Pregnancy and air travel

If you’re pregnant it's important to check a few key things before you book a flight.

• Always talk to your doctor before making a booking to see if it’s safe for you to travel
• When you enter the third trimester of your pregnancy (28 weeks or more) you need to carry a letter or certificate from your medical professional stating it is safe for you to fly (see below)
• If you’re having complications with your pregnancy, or expecting more than one child, you’ll need to get medical clearance before you fly
• We can’t guarantee that travelling while pregnant for you at any time will be safe for you and your baby

Can I fly with Jetstar if I’m pregnant?

There are a few additional things to consider if you’re pregnant and would like to fly with us.

To be safe, the best thing to do is get advice from your own doctor or midwife; they’ll know whether it’s a good idea for you to travel, especially during the later stages of pregnancy.

Whether you’ll be able to fly is also determined by the duration of the flight, what stage of pregnancy you’re in, if you’re expecting one child or more, and/or if you have any pregnancy complications.

Permitted travel

When you're in the third trimester of your pregnancy (28 weeks or more), remember you must bring specific documentation (see below) from your doctor before you’ll be allowed to fly.

When you reach the third trimester of your pregnancy you aren’t allowed to sit in an exit row seat on board any Jetstar aircraft. This is a safety measure to protect you and your baby, as you might be at risk if you need to operate the heavy exit door during an emergency.

Don’t forget: when you’re travelling internationally some countries limit the entry of non-national pregnant passengers. You must check with the relevant embassy or consulate before you travel, to see if these limitations will apply to you.

Note for Jetstar Asia (3K) and Jetstar Japan (GK) International passengers

• When your pregnancy has reached 28 weeks or more it’s mandatory to carry a certificate or letter from a registered doctor or midwife.
• If you’re travelling on Jetstar Asia (3K) you won’t be able to sit in an exit row if you are in any stage of pregnancy.

If I’m pregnant do I need bring medical documentation with me when I travel?

If you’re having an uncomplicated pregnancy and are travelling within your first 28 weeks, you don’t need to bring any pregnancy-related medical documentation.

When your pregnancy has reached 28 weeks or more you will need to carry a certificate or letter from a registered doctor or registered midwife, confirming:

• the approximate due date
• whether it’s a single or multiple pregnancy
• that your pregnancy is complication-free

Carry this document with you at the airport and in your carry-on baggage, as it needs to be available on request.

Please note: when travelling on Japan domestic flights operated by Jetstar Japan (GK), if you're more than 35 weeks pregnant you will need to meet the above requirements for travel.

What if I have complications with my pregnancy?

You’ll need to get a medical clearance if your pregnancy is not routine or has complications. You can find the medical clearance forms here. 

Carry this document with you at the airport and in your carry-on baggage, as it must be available on request.

How soon after giving birth is it OK for me to travel?

You’ll need to get medical clearance if you’re travelling up to 7 days after giving birth.

Your baby must be at least 48 hours old before they can travel on Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K) and Jetstar Japan (GK) flights. They will need medical clearance to travel between 3 and 7 days after birth.