By The Escape desk · Last verified 11 October 2026
On most airlines you can fly without any paperwork up to about 28 weeks of pregnancy. After that you need a doctor’s letter (medical certificate) confirming you are fit to fly, how many weeks pregnant you are and your expected delivery date. Singapore Airlines requires the letter from 29 weeks, dated within 10 days of your first flight after 28 weeks, and does not allow travel beyond 36 weeks for a single pregnancy or 32 weeks for twins or more. AirAsia is reported to refuse carriage from 35 weeks. Crucially, the rules apply to every flight, so the week you fly home matters as much as the week you leave.
A babymoon or a family trip in pregnancy is very doable with a little planning. Talk to your gynaecologist first, then use this guide to make sure the airline says yes too.
Quick facts
- Up to 28 weeks: usually no letter needed.
- Singapore Airlines: letter from 29 weeks; no travel beyond 36 weeks (single) or 32 weeks (multiple).
- Letter timing (SQ): dated within 10 days of your first flight after 28 weeks.
- AirAsia (reported): letter from 28 weeks, dated within 30 days; no travel from 35 weeks.
- Return flights: if you will be past 28 weeks on the way home, you need the letter for that flight.
- Seating: pregnant passengers cannot sit in emergency exit rows on SQ.
Airline cut-offs compared
| Airline | Letter needed from | Letter dated within | No travel (single / multiple) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Airlines | 29 weeks | 10 days | Beyond 36 / beyond 32 weeks |
| Scoot (reported) | 29 weeks | 10 days | 36 / 32 weeks |
| AirAsia (reported) | 28 weeks | 30 days | From 35 weeks, single or multiple |
| Malaysia Airlines (reported) | 29 weeks | Check with airline | 36 / 32 weeks |
| Qantas (reported) | 28 weeks | Check with airline | End of 40 weeks / 36 weeks, by flight length |
Singapore Airlines’ rules are from its own site. Other airlines’ rules are as reported by travel guides in 2025 and 2026, and airlines change them; confirm on the airline’s special assistance page before you book, and again before you fly.
What the doctor’s letter must say
- That you are fit to travel by air.
- How many weeks pregnant you are, and whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy.
- Your estimated date of delivery.
- That the pregnancy is uncomplicated, if that applies; complicated pregnancies need the airline’s specific clearance.
- A date that falls inside the airline’s window: within 10 days of the flight on Singapore Airlines, or within 30 days on AirAsia as reported.
Carry the original in your hand luggage and show it at check-in if asked. AirAsia is also reported to ask passengers beyond 27 weeks to declare the pregnancy and sign a release form at the counter.
A worked example: the return-flight trap
You are 27 weeks pregnant and plan a 10-day holiday on Singapore Airlines. Outbound, at 27 weeks, you need no letter. Ten days later you are about 28 weeks and 3 days on the way home, which is past 28 weeks, so SQ’s rule applies: you need a letter for the return, dated within 10 days of that flight. A letter dated the day before you leave would be 11 days old by then and too early, so ask your doctor to date it no more than 10 days before your return flight, or see a doctor at your destination. Now try the same trip at 34 weeks on AirAsia: you would be about 35 weeks on the return, past the reported cut-off, and could be refused boarding.
Before you book
- Insurance: check whether your travel policy covers pregnancy complications and childbirth overseas, and up to which week. Many limit cover.
- Destination: consider healthcare quality and any health advisories at your destination.
- Comfort: an aisle seat helps with walking and bathroom trips on longer flights.
- Dates: count your weeks on each flight date, not just the day you leave.
The WahLiao Verdict
Plan your trip so that both flights fall before 28 weeks if you can; it removes paperwork and worry. If not, book with an airline whose cut-off leaves you a comfortable margin, get a letter dated close to departure, and check your insurance wording before paying. Your doctor’s view comes first, the airline’s rule second, and your comfort a close third.
Questions people ask
Do I need a letter before 28 weeks?
Usually not, but some airlines ask for documentation earlier; check your airline’s page, and carry your antenatal records anyway.
Why are twins treated differently?
Multiple pregnancies carry a higher chance of early labour, so airlines such as Singapore Airlines set an earlier cut-off: beyond 32 weeks instead of 36.
Can the airline refuse me even with a letter?
Yes, if you are past its cut-off week. A letter does not override the limit.
Can I sit in an exit row?
Not on Singapore Airlines, which bars expectant passengers from emergency exit rows for safety reasons. Other airlines have similar rules.
Sources: Singapore Airlines, expectant women; Trip.com, airline pregnancy rules compared; Air Traveler Club, AirAsia’s 35-week cut-off. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Travel Insurance in Singapore: What It Covers and What It Doesn’t · Travelling With Medication: The Three-Month Rule and What Needs Approval · Back to The Escape
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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