Anyone been asked for Fit to Fly certificate by airline

[amy1313]

I'm flying to visit family in early January when I'll be 26-27 weeks. The airline (Jet2) have this on their website:

"If you’re travelling while pregnant, you’ll need a fit to fly certificate. One of the following documents will be required:

• A Fit to Fly certificate that’s provided by a doctor or midwife on surgery/hospital headed paper, signed and dated within seven days of your departure and 16 days of your return.
• A pregnancy Fit to Fly certificate provided by us and completed by your medical professional. Please make sure this is signed and stamped for verification purposes, as this certificate will not be valid if incomplete. You can download the certificate here."

This seems more strict than other airlines, usually they let you fly until at least 28 weeks without any certificate. Has anyone been actually asked for this by Jet2? I'll struggle to get it dated within 7/16 days by my GP with Christmas coming up!

Thanks!

You should try to get it, and will have to pay. You won't need to actually see the dr, i think it's just to state your weeks of pregnancy and that you haven't yet had any additional complications. Fwiw I decided not to fly anywhere at that stage but didn't have family abroad to consider

I think your midwife can do it. At least they did back when I was having my dc.

There are online companies that will do you one, providing no complications or other health conditions - my Trust doesn't allow midwives to complete forms and GPs take weeks.

Thanks everyone. My midwife told me they are not allowed to do it anymore so I have to go to the GP. I'll ring reception to see if I need an appointment or not.

Yes your GP may decline to do it (it's not in their contract) and if they do they will charge you, so maybe the online private company you may as well use

I was asked to show my certificate at check in. But then I was very pregnant at the time so it wasn't really possible to hide it. GP did it for me for £15.

I flew at 29 weeks with RyanAir and was never actually asked for it but wouldn't have dared go without as I guarantee that's when they ask!

It was hard work getting a fit to fly though as my trusts midwives are told they are not allowed to do them and the GPS refuse to put their names to them. I ended up using an online company and it was about £45 and came through pretty instantly.

I had a right palaver with this a few months ago as didn't realise it was a thing until the actual day we were flying out! That was with Jet2 as well, they didn't specifically ask for it at check in on the way out just if there were any medical conditions they should know about and I said no. Think the lady was too worried of offending me if I wasn't pregnant to push it but at check in in Turkey the woman had no such issue and asked for it straight away.

Yes, they spotted me in the queue and I had to go to customer services to show my certificate. If you didn’t look too pregnant you could maybe get away with it but I’d be scared to risk it. I ended up getting mine done by my midwife by email though, as my GP apparently doesn’t do them anymore!

If you’re not too obvious you’ll probably get away with it. I have flown lots of times with a 2nd trimester bump and never been asked for anything (not jet2 though I admit)

I flew at about 28/29 weeks in my last pregnancy - the GP wanted about £75 for the certificate so I wore a loose top and stood behind the buggy/facing away from the check in person and got away with it!

Ah thanks everyone! I'm not too big just yet but who know what it'll be like in a few weeks. I'd probably be too nervous to risk going without a certificate based on your experiences!

What private company have you all used?

My GP won't do them ^ hence my username. Nor will my midwife.

Remember when you're 27 weeks pregnant you're actually in your 28th week of pregnancy, so if you're 27+1 you're 1 day into your 28th week so airlines catch people out that way.

Yes, I was asked on boarding and at the gate at 24/25 weeks by Emirates. I had a letter and also took my notes to show how many weeks I was etc, just in case.

@amy1313 I used https://home2lab.co.uk for my fit to fly letter. They do it within 24 hours so you only need to complete the online form a couple of days before you travel.