Medical Certificate for Airline

[smallwonder]

evening morning all,
I'm travelling in a few days and although I'll be just 28 weeks on as I'm flying home the airline has stated on its website that a medical certificate is required from then on. I remember being given one by m/w when travelling during a previous PG at 30weeks. Anyway, my m/w wasn't around so I called and asked the GP for a certificate. He had no problem but said it was outside of the NHS and therefore a fee of around 25quid would be payable.
I didn't pay last time, and I wondered if this was something new, has anyone paid before? Was just a bit surprised at there being a fee and wanted to clarify. I will call m/w and double check, hopefully can reach her elsewhere tomorrow.
Many thanks.

A lot of my friends have been charged. Normally the airline like the letter to be signed by a doctor and not a midwife. Easyjet refused to let me friend fly as her letter wasn't written by a doctor just her MW.

My GP is doing mine for me in a couple of weeks and she hasn't said anything about there being a charge.

For anything outside NHS then at your GPs discretion whether or not they charge

The certificate you get from your MW at about 24 weeks is the MATB1 and it confirms your due date. It is mainly for your employer to claim your SMP. It does not say anything about your health or fitness to fly.

Yep, £25 charge is standard at my practice. Who are you flying with? I went with Easyjet when I was 27 weeks and 28 weeks on the way back. I had the letter checked no less than four times and the woman in the check-in desk even got out a calendar to check my due date on the way back! If I hadn't had it there was no way I would have been allowed to fly. I know it's annoying but I'd not take any chances and get the proper letter from your GP. They actually have to check your notes and confirm your fitness to fly (i.e. BP, and complicating factors), not just your due date.

HTH.

Is there a standard format re what needs to be included? Just spoke to my surgery and they didn't have a clue what I was on about. Worried the GP will miss something out!

Thanks for the replies :)

Definitely helpful, also flying easyjet and exactly the same as hotpinkgingham -- 27 weeks outbound and 28 on return. So glad I've asked now, going to pick up my letter this morning and pay the fee. The airline I flew with last pregnancy didn't even ask about pregnancy let alone letter (fortunately had one from m/w) but easyjet appear a different kettle of fish.
Many thanks ladies.

Seat of My Pants -- when i called my surgery yesterday morning they didn't have much idea either, it wasn't until I called in a panic in the afternoon (to find no one knew anything about it) that the very nice GP gave me a call back and took the information necessary. He knows us all very well having been in and out over the last few month too often!

GP checked that I had no complications, asked if my asthma was under control, and was I feeling well in myself. Took note of the dates and said that was fine and he'd write accordingly. HTH.
Will have letter later if that helps you (i.e. for content)

Hi, I had one done recently (flying out 34 weeks and back at 35). The midwife did it for me - she had a form just to fill in - and it was completely free. She made me a special appt to go down to the clinic to pick it up 3 days before I flew. I'd ring your midwife again and leave a message or set up an extra appt.

Hi
You have have this sorted by now but I got a fit to fly letter from my MW. Flew with BA, no problems at all. Also no charge.
I also had to get fragmin injections as it was over 4 hour flight.

Thanks, collected GP's letter and paid the fee. Surgery did say that m/w 'should know that this kind of request is outside of the NHS' and after reading one of the above posts, and the problems that may arise with not-so easy jet, think i've done the best thing now.
Thank you all for the help.

Wow, a charge!! Last time I got a letter from my GP without charge, but it didn't sound like she had done one before so perhaps she didn't know procedure... This time we've planned to fly at 26/27 weeks to don't have to bother (fortunately my bump is small too so hopefully no one will ask anyway :)

I flew long haul in December at 18weeks and returned at 21 weeks. My Gp provided me with a certificate free of charge.