PREGNANT PASSENGERS

At Turkish Airlines, we aim to ensure that passengers traveling while pregnant have a problem-free flight experience. We take into account all the needs of our pregnant passengers and recommend careful reading of the detailed travel information contained on this page.

Traveling while pregnant

Our policy on flying while pregnant depends on both the passenger’s stage of pregnancy and state of health. Particularly for long flights, even passengers in good health should obtain approval from their doctor.

We rely on information given to us by the passenger about their stage of pregnancy. For this reason, it is extremely important that our passengers give us correct information about this.

Passengers who are up to 28 weeks pregnant may travel without a doctor’s note. Passengers between 28–35 weeks (190–244 days) (beginning of the 28th week to end of the 35th week) pregnant with a singleton pregnancy (not a multiple pregnancy) may board the flight with a doctor’s note stating ‘There are no medical contraindications for air travel.’ This medical certificate is also required for passengers with a multiple pregnancy who are between 28–31 weeks (190–216 days) pregnant.

Regardless of any doctor’s note, we do not allow passengers onboard who are expecting 1 baby and are entering or are beyond their 36th week of pregnancy or passengers expecting more than 1 baby and entering or beyond their 32nd week of pregnancy.

Rules for flying while pregnant

Stage of pregnancy
1–27 weeks 28–31 weeks 32–35 weeks 36 weeks and over
Expecting 1 baby Able to fly Doctor’s note required Doctor’s note required Unable to fly
Expecting more than 1 baby Unable to fly

Our advice for traveling while pregnant

  • Please visit your doctor for a check-up and take careful note of any advice you receive regarding long flights.
  • Choose Business Class for transatlantic journeys. You will be able to move your legs around more easily due to the extra legroom, eliminating the risk of circulation problems.
  • Travel with a companion and make sure they carry the contact details of your doctor.
  • Drink plenty of water and avoid dehydrating drinks such as tea and coffee during the flight.
  • Take regular walks inside the plane in order to increase your circulation, especially on long flights.
  • Remember to select aisle seats during check-in so it will be easier for you to reach the toilet.
  • Make sure you bring all health-related notes from your doctor with you. If you are going abroad, ensure that these notes are in English. Before setting off on your journey, make a note of the contact details of the health center that will be nearest to where you are staying.
  • Avoid using sleeping pills to reduce the effects of jetlag.
Pregnant passengers who are required to present a medical certificate to board a flight must have obtained the certificate, in Turkish or in English, within ten days prior to the flight date. Your certificate must include the issuing doctor’s full name, license number, signature, and the date the certificate was issued.