Special Needs

Pregnant women

All you need to know about travelling safely.
Even when pregnant, be sure to enjoy a trip on board TAP aircraft.
See our recommendations for you, and travel safely.

What is the maximum gestation age allowed for travel?

  • 36 weeks or up to 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery for a pregnancy without complications
  • 32 weeks When pregnant with twins, triplets, etc., for a pregnancy without complications

In both cases, expectant mothers who are 28 or more weeks pregnant must carry a medical declaration stating both the length of gestation and that there are no complications.
In this document the doctor must also certify that the pregnancy does not prevent her from flying.

Prior permission from the TAP doctor is required in the following situations:

  • medium- or high risk pregnancy;
  • pregnancy with complications;
  • no complications, over 36 weeks pregnant;
  • over 32 weeks pregnant with twins, triplets;
  • doubts as to gestation time and expected date of delivery;
  • expected complications during delivery;
  • risk of miscarriage or recent miscarriage.
The Medical Information for Fitness to Travel - MEDIF (PDF, 0.1MB, EN) form must be fulfilled, signed and stamped (sticker or stamp) by the passenger's assistant doctor and sent to FAX no. (+351) 21 841 5880 or email: medical.cases@tap.pt, up to 48 hours before the trip. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee its provision.

Useful recommendations

Some practical advice to help you feel more comfortable throughout the trip.

Before the flight

  • Get to the airport in plenty of time so that all the boarding procedures and travel inside the airport can be done calmly;
  • Request an aisle seat so that it is easier to go to the toilet and take short walks, particularly on longer flights.

During the flight

  • Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory. Place it below your belly in the pelvic region to avoid putting pressure on the womb;
  • We do not recommend the ingestion of fizzy drinks or certain vegetables before or during the flight as they cause gas to expand in the intestines, which may cause discomfort during the flight;
  • The air in the cabin is drier than on the ground, so pregnant women must drink water frequently during the flight;
  • To reduce the risk of deep-vein thrombosis, particularly on flights of over three hours, pregnant women are encouraged to do leg exercises in their seat;
  • It is not advisable to travel less than 7 days after giving birth. The same applies for new-born babies.

After the flight

  • If you have crossed more than three time zones during the flight try to adapt your internal clock to the local time, by having your meals according to local time, going out in the sunlight and moderately exercising, such as short walks. This will help your body clock to adjust faster;
  • Medication for jet-lag is not recommended in pregnancy.