Fit to Fly Certificates in London, Same-Day and Next-Day from Expert Doctors
A fit to fly certificate is a signed medical letter confirming that you are well enough to travel by air, and it exists because the cabin is not a neutral environment for a body that is recovering or unwell. At cruising altitude the cabin is pressurised to the equivalent of roughly six to eight thousand feet, which lowers the oxygen available in your blood, expands trapped gas in the body, and raises the risk of clots on long flights, and those three facts are behind almost every situation in which an airline asks for medical clearance. The certificate is not a formality invented to sell appointments. It is the document that lets an airline carry you safely and lets you travel with the plan and the paperwork already in place. At The Online GP by The Wellness in Marylebone, GMC-registered doctors assess you properly and issue fit to fly certificates same-day and next-day, from £85. Fees appear further down this page.
Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated August 2026.
Request a fit to fly certificate on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
When airlines actually ask for a fit to fly certificate
The common triggers are consistent across most carriers. Recent surgery is the first, because operations leave trapped gas and raise clot risk, so airlines frequently ask for clearance in the days and weeks after a procedure, with the exact waiting period depending on the operation and whether gas was introduced. Recent hospitalisation or a serious acute illness is the second, where the airline wants confirmation that you have stabilised and are safe to travel. Chronic heart and lung conditions form the third group, since reduced cabin oxygen affects people with angina, heart failure, COPD and severe asthma more than it affects a healthy passenger, and some of these travellers need in-flight oxygen arranged in advance. Infectious illness is the fourth, covering conditions such as chickenpox and measles, where clearance is given once you are no longer contagious. Plaster casts are the fifth, because a fresh cast applied shortly before travel can be affected by gas expansion and many airlines require it to be split or medically cleared. Anyone travelling with medical equipment, needing supplemental oxygen, or requiring wheelchair assistance also benefits from a certificate that sets out those needs clearly for the airline.
Pregnancy and flying
Pregnancy is the single most common reason people search for a fit to fly letter, and the rules are worth stating plainly. Air travel in an uncomplicated pregnancy is generally considered safe, and most airlines ask for a supporting letter from around twenty-eight weeks confirming that the pregnancy is progressing normally, the expected due date, and that you are fit to travel. For a single pregnancy many carriers set the final cut-off at around thirty-six weeks, and for twins and other multiple pregnancies both the letter requirement and the cut-off usually come earlier, often around thirty-two weeks, because of the higher chance of early labour. Policies differ between airlines, so the sensible step is to check your carrier's exact requirement and then have the letter written to match it, which is precisely what our doctors do.
What the assessment involves and what the certificate contains
The appointment is a proper consultation rather than a signature for hire. The doctor takes your history, reviews any relevant records, discharge notes or specialist letters you bring, and where the certificate depends on it performs a focused examination covering the things that matter for flight, which can include blood pressure, oxygen saturations and a chest assessment. The certificate is then issued on clinic-headed paper and includes the doctor's full name and GMC registration number, confirmation of your fitness to fly, and, where relevant, details of any recent procedure and recovery, any special requirements such as oxygen or wheelchair assistance, and the clinic's contact details so the airline can verify it. Where your airline provides its own Medical Information Form, known as a MEDIF, our doctor completes that form for you, since many carriers require their own form rather than a general letter. The final decision to carry a passenger always rests with the airline's medical department, and an honest service tells you that rather than pretending the certificate is a guarantee.
Ask whether you need a certificate for your flight on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
What a fit to fly certificate costs in London
Fit to fly medicine in London runs in a clear band. Standalone certificate services commonly charge between £100 and £300 depending on complexity and whether an examination is required, and airline MEDIF form completion is usually priced separately at the higher end. Many NHS GP practices no longer provide these letters at all, or quote waits of two to four weeks, because this is private paperwork rather than NHS work.
At The Online GP by The Wellness the doctor and the examination are the product, and appointments are available same-day and next-day. All figures are from prices.
Video consultation and fit to fly certificate from £150
In-person consultation and fit to fly certificate from £220.
Airline MEDIF form completion from £150.
Travel health consultation from £85.
Diving medical certificate from £150
Medication letter for customs from £150.
Holiday cancellation medical letter from £150.
Same-day and next-day appointments at 49 Marylebone High Street, three minutes from Baker Street, open weekends, with multilingual and Arabic-speaking staff and experience caring for international patients.
Why The Online GP by The Wellness is the right clinic for this
Because a fit to fly certificate is only as good as the doctor behind it and the speed with which you can get it. Here the assessment is carried out by GMC-registered doctors who examine properly, complete your airline's own MEDIF form where needed, and set out oxygen, mobility or post-surgical details clearly so your certificate is accepted rather than queried at the desk. Travel plans rarely wait, so same-day and next-day appointments are available, including weekends, and because this is a full clinic anything the assessment uncovers can be investigated and treated by the same team before you fly. That combination of expert doctors, honest advice about what your airline actually requires, and genuine speed is what makes it the clinic to use when a flight is close.
Book a fit to fly appointment on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can I get a fit to fly certificate in London
Same-day and next-day in most cases. The Online GP by The Wellness regularly issues certificates for patients flying within twenty-four to forty-eight hours, by video from £85 or in person from £150, with the doctor completing your airline's MEDIF form where one is required.
Do I need a fit to fly certificate for pregnancy
Most airlines ask for a supporting letter from around twenty-eight weeks confirming your due date and that the pregnancy is uncomplicated, with a final cut-off commonly near thirty-six weeks for a single pregnancy and earlier for twins. Requirements vary by airline, so the letter is written to match your carrier.
Do I need a certificate after surgery before I fly
Often yes. Airlines frequently ask for clearance in the days and weeks after an operation because of trapped gas and clot risk, and the waiting period depends on the procedure. A doctor reviews your operation and recovery and confirms whether you are safe to travel.
What is a MEDIF form
A MEDIF is the Medical Information Form that many airlines use for medical clearance, completed by a doctor rather than the passenger. Our doctors complete airline MEDIF forms from £95. Bring the form from your airline to the appointment.
Does the certificate guarantee the airline will let me fly
No. The final decision always rests with the airline's own medical department. The certificate gives them the accurate clinical information they need to make that decision, which is what a properly written one is for.
The Online GP by The Wellness is a doctor-led private clinic at 49 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5HJ, three minutes from Baker Street. All doctors are GMC-registered. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your own health.
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