Airline pregnancy policies compared
Every major carrier serving the UK: cut-off weeks for single and multiple pregnancies, when a letter is required, and how recently it must be dated.
The short answer. Pregnancy cut-offs are not standardised. Across the ten carriers here they range from the end of week 32 (Air India) to the end of week 36 (British Airways, TUI, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways). Most require a letter from week 28 or 29 — but easyJet requires none at all.
Cut-offs and letter requirements
From each airline’s own published policy, checked 24 August 2026. The week shown is the last week the airline will carry you.
| Airline | Single pregnancy | Multiple | Letter from | Dated within |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| easyJet | End of week 35 | End of week 32 | None required | Not specified |
| Ryanair | End of week 36 | End of week 32 | Week 28 | dated within 2 weeks of the booked flight |
| Jet2 | End of week 35 | End of week 33 | Week 28 | dated within 7 days of the outbound flight and 16 days of the return |
| TUI | End of week 36 | End of week 32 | Week 29 | no fixed window published — date it as close to travel as possible |
| British Airways | End of week 36 | End of week 32 | Week 28 | dated as close to the travel date as possible |
| Wizz Air | Week 34 | Week 32 | Week 28 | issued within 6 days of the flight date |
| Virgin Atlantic | End of week 36 | End of week 32 | Week 28 | dated within 10 days of the outbound travel date |
| Emirates | End of week 36 | End of week 32 | Week 29 | no fixed window published — date it as close to travel as possible |
| Qatar Airways | Week 36 | Week 32 | Week 29 | completed no more than 10 days before the initial departure date |
| Air India | Week 32 | Week 32 | Week 32 | issued within 72 hours of departure |
Reading the table properly
The cut-off applies on the day you fly, both ways. This is the single biggest cause of ruined trips. If your carrier stops at the end of week 36 and you are 35 weeks on the outbound, a ten-day holiday puts you over the limit coming home. No letter fixes that. Work backwards from the return date.
“End of week 36” and “36 weeks” are not the same thing. Airlines phrase this inconsistently. TUI is the clearest: you must have flown home before the start of your 37th week. Where wording is ambiguous, assume the stricter reading and confirm with the airline in writing.
Multiple pregnancies lose about four weeks. Most carriers stop at the end of week 32 for twins against week 36 for a single pregnancy. Jet2 is the most generous at the end of week 33.
The dating window is a real trap. Air India wants the certificate within 72 hours of departure; Wizz Air within six days; Jet2 within seven days of the outbound leg; Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic within ten days; Ryanair within two weeks. Book the appointment to land inside that window, not as early as possible.
Complicated pregnancies are treated differently everywhere. If you have had bleeding, a short cervix, pre-eclampsia, a previous premature birth, or you are under additional monitoring, expect the airline to want formal medical clearance through a MEDIF form rather than a GP letter — Qatar Airways says so explicitly. Allow extra time. How MEDIF clearance works.
What the letter has to contain
Pooled from the requirements each airline publishes. A letter covering all of these satisfies every carrier in the table.
| The letter should state | Required by |
|---|---|
| Your name and date of birth | Every airline |
| Gestational age on the date of examination | Most; explicitly required by Qatar Airways and TUI |
| Estimated date of delivery | Every airline that requires a letter |
| Single or multiple pregnancy | Explicitly required by TUI, Emirates and Qatar Airways |
| Confirmation there are no complications | Emirates, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic |
| Fit to fly for the whole journey including the return | British Airways, Qatar Airways |
| Clinician’s signature, stamp and date | Every airline; BA and Jet2 specify a stamp |
| Written in English | Explicitly required by Qatar Airways |
Ryanair, British Airways, Jet2 and Qatar Airways all publish their own pregnancy form and would rather have that completed than a free-text letter. If you are flying with one of them, use their form — it removes any argument at the gate.
Common questions
Which airline lets you fly latest in pregnancy?
British Airways, TUI, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Qatar Airways all carry an uncomplicated single pregnancy to the end of week 36. TUI phrases it usefully: you must have flown home before the start of your 37th week.
Which airline has the earliest cut-off?
Air India, at the end of week 32 as standard — extended to week 35 only with a MEDIF form and an obstetrician’s certificate. Among European carriers, Wizz Air is earliest at 34 weeks.
Do I need a separate letter for the flight home?
Usually not, provided the letter still falls inside the airline’s dating window on the return date and you are still within its week limit. British Airways and Qatar Airways both say the letter should cover the entire journey. The limit that catches people is the week limit on the return, not the letter.
Can a midwife sign the letter, or does it have to be a doctor?
Ryanair, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, TUI and Jet2 all accept a midwife’s letter. In practice many NHS midwives decline because it falls outside their NHS role. A GP letter is accepted everywhere a midwife letter would be.
What if I am flying with two different airlines?
You must satisfy both, and the stricter one governs. A Wizz Air outbound at 33 weeks with a British Airways return at 35 weeks means the Wizz Air limit decides whether you can start the trip at all. Check every carrier on the itinerary, including code-shares.
Related
Sources. The airline and clinical facts on this page were checked against these primary sources on 24 August 2026. Airline policies change without notice — always confirm with your airline before you book or travel.
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