Flying when pregnant can be a bit concerning. First, should you fly at all? When should you stop flying? I am not a doctor, so I would advise you first to ask your doctor or midwife. Secondly, there are some guidelines that you can find on healthcare websites:
- https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/travelling/
- https://www.nct.org.uk/pregnancy/travelling-when-pregnant/flying-when-pregnant-what-you-need-know
After making your decision about flying, I would like to share my experience of flying while pregnant.
Airline Choice
Although I could not find much information about airline support during pregnancy, in my experience, TAP Airlines offers preferential boarding for pregnant women, whereas Norwegian does not. This can be a game changer on flights with long queues and hurried people. Thus, I would recommend that you check online if others have mentioned priority boarding. It's safe to say that Norwegian offers no priority boarding to families and elders, so bear that in mind. They refused priority boarding to a woman with two children in the queue in front of me. Perhaps that depends on the country laws, but be aware that not all places give priority to pregnant women.
I was flying alone, so I needed help putting my luggage on the belt and taking it off. No airline help here—even if you contact them and ask for support. The best I could get was a kind gentleman from the customs area to help me pick up my luggage, and the person checking in my luggage lifted it on my behalf.
Passport control
I went through only one passport control that had a priority queue. Here, surprise surprise, after the kind lady opened the queue for me (you cannot go there without talking to staff), the person checking my passport asked me for proof that I was pregnant! I was shocked; I am visibly pregnant—even people with no children have asked me if I was expecting! So my advice is: bring with you some kind of proof of pregnancy. I suppose an ultrasound or a doctor's confirmation of pregnancy should be enough.
Packing
Pack light, since you will not be able to carry a lot of weight. Give preference to putting the weight in a carry-on instead of a backpack.
Drink water
I would recommend that you refill your water bottles at the airport you are flying from. Generally speaking, all airports have water fountains. The only one I could never find a fountain in is Lisbon's airport.
About my trip
I have to share that, since TAP doesn’t allow seat selection without an extra fee, I paid for a seat where I had a higher chance of flying without anyone next to me. I was praying for the seat to stay empty, and so was my family. Blessing received: no one next to me for the almost 10 hours of flight! What a relief to be able to lie down while traveling!
' “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! ' Matthew 7:7-11
This is my experience flying while pregnant. I wish you great trips and, until next time, stay safe!
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