Flying during pregnancy

If you’re planning to fly during your pregnancy, it's likely you’ll have some questions about when it's safe for you to travel. Here’s everything you need to know about flying as an expectant mother.

Do I need a medical certificate?

During the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, you do not need a medical certificate to fly, though we’d always recommend speaking with your doctor to get their advice before you travel. If your pregnancy is complicated with a condition that adds extra risk, please make sure to complete a MEDIF form.

Single pregnancy

  • From weeks 29 to 36, you will require a medical certificate to fly, which you’ll have to present when you check in at the airport
  • Once you reach the 37th week of your pregnancy, you will not be accepted to travel
     

Multiple pregnancy

  • From weeks 29 to 32, you will require a medical certificate to fly, which you’ll have to present when you check in at the airport
  • Once you reach the 33rd week of your pregnancy, you will not be accepted to travel

Medical certificate

Depending on the stage of your pregnancy, you may require a medical certificate before you’ll be cleared to fly.

To make life a bit simpler, we’ve created a certificate that you can print and take directly to your doctor or midwife.

DOWNLOAD FORM

The original medical certificate must:

  • Be presented when you check in at the airport
  • State that you are fit to fly
  • Include the number of weeks of pregnancy and your Expected Delivery Date (EDD)
  • Confirm whether the pregnancy is single or multiple
  • Be issued and signed by your doctor or midwife within the gestation period considered acceptable for travel
  • Be issued on clinic or hospital letter headed paper or stamped
  • Be valid for 3 weeks from the date of issue
  • Written clearly in English or Arabic (other languages are accepted but must be verified by Etihad Airways check-in staff)
     

As long as you've met all of the validity criteria, you’ll just need one certificate for the duration of your trip.

Our advice

  • Always speak to your doctor before you commit to any travel plans
  • We recommend that you discuss the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with your doctor before you fly
  • Before your flight, request a seat close to a toilet
  • Whilst you’re travelling, take extra care if you’re lifting heavy items or luggage
  • Wear compression stockings and elevate your feet during the flight
  • Once you have delivered the baby, we suggest that you avoid flying for a period of seven days
  • If your trip involves other airlines, don’t forget to contact them to check if you need any other documents to travel. Remember to ask about the validity of your medical certificates, as some airlines may have different regulations regarding certificate expiration dates