Special Needs

Pregnant women

All you need to know about traveling safely.
Even if you’re pregnant, you can enjoy a TAP flight. 
See our recommendations for you, and travel safely.

How late in pregnancy can you fly?

  • 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 or other multiple, for an uncomplicated pregnancy


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, but over 36 weeks pregnant
  • over 32 weeks pregnant with twins or triplets
  • uncertainty as to gestational time and expected date of delivery
  • expected complications during delivery
  • risk of miscarriage or recent miscarriage
The Medical Information for Fitness to Travel form - MEDIF (PDF, 0.1MB, EN) 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 tips

Some practical advice to help you be more comfortable during the trip.

Before the flight

  • Get to the airport in plenty of time so you can get all the check-in and boarding procedures done calmly and get around inside the airport without rushing.
  • Request an aisle seat to make it easier to go to the lavatory and take short walks, particularly on longer flights:

During the flight

  • Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory. Place it below your belly in the pelvic region to avoid putting pressure on the womb.
  • We do not recommend drinking carbonated beverages or eating gassy foods before or during the flight because gas in the intestines tends to expand at altitude, which may cause discomfort during the flight.
  • The air in the cabin is drier than on the ground, so pregnant women should drink water frequently during the flight.
  • To reduce the risk of deep-vein thrombosis, particularly on flights over three hours long, 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 to newborn babies.

After the flight:

  • If you have crossed more than three time zones during the flight, try to adjust your internal clock to the local time by having your meals according to local time, spending time out in sunlight and doing moderate exercise, like taking short walks. This will help your biological clock adjust faster.
  • Medication for jet lag is not recommended in pregnancy.