Fit to fly certificate

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I'm due to fly to Greece for a week on Sunday - I'm currently 30 weeks pregnant, so will be 31 on my return.

As a FTM, I had a GP appt at 24 weeks. This was a bit calamitous for various reasons (he made no notes, couldn't find heart beat etc) but I discussed the fit to fly letter with him there. He told me it was really easy & simple to organise and to call up about 2-3 days in advance of needing it as the receptionist can organise.

I called today and it appears to be anything but simple - they have no appointments and I need to see a doctor in order to get signed off.

Has anyone used any private doctor clinics such as the London Doctor Clinic Doctap? They have lots if clinics on London which I can get to and charge about £50.

Do the airlines accept these? I've googled ... they look legit, are registered with the governing body etc!

Any experience on this subject?

Can you ask your midwife to do it? I flew to Barcelona last week at 31 weeks and she did it during a clinic a few days before I went. It was a Ryanair form that I downloaded from their website It seems like such a hassle for you so hopefully you can get it done easier and without having to pay as just a heads up - nobody even asked to see mine on either flight!!

Thanks @Running365, I've already spoken to my midwife centre and they've said that they cannot do it, it has to be a GP.

I'm going to book a private appt for tomorrow just in case I can't get an appt with the GP and hope for the best.

I don't think I'm huge for 30 weeks so may be able to pass for less than 28 anyway!

This isn’t much help, but it was straight forward at my GP. I flew last week at 28 weeks pregnant (my bump looks closer to full term though). I phoned up reception and they got a doctor to write a letter to say my pregnancy had been uncomplicated and that I am deemed fit to fly, then I picked it up from reception. I didn’t need an appointment.

Can you ask to speak directly to the doctor who said it’s straight forward? Seems unfair they have given you the wrong information and it’s left you stuck like this.

I didn’t get asked for it once by the airline though!! Not even sure when they’d ask to see it.

I assume you already have, but double check you definitely need one.

I flew with easyjet at 35 weeks, their website states you don't need one, and no one even mentioned it!

Thanks @Chester1980 - there's no way through to the GP which bypasses the receptionist and I'm pretty sure the receptionists are tougher than most nation's front line defenders!

It's annoying as it seems to vary so much from trust to trust. My pregnancy has (this far) been non eventful!

It's too risky to wait and see so I think I'll just end up paying for it. I would hate to turn up on Sunday and not be allowed to fly!!

I had to get one when travelling back from turkey they had a doctors office at the airport. Flying from Birmingham though they didn't even ask.

Check what your airline says specifically. KLM for e.g. is very laid back - only need a certificate if you've had complications and you can fly up to 36 weeks, after which it is 'not recommended', but not clearly banned. I will be flying with them at 34+3 and 35+2 (one-hour flights though) and I'm going to chance it without a certificate (GP wants consultant to do it, registrar said I'd be fine to fly but wouldn't do me a fit to fly certificate). I have a high BMI and only look obviously pregnant from the side when I am standing up, so hopefully no one will ask. Baggy clothes, pregnancy notes and a printout of the airline rules at the ready. Have to say I have worried a lot over this though... Good luck, hope it works out!

My midwife did mine after she’d checked urine and blood pressure. I flew BA from Heathrow and they didn’t ask for it or even acknowledge my very obvious pregnancy.

I got a letter from my GP but as they had no info about my pregnancy, wrote in the letter that “I told them I had no complications”. Anyway no one even asked to see the letter when I flew at 30 weeks. I would get one from the private doctors just in case and then just wear some baggy clothes!

Thanks for all the replies! I've booked a private appt for tomorrow. I'm flying with BA and it says on the website that they may need confirmation that there are no complications. I think I'm better off getting the certificate just in case!

My bump is literally all bump so I'll wear something baggy as suggested in the hope that they don't even notice!

I got mine easily from my GP (although had to pay for the letter) but I was away for 3 weeks, not staying in one place, and they have to be dated within a week, so I had to pay for one in Australia and another in Sri Lanka. Always best to have a letter regardless of what airline says as they can refuse to fly you if they're not happy and you don't want to be turned away at the gate!

I was 26 weeks with obvious bump when I flew out on my first flight and got asked for my letter on the gate, despite it not being mentioned at check in. Sometimes I wasn't asked at all and sometimes asked at check in (different airlines and different countries).

Flew back from Cyprus couple of weeks back I was 33 weeks pregnant didn’t get asked on way out but I did coming back in Larnaca airport. Always worth taking one. I wouldn’t be paying private for it though xx

Just an update:

I went to the private GP yesterday and got my letter - it was so straight forward and he was actually really thorough. He listened to the foetal heart beat, felt her position, did blood pressure etc.

At least now I can travel knowing I've got my letter!!!

They are not NHS contracted work which is why GPs usually charge.

I've found if interesting the variation in what gets done during the appointments.

First GP in UK - didn't ask to see notes, took BP and weighed me, then happily said I was fit to travel and typed letter as I sat there, basically asked me what I wanted written.

Second GP in UK - wanted to see my notes, took BP, said she couldn't write 'fit to fly' or 'low risk' and that I'd have to come back later to pick letter up (letter was accepted fine by airline)

GP in Australia - took ages looking at my notes (think he was just interested in differences between Aus and UK tbh!), took BP and said although it was normal it's higher than what midwife had recorded at all my appointments so check when I get home. Happily said fit to fly and wrote out note while I was there and got me to check I was happy.

GP in Sri Lanka - didn't ask to see my notes but asked more questions including about flu symptoms, took BP, heart rate, listened to my lungs, listened for fetal movements, so much more thorough. Happily said I was fit to fly and again wrote out letter there and then and asked me to check I was happy with it.

I flew with BA, Qatar, Qantas and Sri Lankan on this trip for a total of over 30 hours so feel like a pregnancy flying pro now

Glad you got sorted OP. I need one in a few weeks, asked my MW, she said it's usually the GP who does it but they charge £30. She said if I email her a week before I need it, she'll do one for free for me, as long as I don't mention to reception what it is when I collect - think I got lucky with a good MW!

@Fireba11 you're definitely a pro now!! Hope the flights weren't too uncomfortable. That's a lot if flying!

@usernotfound0000 do leave plenty of time to get the letter - my GP told me it was really easy to get & really wouldn't be a problem ... the reality was a little different!

My midwife said she’d do it at my appointment, which is a week before we fly (although more than 2 weeks before we fly back, which has me slightly worried now, I don’t really want to be trying to find a GP in Malta!). She thinks they are a bit daft to be honest because they can only event confirm things are gone at the exact time they examine you!

I flew very close to the cut-off point (to Turkey)... going out was fine but going back they very nearly wouldn't let me on the plane. They said in the airport that my letter was out of date as it was more than a week old (obviously.. as I'd gone to the doctor the day before going on holiday).
They eventually got bored of an angry pregnant lady standing in the way of all the other passengers and refusing to move, and they let me on, but hubby was close to hiring a car...
I was very big due to excess fluid and a big baby -- just wanted to mention this in case you are challenged.