Flying While Pregnant: 21 Things to Know for a Successful Flight

Flying while pregnant can be totally doable if your healthcare provider has cleared you to fly and if you have these tips in your back pocket!

If you have a non-complicated pregnancy, flying while pregnant is considered completely safe.

As a travel blogger, I took over 16 flights during my pregnancy (which wasn’t all smooth sailing) and, as a result, have come up with this list of 21 things to know before flying when pregnant.

Because to be honest, pregnancy flying can be a bit more complicated and worrisome- especially to first-time moms!

What if I get morning sickness on the flight? Are long-distance flights okay? What extra stuff should I bring with me now that I’m pregnant?

I had all of these questions and more.

And out of the 21 tips and things to know that I’ve compiled, a lot of these things were new news to me and things I had never thought about prior to flying when pregnant.

So I hope this list helps you feel prepared and removes any anxiety you might have about pregnancy flying!

Let’s get to it! Here are 21 things to know for successful pregnancy flying!

1. Check with your healthcare provider

First things first, you’ll want to check with your doctor to make sure you get the all-clear to go on a flight.

My doctor told me that her usual recommendation for a non-complicated pregnancy is to stop flying after 32 weeks. However, some doctors will even permit travel up to 35 weeks or longer (though, to be honest, flying while that pregnant sounds pretty awful to me!).

On the other hand, if you’re having any complications, your cut-off date might even be earlier. It’s crucial to have this conversation with your doctor before booking any travel.

2. Check airline policies for expectant mothers

Did you know that each airline has different policies on when you can travel? This is especially important to look at as you’re planning your trip since some airlines require a medical certificate (aka a doctor’s note) if you’re past a certain point.

In the list below, I’ve linked each airline’s policy and have included an “at a glance” description for non-complicated pregnancies. The “at a glance” description is current as of the time of writing; you’ll want to go to the specific link for the most up-to-date policy information.

Here are airline pregnancy policies for the 20 most popular airlines that people fly in America.

• Southwest (at a glance: they recommend against air travel beginning at 38 weeks)
• Delta Air Lines (at a glance: no restrictions and no medical certificate required)
• American Airlines (at a glance: medical certificate required within 4 weeks of your due date, plus tighter restrictions closer to due date)
• United (at a glance: medical certificate needed once you’ve reached 36 weeks)
• JetBlue (at a glance: medical certifiate needed within 7 days of expected delivery date)
• British Airways (at a glance: cannot fly after 36 weeks; medical certificate recommended after 30 weeks)
• Alaska Airlines (at a glance: no restrictions)
• Hawaiian Airlines (at a glance: medical certificate required if traveling within 30 days of your due date)
• Air Canada (at a glance: travel permitted up to and including 36th week)
• Air France (at a glance: no doctor’s note required but they recommend avoiding travel starting at week 37)
• Frontier Airlines (at a glance: medical certificate needed starting at 36 weeks)
• Virgin Atlantic (at a glance: medical certificate required between 28 and 36 weeks; cannot fly after 36 weeks)
• Lufthansa (at a glance: you can fly up until 36 weeks; medical certificate recommended starting at 28 weeks)
• Qantas (at a glance: medical certificate required after 28 weeks; cannot fly after 36 weeks if flight is longer than 4 hours)
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (at a glance: cannot fly after 36 weeks)
• Norwegian (at a glance: medical certificate requred between 36 and 38 weeks; cannot fly within 2 weeks of expected due date)
• American Eagle Airlines (same as American Airlines)
• Qatar Airways (at a glance: cannot travel after 36 weeks; medical certificate and/or MEDIF form required at various stages)
• Japan Airlines (at a glance: medical certificate required if flying within 4 weeks of due date; doctor escort required within 2 weeks of due date)
• Spirit Airlines (at a glance: no restrictions, if you’re in your 8th month of pregancy, Spirit recommends a medical exam confirming it’s safe for you to travel)

3. Preboarding and other perks

Depending on what kind of airplane or airline you’re flying on, you can get certain perks when flying while pregnant.

For example, on Qatar Airways, you can ask your gate agent if there are any seats available with leg rests so you can keep your legs elevated during the flight.

Or, if you’re flying on Southwest Airlines while pregnant, you can board in the preboarding section. You simply go up to the gate agent and tell them that you’re pregnant, and they’ll give you a new ticket with preboarding on it!

This will give you the ability to board in the very first group on the plane, so you’ll have your choice of where to sit.

Since pregnancy is considered a “medical reason” when it comes to preboarding, keep in mind that you are not allowed to sit in exit rows.

Be sure to check with the gate agent to see if there are any perks like these for flying while pregnant- you might be pleasantly surprised by what you can get!

4. Sit in an aisle seat close to the front

This helps with frequent bathroom runs and enables you to get off the plane faster- no waiting for everyone else to deplane.

If you are choosing your seat online when booking, try to find a seat that fits these parameters. But even if there aren’t any that appear to be available, you still might be able to switch seats on the day of travel. Simply ask your gate or check-in agent if they have better seat options available.

5. Where to wear your seatbelt

The proper way to wear your seatbelt for pregnancy flying is underneath your bump, low across your hips.

6. Compression socks are your friend

Pregnancy can lend itself to swollen feet and ankles- not fun. Fortunately, there are products out there that can help with exactly that! I highly recommend wearing compression socks for the duration of your flight. I have these compression socks and they’ve been great. They go all the way past your calves so they really do the trick!

7. Walk around if you can

If the captain has turned off the fasten seatbelt sign, consider doing a short walk up and down the aisle. Ideally, you’d be able to do a two-minute walk every hour to help with blood flow. If you aren’t able to walk, you can also do leg exercises. Here is an article that goes over some great airplane stretches like ankle circles and foot lifts.

8. Drink lots of water

Bring a water bottle and fill it up before boarding. Then, on the flight, don’t hesitate to ask for water as much as you need to! Airplanes are already dehydrating, so you won’t want to miss this step. Staying hydrated is key to a healthy pregnancy, and it’s easy to forget to drink enough water on airplanes.

9. Flying Southwest? You can ask for the whole can!

This is a great tip if you don’t have a water bottle or didn’t have time to fill it up in the airport. If you’re flying Southwest Airlines, you can ask for a whole can of water. You’ll get about twice as much water as you normally would in one of their little cups.

And don’t hesitate to ask for more. Every time I got up to go to the bathroom I asked for another can.

10. Consider international vs domestic flights

The later you go in your pregnancy, the more you’ll want to consider risks with pregnancy flying. Even if the risks are low. A major part of this has to do with if your trip is international or domestic.

When my OBGYN told me that she recommended a flying cut-off date of 32 weeks, I didn’t realize she was talking about domestic flights.

Being a travel blogger, I was presented with two different scenarios: one where I’d potentially fly to Abu Dhabi and the other where I might fly to Jordan. Both of these would happen between weeks 26-32 of pregnancy.

Fortunately, I asked my OBGYN her opinion before anything was planned for either of these trips. She said that while the airlines might accept flying at that point with a medical certificate, she still wouldn’t recommend international travel past 25 weeks.

Here’s the scenario she presented me with:

Say you had a medical complication or- God forbid- actually go into premature labor in a different country. You could be dealing with bed rest in a foreign hospital or even a NICU experience in a foreign hospital!

And, of course, there would be the headache of dealing with your health insurance.

Even if the chances of this are low, being far away from home could make things very difficult.

But I hope that doesn’t scare you- I’m just sharing what my OBGYN told me! And, of course, the two scenarios I gave her were very far away in the Middle East and towards the end of my pregnancy.

We did international trips to Saint Lucia when I was 14-15 weeks pregnant, and Paris when I was 12 weeks pregnant with no problem at all. And since Paris has easy access to plenty of reputable hospitals, I’d totally feel safe traveling there later on in my pregnancy.

Basically, what I’m saying is you’ll want to discuss these things with your healthcare provider to see what they recommend. Especially since they’re the ones who know all of the details of your pregnancy!

11. Layer up

Layers are key to flying comfortably while pregnant.

We pregnant folk run hot. And for good reason- we’ve increased our blood supply and have another human inside of us, adding to our weight and insulation. While some planes can run cold, others can get really hot.

And when it’s hot on a plane, it can be stifling! So wear layers so that you can adjust to every possibility!

For comfort, you’ll also want to avoid tight-fitting clothing (except for those compression socks- keep those tight!).

The one exception to that rule is wearing some maternity leggings- I swear by this pair! There’s no thick band at the top which makes it ideal for that baby bump!

12. Pack prenatals in an easy to reach spot

If you take your prenatal vitamin at a certain time every day, you’ll already know if you’ll need to take it while on the plane. And with the potential for flight delays, you might as well have it on hand.

So place your prenatal vitamins in an easy-to-reach spot in your bag. That way you don’t need to do any heavy lifting or rummaging to find them when you need to.

13. Rock a belly band

I had some back pain with my pregnancy that brought me to the chiropractor. She recommended getting a belly band like this one. While it’s not necessary for flying while pregnant, if you have experienced pain at all, it’s a great way to manage it!

Since chances are you’ll be walking a lot while toting around luggage and bags, this can be an especially great time to try out a belly band.

14. Don’t forget to pack stretch mark cream

Here’s one thing that I forgot to bring on a few of my trips: stretch mark cream for my belly. Since you’ll want to start using stretch mark cream early and consistently, try to not forget it! You can pump some of your stretch mark cream (I use this one) into a smaller container to make it TSA acceptable for a carry-on. This TSA-approved set is perfect for bringing smaller quantities of liquids and creams. My sister also swears by her bio-oil for stretch marks, and this 2-ounce bottle is small enough to pack in a carry-on.

15. Bring morning sickness pills

I hope your morning sickness isn’t as bad as mine was, but if it is, here’s a tip for you! There are morning sickness lozenges or prescription pills you can get from your OBGYN. You won’t want to forget these if you need them! Make sure to put them in an easy-to-reach place in your bag.

16. Air sickness bags

If you’ve been throwing up a lot, be prepared with air sickness bags. This will help not just on the plane but if you have a little emergency while standing in a long security line, etc. I always had two disposable plastic grocery bags with me in an easy-to-reach pocket in my purse. (I know, not very green, but we already had some of them at home).

17. Bring your own snacks

Only you know what you can tolerate these days. Bringing your own snacks helps guarantee that you’ll have food that can satisfy what you can stomach. I brought saltines with me on every flight. Eating them slowly to make sure I never had an empty stomach helped stave off my morning sickness.

18. Order ginger ale if you’re feeling nauseous

While carbonated beverages are generally a no-no, ginger ale can sometimes be an exception. If your stomach can tolerate carbonation, the ginger in ginger ale helps to calm nausea. (Tip: order both ginger ale and water when the flight attendant comes by! Don’t skimp on the water!)

19. Avoid very early morning flights

Don’t get me wrong… I love a good sunrise.

But from an airplane while pregnant? No thank you- I learned this the hard way.

This pregnancy flying tip is especially for those with morning sickness. Even if your morning sickness is more like afternoon sickness (like me), flying out on a very early flight is a recipe for disaster.

Here’s a personal example of why I’d advise against it: We had a 6:30 am international flight to Saint Lucia that we had to wake up at 4 am for. That led to not enough sleep (especially since I can never sleep well before an early flight. I always wake up with worry that I’ll miss my alarm!), which led to feeling extremely nauseous the whole entire day.

So if you’re prone to morning sickness, try to pick a flight that will allow you to get plenty of sleep the night before. Morning sickness and nausea are bad enough without adding lack of sleep to it!

20. Get the right luggage

The right luggage is key for smooth pregnancy flying!

Invest in a backpack or purse that slides over your suitcase handle so you don’t need to carry anything when you’re flying while pregnant. And if your suitcase doesn’t have four wheels, it’s about time you got one that does!

We love our Briggs & Riley suitcase, large tote (which will become my travel diaper bag- it’s so roomy!), and backpack. The tote and backpack have luggage pass-throughs so that we basically never have to wear them. Our luggage does the heavy lifting for us and is so easy to roll around.

21. Ask for help with luggage

I’ve been blessed to have my husband with me on almost all of the flights I’ve been on while pregnant, so he’s been in charge of the heavy lifting.

But if you’re flying alone, ask the flight attendant when you board or ask whoever’s around you to place your carry-on into the overhead bin for you! There’s no need to lift something that heavy- especially over your head.

Being pregnant, I’ve noticed that people are eager to help pregnant women out. It’s a huge blessing that I fully intend to cash in on- and you should too! Ask for help when you need it.

In conclusion…

Don’t be afraid of pregnancy flying! Go on that babymoon, go visit your family, go on an adventure! We went to Kauai on our babymoon and soaked up every minute (check out our Kauai itinerary here!).

I hope these tips have helped you prepare for flying while pregnant. And if you have any questions, let me know in the comments!

If you have more tips, drop them in the comments as well!

And if you’re looking for some great babymoon ideas or travel tips, check out these posts:

• Where to go on a Hawaii babymoon
• Best babymoon destinations in Texas
• The best Southwest Airlines destinations in 2023
• The essential international travel checklist

Safe travels,

Jasmine

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