Fitness to fly

It's important that you're fit to fly, especially if you’re pregnant, are ill or have been injured.

Content women by window seat on the plane

If you're feeling unwell before your flight or been diagnosed with an infectious disease, and need to defer your travel plans, contact your local Qantas office or other booking provider to discuss your options.

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Medical clearance

If you’re ill or injured and travelling or returning home for treatment or rehabilitation, medical clearance may be required. Medical clearance helps us ensure your comfort, health and safety inflight including allowing for the provision of any specialised equipment or assistance you might need.

A medical clearance is needed if you:

  • have a medical condition that meets the criteria listed in our Travel Clearance Form (PDF);
  • or your doctor aren't sure if you're fit to travel;
  • need additional therapeutic oxygen;
  • require medical equipment inflight eg stretcher, humidicrib, ventilators, defibrillators, oxygen concentrators etc (CPAP device excepted);
  • are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms without a recent negative test; or
  • have a communicable disease or infection such as measles, chicken pox and influenza. 

For a comprehensive list of conditions, refer to the Travel Clearance Form (PDF).

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Travel clearance form

If medical clearance is needed, your treating doctor will need to complete the Travel Clearance Form for assessment in consultation with Qantas Medical Services, up to five days before travel. Once completed, return part A and B, where required by email to Qantas Special Handling or fax: +61 2 9490 1830.

Download the Travel Clearance Form (PDF).

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We're not able to process Travel Clearance Forms at the airport, and you'll need to submit your request no later than five days before departure.

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Particular conditions

Communicable diseases and infections

Where Qantas has made an individual assessment of you and reasonably concluded that you would pose a significant risk to the health or safety of customers or crew if you were to travel, you may not be accepted for travel unless or until the risk has been eliminated. This applies to conditions such as COVID-19, influenza, measles, and more as outlined in medical clearance 

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Acceptance for travel does not require medical clearance when you advise Qantas you have a history of DVT that has been appropriately medically managed. Refer to your health inflight and the Travel Clearance Form (PDF) for more information.

Scuba diving and decompression sickness

Due to the risk of decompression sickness, often known as 'the bends', if you’ve been scuba diving within 24 hours of your flight departure you won't be able to travel. 

If you've recently suffered from decompression sickness and your treatment was completed within 10 days of travel, you’ll also need medical clearance.

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Pregnant customers

After 28 weeks, you need to carry a certificate or letter from a registered medical practitioner or registered midwife confirming:

  • the estimated date of delivery
  • whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy
  • that your pregnancy is routine and that there are no complications.

The certificate or letter must be available on request and be carried with you at the airport and during the flight in your cabin baggage. If you do have complications with your pregnancy, medical clearance is also required.

Flights of 4 hours duration or greater

For routine pregnancies, you can travel up to the end of the 36th week for single pregnancies and the end of the 32nd week for multiple pregnancies (e.g. twins).

Flights of less than 4 hours duration

For routine pregnancies, you can travel up to the end of the 40th week for single pregnancies and the end of the 36th week for multiple pregnancies.

After delivery

Medical clearance is needed if you're travelling within 7 days of your delivery date. Infants cannot travel for 48 hours after delivery and need medical clearance to travel between 3 and 7 days after delivery.

Note: we don't represent that travel is safe for you at any particular point during your pregnancy. You must seek advice from your own medical practitioner before your flight. The periods referred to above are only our minimum requirements.

Country specific requirements for pregnant customers

Some countries place limitations on the entry of non-national pregnant women. It's best to check with the local consulate to confirm their country specific requirements.

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Before you travel

Where we've made an assessment and cleared you for travel, we'll contact you and confirm if anything further is required for travel. 

If you're not accepted for travel and you need to defer your plans, and:

  • Your flights were booked directly with us, contact your local Qantas office before departure to discuss your options.
  • Your flights were booked through a travel agency or third-party website, contact these companies directly to discuss your options.
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