Would you go on a late-term ‘babymoon’?

Pregnant woman in international airport looking at the flight information board, checking her flight
By Hannah Edensor


There used to be lots of different warnings to pregnant women about when to travel, what to eat, and what to wear.

But, thankfully, we feel everyone’s getting a little more laidback about mums-to-be, and nowhere is this more clear than in the travel industry.

According to new research from finder.com.au, one in five parents are jumping on the ‘babymoon’ trend squeezing in one last holiday before their new family member arrives.

However, finder.com.au analysis of airline restrictions and travel insurance cut-off dates shows couples could be caught out by the fine print if they choose to travel in the third trimester.

According to the finder.com.au survey of 2,000 parents, more than one in five (21 per cent) Aussie couples want to squeeze in a last-minute holiday before their new arrival, choosing to travel post the 28-week mark.

While the majority (16 per cent) of babymooners travel within Australia, 5 per cent risk jetsetting internationally close to their due date.

Bessie Hassan, Travel Insurance Expert at finder.com.au warns soon-to-be mums planning on hopping on a plane to check with their airline before booking a flight.

“Most airlines will require you to present a medical certificate stating you’re fit to travel after 28 weeks, regardless of the length of the flight. When travelling overseas, most airlines won’t let you fly after 36 weeks.

“Travel insurers also have cut-off dates for cover as early as 18 weeks, and some require you to take out a specific pregnancy policy, so it pays to read the fine print.

“Depending on the destination, overseas medical attention can be extremely expensive so it may be safer to stick to Australian shores,” says Ms Hassan.

finder.com.au stress-free babymoon checklist:

  1. Check with your medical practitioner that it’s safe for you to travel before booking flights. If you’ve been given the all-clear, request a medical certificate stating you’re fit to fly before heading to the airport.
  2. If you are planning on jumping on a plane interstate or overseas, look up the airline cut-off dates and restrictions for flying while pregnant before you book. This cut-off date can change depending on the flight duration, if you have had complications, are having more than one baby (twins, triplets), or if your child was conceived via IVF.
  3. Purchase a travel insurance policy that will cover pregnancy-related issues overseas. Many insurers will cover up to 32 weeks but some cut-off at 18 weeks, so it pays to compare policy options.
  4. Consider buying flexible flights or accommodation that you can cancel 24 hours before the booking. That way you have more flexibility if you need to cancel the trip.

To find out more about pregnancy insurance, click here. 

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