Fitness to fly – budget for it!

June 29, 2009 at 10:32 pm | In Musings, Paperwork, Pregnancy | 11 Comments
Tags: fitness to fly, low-cost airline

All the airlines seem to have different ideas about pregnant women and flying. If one of my women tells me that she is about to depart for foreign climes via an airline, and she is 28 – 34 weeks pregnant, I make sure that she has a letter from me informing ‘whom it may concern’ that, at the time I examined her, I could see no reason to doubt her fitness to be transported by airplane. The G.Ps charge £15 for the same letter, I just do it, I don’t think that I can make a charge.

On Friday I saw someone who had just returned from Portugal. Before she went she asked me for a F2F letter, unfortunately her flight was 8 days away and the airline she was flying with demand that the examination be within 5 days of flying, so I couldn’t issue it and the G.P (earned)gained £15. That wasn’t the end of the ‘taxes’ for flying when pregnant, oh no, the ‘low cost’ airline have got a particularly wonderful little wheeze for the unsuspecting, pregnant traveller, you need another F2F to get back from your holiday, even if it was only for 1 week. Apparently, when you try to check-in for the return journey, they ask for your letter, observe that it was signed over 5 days before, and send you to a local doc. The local doc is jolly thorough, far more than the old G.P or midwife back in blighty, not only does he check blood pressure and urine, he also does a scan. Wonderful service, if totally unnecessary. Oh yes, but it comes at a cost, €96. The local doc must love it, wonder how he got the airline to recommend him, was it Easy?

Having heard this story I decided to see if this is now common practice amongst the airlines, do they all demand a certificate/letter signed within 5 days of flying?

Ryanair - Once your pregnancy has entered its 28th week, we ask that you carry with you a letter from your obstetrician stating the pregnancy is uncomplicated and confirming the expected date of delivery. In this letter, the doctor should state that you are in good health, that he/she is happy for you to fly, and that in his/her opinion there is no reason why you cannot fly. No timescale for signing here but the stipulation of ‘obstetrician’ may cause problems for women having midwife-led care.

Quantas - Medical clearance is only required if you are having complications of pregnancy. International travel is not permitted after the 36th week for routine pregnancies or the 32nd week for routine multiple pregnancies. Very laid-back, dare I say ’sensible’ attitude!

Flybe - Between 28 and the end of 33 weeks, we require a doctor’s note certifying fitness for air travel. No time specification.

Monarch - If you are 28-34 weeks pregnant, you will need to carry with you a doctor or midwifes certificate of fitness to fly. The certificate will only be accepted if:

It is dated not more than 14 days prior to the start date of your trip.
It states the expected date of delivery of your baby.
Your doctor or midwife states that you are in good health, that they are happy for you to fly, and that (in their opinion) there is no reason why you cannot fly.

(Yeah, ‘midwife’)

BA – After your pregnancy has entered its 28th week, we ask that you carry with you a letter from your doctor or midwife, stating the pregnancy is uncomplicated and confirming the expected date of delivery. In this letter, your doctor should state that you are in good health, that they are happy for you to fly, and that (in their opinion) there is no reason why you cannot fly.

Checked other airlines and they all, so far, do not have the 5 day rule of the budget airline.

My advise to any woman travelling after 28 weeks of pregnancy and intending on not returning for 5+days, is to add £100 to the cost of flights as quoted by ‘Europe’s leading low-cost airline’ to allow for satisfying their F2F demands.

I have attempted to contact the company involved by email, I have discovered that this is impossible. I could phone their customer services but I really don’t want to throw more money at them. So, if anyone from the company in question would like to comment on their policy and why no other airline has the 5 day rule and why an unnecessary scan is performed, I would really love it.

11 Comments »

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That’s shocking. It didn’t use to be like that – in my naivity I wonder what made them introduce such a daft rule, or could they really be earning a commission?

Comment by cartside — June 30, 2009 #

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- cartside – As I haven’t discussed this with the airline the only non-contentious reason I can think of is that they have experienced a number of in-flight emergencies involving pregnant women. However, since many larger carriers have not taken action, it does make me wonder!
  
  Comment by midwifemuse — June 30, 2009 #
  
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That’s incredible – I’ve only flown BA when heavily pregnant and they were very laid back about it all, more so than I was to be honest !

One other thing to bear in mind is the cost of travel insurance, most won’t cover pregnant ladies at all or will want extra premiums (and then check the small print because a lot of stuff may not be covered)

This will be one reason we’ll holiday in the UK this year – getting overseas with a bump is just too much like hard work

Comment by Muddling Along Mummy — June 30, 2009 #

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- Muddling along Mummy – I definitely think that the word needs to be spread about this one as £100 in additional cost changes a ‘cheap flight’ into one costing more than an airline who allow seat booking etc.
  Travel insurance can be problematic after 32 weeks, singleton pregnancy, 28 weeks for multiples but many companes provide it earlier as long as they know when you purchase it that you are pregnant.http://www.sunselection.co.uk/pregnancy.php?gclid=CJ7Hk76jspsCFZ0U4wodDCqgQQ
  Hope you have a good holiday.
  
  Comment by midwifemuse — June 30, 2009 #
  
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Ryanair doubtless specifies an obstetrician because this is still the default mode of care in Ireland, though there are excellent midwife-led teams as well. In my last pregnancy my obstetrician refused to sign the letter, saying it was Ryanair trying to make him legally responsible if anything went wrong. I just turned up and flew anyway and wasn’t asked for a letter (I never looked very big, and I was only going to Leeds).

The case you mention is a pretty outrageous scam. And doesn’t it put you at risk of missing your flight and having to pay for another one?

Comment by kenanddot — June 30, 2009 #

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- kenanddot – Doesn’t sound as if your obstetrician had much confidence in his skill at recognising normality! In my letter I always say that at ‘the time of examination’ the woman was fit to fly. No one is psychic.
  I do wonder if it is a scam. Before I wrote about it I checked the airline’s website because I thought it may be a localised fiddle at Faro, but it is company policy so surely they wouldn’t operate a money-grabbing scheme so blatantly?
  The woman I was speaking to said it was all well organised, immediate appointment with Dr! Very organised.
  I’m thinkng of setting up a caravan next to an airport served by the airline and undercutting the local private facility.
  
  Comment by midwifemuse — June 30, 2009 #
  
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Hm, surely SOMEone msut be able to get at the airline to ask them?! That’s outrageous!

Comment by Blue Spice — June 30, 2009 #

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- Blue Spice – Found this article from back in 2008, apparently the policy has been in action all this time.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080775/Down-earth-bump–easyJet-evicts-pregnant-woman-having-doctors-note.html
  Perhaps the pregnant consumer should question EasyJet, or withdraw custom.
  
  Comment by midwifemuse — June 30, 2009 #
  
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Hi,
My name is Virginia. I live in north Bristol. In 1 week time I will flying to Spain with Ryanair and I´ll be 28 weeks of pregnancy. My GP is asking me for a £38 fee to write the letter. My midwife said they don´t do that (though Ryanair says in the web that they accept letter from midwives also). I´d like to ask if somebody knows any GP or clinic or midwife here in Bristol or surroundings who can do the letter for me for a more reasonable price.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Virginia.

Comment by Virginia — July 11, 2009 #

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- Virginia – Sorry I’ve taken so long to reply. I really can’t give you any ideas as I’m stumped by the fact that your midwife doesn’t provide fitness to fly letters, unless you have medical issues affecting your pregnancy. Crikey, I didn’t realise that G.P’s charged that much!
  Enjoy your holiday.
  
  Comment by midwifemuse — July 15, 2009 #
  
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I found this on the airline’s website – not sure if perhaps it has been changed recently…..

“When travelling between 28 – 35 (inclusive) weeks a medical certificate issued by a doctor or midwife confirming the number of weeks of pregnancy is required confirming that the passenger is fit to fly. The certificate must be dated within 5 days of the outbound travel date.”

I will be travelling with them to Spain between my 31 and 32 week and intend to just take a letter from my midwife/GP. But I shall definitely be printing out the above, their Carrier regulations! Hmm, perhaps ‘local interpretation’ of the rules has led to certain ’scams’…

Comment by Katie — July 18, 2009 #

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