I need to travel next week (3d-8th of April) and I am pregnant in the 29th-30th week.
I will be flying with Turkish Airlines, with transit in Istanbul (which I am looking forward to, because the Star Alliance lounge there is amazing).
Anyway, Turkish requires the following for pregnant women between the 28th and 36th week:
Medical clearance, dated 7 days prior to the flight. Doctor’s name and surname, diploma number , signature must be shown clearly on the medical clearance. The report should be issued in English or Turkish. So, I have an appointment booked at Unispital in Zurich on April 2nd (one day before I travel), and I would ideally like to get the medical clearance certificate from the doctor there.
I noticed that doctors' signatures do not state any diploma number, will s/he be willing to provide one? Also, will s/he be willing to write the certificate in English? And what do I do if they refuse? Could I go to the "permanence" at the HB in Zurich and ask for a certificate in English?
Funny, I have suddenly become more stressed about getting the appropriate medical clearance than about flying (actually I love flying so not worried at all about this part).
If anyone has any experience/advice/ideas for backup to share, I would be grateful!
Congratulationss..
I dont know about unispital zurich , but in basel it was pretty easy. The doctor at frauenspital had a ready typed in english form. She just wrote my name and weeks and signed and stamped.
I guess it should be very easy to get one at unispital zurich. Dont stress out and enjoy every moment
I doubt it will be a problem as long as it has the doctor's details and the hospital letterhead or stamp on it.
hi,
I do not know how it looks here with doctors as I am in Switzerland just few months.
But I was flying with Turkish Airline two years ego (Berlin- Istambul- Jakarta and back) and no one check any paper.
There was at least ten women that were pregnant and had very big belly. In my opionion after the time that pregnant women are allowed to fly but anyway the airline service allowed them go on board.
As bureaucracy involves precious time, - which you don't have since you fly the next day after your appointment - to be on the safe side, I'd call the hospital tomorrow and tell them what you need to take with you when you leave the hospital, so they can prepare it.
Enjoy your flight
Why do you need a medical report?
Just tell that you are 25 weeks pregnant?
Thank you all for your responses!
Actually, I flew with Turkish Airlines again 6 weeks ago (no medical clearance was required at that stage) and the ground attendant did ask for a certificate (to verify that I was indeed less than 28 weeks pregnant). Thankfully I had my USB stick with me (the one provided by the Unispital where they store all the medical records, they call it e-Mutterpass). Afterwards she kindly printed the relevant pages out for me (which was good, since I was asked again in Istanbul).
That flight was from Thessaloniki to Istanbul to Zurich (neither leg is really long, just three hours).
>>> cazibell, your flight to Jakarta was a long one. Who knows, maybe they have had a couple of deliveries onboard since and want to be extra careful?
Follow-up:
The doctor at Unispital Zurich prepared the letter for me, stating that I was fit to travel.
Turkish Airlines did ask for it, on two out of the four legs of my short trip (glad I was prepared).
Thanks everyone!