When is the best and safest time to travel by plane during pregnancy?

The very best time to travel by plane whilst pregnant is in the second trimester where the risk of labor during travel is low. It is also the time when most of your morning sickness will have gone and you will feel much more comfortable in your pregnancy. If your pregnancy is complicated with medical issues such as spotting, diabetes or high blood pressure it may be unwise to travel at all by plane during your pregnancy. Make sure you talk to your GP beforehand and discuss any potential risks and concerns. Your doctor will let you know if it is safe to travel during your pregnancy.

Your second trimester starts approximately 14 weeks into your pregnancy and lasts until the 27th week. This is commonly regarded as the best time to travel by many pregnant women and doctors alike. At this stage in your pregnancy you will have put your morning sickness behind you, your energy levels will be much better and your risk of miscarriage is low. During the first trimester the pregnancy is regarded very cautiously as this is seen as a very volatile time and the risk of miscarriage is still quite high. During the third trimester the risk of labor is very high and airlines do not want you to give birth mid-flight. That said it is clear that the second trimester is “prime time” if you have a holiday booked. If you have a holiday already booked, changing the travel dates to within the second trimester could make all the difference to your safety and the quality of your holiday.

It’s important to note that you may not be permitted to travel during your third trimester at all. Even though you may have a holiday booked for this time, airlines have the right to refuse passage for any woman over around 35 weeks of pregnancy. For some airlines this may be even sooner as much as 28 weeks. Make sure you check with your chosen airline beforehand to make sure you will be allowed to travel. You will also need a signed letter from your doctor stating your due date and that you are fit and healthy to travel.  Without this you may still be unable to fly if your pregnancy due date is under suspicion.

It is also highly important that you ensure you calculate how many weeks along you will be at the end of your holiday. Just because you were within the acceptable time frame on the way there, doesn’t mean you will be on the way back and they may refuse you re-entry into the country (until you have given birth) because of this. You should also check to see which airline you will be traveling back with. Some airlines have different regulations about pregnancy and while it may be 35 weeks is the limit for the airline on the way there, it could be 28 weeks on the way back.