant

[gloucestergirl]

I live abroad and am 30 weeks pregnant and live in Sweden. I am going home for christmas so very sensibly (I thought) went to the midwife - there is an excellent midwife system here - to ask for a letter saying that I was fit to fly as asked for by BA.

What a hassle! Midwife tried to fob me off with a print out of my medical notes in swedish!!! So I sent in my husband, who can speak the language a lot better than me to insist on letter (pre-written in both english and swedish and just needed to be signed).

Personally, I take the attitude that all it needs is one jobsworth for me to miss a flight, so I do what ever the airlines ask for. But the midwife seemed to think that it was completely unnecessary.

Anyway, the point is that the midwife said that in all her 30 years, she has never known a pregnant woman who has been refused on a flight. Does anyone have any experiences good or bad of flying in the third trimester?

I flew at 8 months. They didn't ask and I was a big as a whale. My plan was to say I was earlier on and having twins. My colleague just shoved me to the front of the queue and said 'pregnant woman coming through!'. I thought I could sneak through unnoticed - I really didn't know how big I was!

I flew short haul (within Europe) at 30 weeks with a fairly big bump, luckily the airline I was flying with didn't require letter, but noone commented or asked me any questions, at all.

I'm with you on the jobsworth thing - I've not flown when pregnant (yet - going this weekend just within the airline's threshold), but I have had issues with airlines over small things before and as you say, it only takes one arsey staff member to quote the letter of policy at you to leave you on the tarmac.

If it reassures you, ignore your midwife and get the letter. If that's what the policy says then it makes sense to be prepared. You could of course say that you are earlier on than you are, there's clearly no way they could prove otherwise!

Sorry - I have actually flown three times during this pregnancy (baby brain!) and so far no one has asked anything but I wasn't exactly massive. I am much bigger now so will be getting a letter once I get over the threshold (next week - eek!)

I was very nearly refused a flight when I was pregnant with DS. It was during the volcanic eruptions. I had a signed Doctors note confirming I was fit to fly and that I was 30 weeks gestation. The airline were being weird about what if they had to divert and I was left without insurance for the country we may have to divert to. It was nonsense, I just kept explaining that no insurance was my issue not theirs.

I finally spoke to a reasonable woman in charge who let me fly. We were diverted from Gatwick to Stanstead [hmmm] and they couldn't have given a crap when they dumped me DD and DH at the airport 6 hours late and a car in Gatwick carpark with loads of luggage at 2am when all trains had stopped running. The 3 coaches they laid on we're not enough to take the plane full of people back to Gatwick and despite everyone commenting on my massive bump nobody offered us a seat first. Ggrrrrrr!

I flew from Oz to the UK and back again between 27-29 weeks with DC1 - 30 hours travel with 23 hours in the air. No-one on the long haul flights batted an eye-lid but one check-in lady for the 45min domestic flight within the UK did ask how pregnant I was and to see the medical letter I was carrying! So yes, the majority of the time you won't be asked but as you say all it takes is one jobsworth to give you a nightmare.

When we flew to Portugal with EasyJet in the summer a woman wasn't allowed to get on the flight as she was 28 weeks and didn't have a letter. Not only was it frustrating for her, but it was frustrating for the rest of us as the people at baggage check hadn't queried it so her luggage was on board & had to be found & taken off before we could go so we were delayed for 90 mins. Other than that delay, the EJ staff were brilliant but I don't suppose the woman who was allowed to fly thought so!

PS BA currently running an ad over here which states that one crew member on every flight has basic midwifery skills in case of an emergency. Apparently three babies have been born on board since BA started flying.

i recently flew short hall uk flight with BA at 25/26 weeks and to be fair they quizzed me quite alot. i didnt think i was that obviously pregnant but they all noticed and asked lots of questions then on the way back i was moved seats as the seat i was in wasn't suitable for a pregnant woman in an emergency

I travelled long haul (on the return) on the final day that I would've been allowed to fly, the airline did not ask a thing, and in fact no-one noticed until about half way through the flight when a steward gave me a full 1.5 l bottle of mineral water so I would not need to keep going to get water.

I travelled to London fronm Ireland last week, I was 29 weeks and Ryan Air specified online that women past 28 weeks gestation had to provide a letter from the mw or doctor saying the woman was fit to fly. I gave this to the woman when I got to the airport and she said she had never been given a letter like this and had to ring her supervisor... why have th epolicy and get people to arrange this when its not even checked. I was glad I was fit to fly and blood pressure etc was fine but it seemed like a farce when I handed the letter in....the response in London on the way back was even worse, she just handed it back to me without reading and told me to get in the queue....

I flew at 30 weeks and also took a letter. Nobody asked for it though ! Remember your flight socks.

Flew to Portugal with BA on Saturday and I'm 32+1, no one asked for anything. But, just in case I had both my maternity notes and a midwife letter.

OMG Murtette - I am flying with EJ in a few days and just realised I'll be over their threshold for a letter on the way back! DH reckons I should just wear a baggy jumper but I look every inch a third trimester lady, so not sure that'll cut it.

Just phoned the doctor for a letter and it'll cost £20! Ouch!