US airlines set very different rules for pregnant passengers. Some ask for nothing until the last days, others ask for a doctor's letter well before the due date, and some only give advice. The 2023 version of this article covered eight airlines from older text. This update uses the airlines' own pages that we could read, and it says where we could not. It is general information and not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before you fly.
Side by side
| Airline | When a certificate or letter is needed | What the airline says |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | Never | Delta does not restrict flying while pregnant and does not require a medical certificate. |
| United | From 36 weeks, or for a high-risk pregnancy | You may need medical clearance. United suggests a doctor's note dated within 72 hours of departure and says review can take 2 to 3 days. |
| American | If your due date is within 4 weeks of the flight | You must provide a doctor's certificate saying you were recently examined and are fit to fly. |
| JetBlue | If you expect to deliver within 7 days | You cannot fly without a doctor's letter. JetBlue lists no week limit before that. |
| Southwest | Not required on its page | Consult your doctor. Southwest recommends against air travel from the 38th week. A pregnant passenger may be asked not to sit in an exit row. |
| Frontier | Not required on its page | You can fly while pregnant. Frontier says air travel may carry risks such as complications or early labour, that passengers who are in the ninth month should speak to their doctor first, and that flying means accepting those risks. |
What the letters must say
- JetBlue: the letter is dated no more than 72 hours before departure. It states that the doctor examined you and found you physically fit for air travel on the date of the flight, and that your estimated delivery date is after the date of your last flight.
- United: the note says your doctor has cleared you as fit for air travel on your dates and for the length of the flight, and that your estimated delivery date is after your travel dates. Send it to corpmed@united.com as early as you can.
- American: the certificate states that you were recently examined and are fit to fly.
Partner airlines
JetBlue warns that its codeshare and interline partners may have more restrictive policies. The same can be true on any trip that includes a partner or regional carrier, so check the rules of the airline that operates each flight.
Airlines we could not confirm
- Alaska and Hawaiian: Alaska's website refuses automated readers, and we did not find a Hawaiian page on pregnancy.
- Spirit: its help site did not load for us. Read its contract of carriage and help article before you fly.
- Allegiant: we did not find a pregnancy rule.
Before you book
- Count your weeks of pregnancy on the date of the return flight too. Many rules depend on the due date, not on the departure date.
- Ask your doctor whether you are fit for the whole journey, including connections and time at the airport.
- Keep the doctor's letter on paper and on your phone. If the letter has to be recent, get it close to departure.
Questions and comments