Until the end of the 36th week of pregnancy, i.e. until four weeks before the expected delivery date, expectant mothers whose pregnancy has progressed smoothly and without complications can travel on SWISS flights. If you are expecting a multiple birth and the pregnancy is proceeding without complications, you can fly until the end of the 32nd week of pregnancy.

While it is not a requirement, we recommend that expectant mothers beyond the 28th week of their pregnancy carry a medical certificate with them stating that their pregnancy is proceeding smoothly and does not prevent the patient from flying. The expected delivery date should also be stated.

Pregnant women also run a higher risk of developing deep-vein thrombosis throughout their pregnancy, so we recommend that you drink plenty of fluids and wear compression stockings during the flight. Ideally, we also recommend that you discuss your flight plans with your gynaecologist in advance to minimise any potential additional risks.

If you are unsure about flying in your particular situation, please contact SWISS Medical Services directly.

We offer complimentary special meals on all our intercontinental flights. You can order your meals as early as while making your booking on swiss.com (Step 4, Options). To find your preferred meals, please take a look at our wide range of special meals and their ingredients.

​More information about special meals

If you are a diabetic, you should note the following information for your flight and during your trip.

Did you arrive at your destination exhausted and feeling flat? This phenomenon is best known to long-haul fliers as jet lag.

People usually live according to a 24-hour cycle. Your heart and breathing rates slow down while you sleep, your blood pressure falls, your muscles relax, and your mental and psychomotor capacity is significantly reduced.

The rapid change of location to a different time zone brings about a phase shift in the body’s daily rhythm. It not only interrupts your sleep and waking cycle, it also disturbs the regular action of a large number of different bodily functions that work to a 24-hour cycle.

The most frequent consequences are fatigue and a reduced reactive capacity, combined with difficulties with memory and concentration. A feeling of exhaustion due to disturbed sleep can also cause headaches and nausea.

The effects of jet lag are also greater when you fly eastwards compared to flying westwards. The reason for this difference is that the body’s “internal clock” follows a cycle longer than 24 hours. So if you fly from east to west (for example from Germany to the USA), the day is longer, which generally suits your biological rhythm better. The human body adjusts to the new time 20% faster than with a flight from west to east (for example from Germany to Thailand) because you “lose” several hours in the process.

During your flight

• Reset your watch to the time at your destination while you’re on board the aircraft so you become accustomed mentally to the new time rhythm.

After arrival

• Try to switch to the daily rhythm at your destination, i.e. by eating at the times of your guest country and only go to bed when the sun sets.
  
• Try to get enough sleep the first night after you arrive.
  
• As far as possible avoid any strenuous activities for the first two days after landing so that your body can adjust to the new time rhythm.
  
• Avoid taking sleeping tablets and melatonin, because these disturb your body even more.
  
• Spend as much time outdoors as possible. Daylight helps your body adjust to the new environment more quickly.
  
• On short trips you should keep to the day-night cycle of your home country as much as possible – this also helps you avoid “double” jet lag.
  
• Stay at home for one to two days after your trip if you can, so that you can readjust gently to your daily rhythm at home.

Before your trip

• Try to get used to the new daily rhythm a few days before your trip by going to bed a couple of hours later.
  
• Plan your arrival as far as possible around midday so you can benefit from the brightest light of the day.
  
• Plan any important appointments or meetings in your destination country at a time when you feel most awake, i.e. in the morning after a westward flight.

During your flight

• Try to stay awake during your flight.
  
• Exercise and drink plenty of non-alcoholic drinks to combat your natural need to sleep.
  
• Eat protein-rich food (cheese, fish, meat, eggs or dairy products). These will help you to stay awake longer.

After arrival

• Don’t give in to any feeling of tiredness, but only lie down to sleep at sunset in your destination country.
• Stay in bright light as far as possible. Light inhibits the production of the hormone melatonin, which makes you tired and switches your organism towards sleep.
  

Before your trip

• Try to get used to the new daily rhythm a few days before your trip, i.e. go to bed earlier and get up earlier accordingly.
  
• Plan any important activities at a time when you feel most awake, i.e. in the evening after an eastward flight.

During your flight

• Try to sleep during your flight.
  
• Eat carbohydrate-rich food (e.g. fruit, potatoes, pasta, rice, yoghurt and fruit juice). These stimulate your natural need to sleep.
  
• Fruit teas also have a soporific effect.
  
• Try autogenic training or relaxation exercises instead of sleeping tablets.
  
• Do not use alcohol to make you feel tired, because it has a stronger effect on board than on the ground and also delays your body’s adjustment to the new time zone.

Long periods of sitting without moving can cause the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in the veins, making them partially or completely blocked. It mostly affects the lower half of the body, e.g. the veins in the legs.

To prevent a thrombosis, you should make sure you drink enough fluids during the flight, move around as often as possible and bend and stretch your legs frequently.

If you have additional risk factors (e.g. a history of thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, hereditary coagulation disorder, cardiac insufficiency or chronic vein insufficiency), you should seek medical advice before travelling. In particular, you should consult your doctor and ask if compression stockings would be appropriate and whether you require anti-coagulant medication.

Consult your doctor for advice about necessary and mandatory vaccinations or other recommended precautions at least 4-6 weeks before your trip.

​SWISS Medical Services can provide you with medical advice, information on diseases in tropical regions and the most important vaccinations.

You must take extra care if you are currently suffering from an acute illness or if you have had surgery recently. Travel can be stressful, so it is advisable to postpone your flight if you do not feel up to it.

Please check the cases where you are not permitted to fly. We also recommend that you consult your doctor before taking a planned flight to clarify if you are physically able to take the trip.

Divers: you must not fly if you have been diving within 24 hours before departure. You should also consult a doctor if you had problems resurfacing.

Physical health problems: you must not fly if you are suffering from one of the following health problems:

• Acute cold and severe feverish illnesses
• Severe heart or lung-related illnesses: breathing difficulties, recent heart attack, volatile angina pectoris, volatile cardiac insufficiency and pneumothorax
• Recent stroke
• Severe anaemia
• Infectious diseases such as chicken pox
• Recent surgery, in particular abdominal and thorax operations
• Certain acute psychological illnesses

If you are an allergy-sufferer, when flying with SWISS you can be sure we do everything we can to avoid allergens. We are committed to reducing allergens in our cabins and lounges to a minimum, especially with regard to upholstery, air conditioning and food. You can also book special meals on long haul flights or flights within Europe in SWISS Business. On European flights in SWISS Economy, our on-board kitchen also has a range of lactose and gluten-free products and alternative snacks. Crew members are trained to deal with emergencies and antihistamine tablets are available on board.

In the following cases, we recommend that travellers carry a medical certificate for their own safety and/or due to applicable security regulations:

• Cardiac pacemakers or implanted metal items (artificial joints, metal fixtures for fractures): show your document to the security staff before passing through the security check.
• Diabetics and people with chronic diseases requiring medication: certificate stating the diagnosis and required medication.
• Destination countries requiring certain vaccinations: vaccination certificate/vaccination record.
• Syringes carried for medical reasons.

You may take your own foldable wheelchair along. Please inform us about the dimensions, weight and type of wheelchair in advance. The dimensions of the doors of our aircraft are as follows:

• Airbus A319/A320/A321: 810 mm width and 1850 mm height
• Airbus A330/A340: 1070 mm width and 1930 mm height
• Boeing 777: 1070 mm width and 1880 mm height
• C Series: 800 mm width and 1900 mm height

Proceed to the gate with your personal (non-battery operated) wheelchair. Our staff will help you with boarding and stow your wheelchair.

We will return your wheelchair when you disembark, if possible. Otherwise the arrival airport will provide a wheelchair to take you to the baggage claim.

Battery-operated wheelchairs are not permitted after check-in. Our staff will take you to the gate in a replacement wheelchair.

Your wheelchair will be carried as cargo free of charge.

Please note: the following rules apply to wheelchairs with a battery for safety reasons. Before check-in, the batteries must be securely attached to the wheelchair and the battery terminals must be insulated to prevent accidental short circuits.

On long-haul flights, we will assist you with our specially developed on-board wheelchair to help you to the toilet.

The use of personal oxygen cylinders on board is not permitted.

We provide our own oxygen cylinders for you to use on board.

The oxygen cylinder will be installed at your seat in advance and is ready to use when you board.

Order oxygen no later than 72 hours before departure. The provision of oxygen will be confirmed after receipt of payment of the relevant costs.

Medical details must be provided on the ​MEDIF form (PDF).

Despite the security regulations for hand baggage, essential medication in liquid form is permitted on board, e.g. medication for diabetics.

Depending on the situation, a medical certificate in English may be helpful.

We recommend that you bring a medical certificate with you because of the applicable security regulations.