Recently, various media outlets, particularly social media platforms, have been abuzz with the issue of one of President Joko Widodo’s sons and daughter-in-law flying to the United States on a private jet.
Recently, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Budi Arie, issued a statement regarding this issue. As reported by Kumparan.com, Budi Arie stated that the jet used by President Joko Widodo’s son and daughter-in-law belonged to a friend of Kaesang (President Joko Widodo’s son), and that Kaesang’s actions were his personal business. Budi Arie, as the Chair of Projo (Pro Jokowi) Volunteers, also stated that the use of the private jet was due to Erina Gudono (Kaesang’s wife, President Joko Widodo’s daughter-in-law), who is eight months pregnant and unable to use public transportation or other commercial aircraft.
Meanwhile, Liputan6.com published an opinion from Gatot Rahardjo, an Independent Analyst for the National Aviation Business, who stated that the Minister of Transportation Regulation Number 31 of 2021 concerning Minimum Service Standards for Air Passengers, which regulates provisions for pregnant passengers, only applies to scheduled flights. Therefore, flights by private jet are not regulated/do not apply. At the time of the trip, President Joko Widodo’s daughter-in-law was known to be eight months pregnant. However, is it true that pregnant women are not recommended to use “public air transportation” or commercial aircraft? Let’s check the facts.
The Factmeter team investigated various sources and found that each public/commercial airline has its own policies regarding pregnant passengers. The following are the policies of domestic and international airlines regarding flights for pregnant women, specifically for those in their eighth month of pregnancy (between 32 and 36 weeks):
Garuda Indonesia
As reported by suara.com, Garuda Indonesia implements strict guidelines for flights for pregnant women, which are divided based on gestational age and health condition.
- Pregnancy under 32 weeks (Normal, Uncomplicated): At this gestational age, pregnant women are permitted to fly without submitting a MEDIF (Medical Information Form) or FOI (Form of Indemnity), and without requiring approval from GSM (Garuda Sentra Medika).
- Pregnancy under 32 weeks (With Complications): At this gestational age, a MEDIF and FOI are required, and approval from GSM must be obtained before flight. The MEDIF allows airline medical personnel to assess whether the pregnant woman is safe to fly.
- Pregnancy 32-36 weeks (8th month): At this gestational age, or pregnancies beyond 32 weeks, whether with or without complications, a MEDIF and FOI must be submitted and approved by GSM.
- Pregnancy Over 36 Weeks: At pregnancies beyond 36 weeks, Garuda Indonesia has a policy prohibiting pregnant women from air travel, as it is considered too risky.
Lion Group
Suara.com also outlines the flight policies of Lion Group airlines (Wings Air, Batik Air, Batik Air Malaysia, and Thai Lion Air), which operate not only domestic but also international flights. They have strict policies regarding flights for pregnant women.
- Pregnancy Under 28 Weeks: At this gestational age, Lion Group airlines permit flights for pregnant women, provided they present a doctor’s certificate stating that the mother is healthy and fit to travel. This certificate is valid for seven days from the date of issue. The statement from the pregnant woman must also be presented at check-in.
- Pregnancy 28-35 Weeks: At this gestational age, in addition to the doctor’s certificate, pregnant women are also required to complete a special medical declaration form, assuring the airline that they understand and agree to the risks of air travel at this gestational age.
- Pregnancy Over 35 Weeks: Pregnant women over 36 weeks are not permitted to fly with Lion Group. Late-stage pregnancies are considered too risky for air travel, so airlines prohibit them for the safety of both mother and baby.
- Special Pregnancies: Lion Air also prohibits flights for pregnant women with complications or other special pregnancy conditions.
American Airlines
Meanwhile, according to its official website, American Airlines, which also operates direct flights from Indonesia (Jakarta) to Philadelphia, USA (the University of Pennsylvania, Erina Gudono’s campus), has a policy for pregnant international passengers. Permission from the special assistance coordinator is required for international travel with American Airlines, as detailed below:
- Within 4 weeks before the estimated due date (travel requires a doctor’s certificate stating that the pregnant passenger has been examined within the last 48 hours and is fit to fly).
- Within 7 days before or after delivery (travel also requires a passenger medical form to be completed by the attending physician).
United Airlines
United Airlines, which also operates direct flights from Indonesia (Jakarta) to Philadelphia, USA, has less stringent regulations than Indonesian airlines. On its official website, United Airlines states that pregnant passengers require medical clearance to fly if they are over 36 weeks pregnant or if the pregnancy is high-risk. The airline recommends that passengers consult with a doctor before flying and send the medical certificate to the official United Airlines email address.
Conclusion
This regulation does not mean that pregnant women are not permitted to fly on public transportation or commercial flights. If someone is 8 months pregnant (range: 32-36 weeks), the gestational age should be considered. If a woman is 8 months pregnant (for example, 34 weeks), she can still bring a doctor’s referral letter to fly on some selected commercial airlines.
However, the situation is different if the mother’s pregnancy has reached 36 weeks (even though both are in the 8-month range). Some of the commercial airlines mentioned above prohibit pregnant women from flying at 36 weeks due to the high risk.
According to Halodoc, labor (birth) generally occurs between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. It should be noted that “the time of delivery does not have to coincide with the estimated due date (EDD) predicted by the obstetrician, because the EDD is calculated based on 40 weeks. Therefore, labor occurring 3 weeks earlier or 2 weeks later than the EDD is still considered normal.”
One risk to avoid is an emergency “birth” at high altitude, without a sterile room and medical assistance. As reported by Liputan6.com, a mother was forced to give birth on board a Pelita Air flight IP208 en route from Jakarta to Surabaya on June 27, 2023. Thirty minutes after takeoff, the mother experienced contractions, leading to the emergency delivery with only the assistance of a makeup artist and a flight attendant’s prayer robe. Fortunately, both mother and newborn daughter survived.
However, it’s important to note that pregnant women planning to fly or travel long distances, whether by air or other public transportation, must be under the supervision of a doctor and/or be medically assessed to avoid any untoward incidents.
References:
- Simamora, M. (2024, September 10). Menkominfo: Jet Pribadi Kaesang dari Teman, Erina Hamil Gak Bisa Angkutan Umum. kumparanNEWS. https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/menkominfo-jet-pribadi-kaesang-dari-teman-erina-hamil-gak-bisa-angkutan-umum-23UxwhlpVDy.
- Sulaiman, M. R. (2024, September 10). Hamil 8 Bulan Seperti Erina Gudono Tak Boleh Naik Pesawat Komersil? Cek Aturan Maskapai garuda dan lion air. suara.com. https://www.suara.com/lifestyle/2024/09/10/203202/hamil-8-bulan-seperti-erina-gudono-tak-boleh-naik-pesawat-komersil-cek-aturan-maskapai-garuda-dan-lion-air.
- American Airlines. (2024). Traveling with children – Travel Information – Official Website of American Airlines. https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/traveling-children.jsp.
- United Airlines. (2024). Flying while Pregnant – Official Website of United Airlines. https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-assistance/pregnancy.html.
- Fadli, R. (2023, May 9). Ini Penyebab Telat Melahirkan Walau Kehamilan Sudah 9 Bulan. Halodoc. https://www.halodoc.com/artikel/ini-penyebab-telat-melahirkan-walau-kehamilan-sudah-9-bulan?srsltid=AfmBOorjG6AEbQj-9_aR0zindpc8WVF9rzWsjcODO9Y3UEQ0XHLufT2Q.
- Deny, S. & Hakim, A. R. (2023, June 30). Kronologi Ibu Melahirkan di Pesawat Pelita Air hingga Dibantu MUA, Sang Anak Diberi Nama Unik. Liputan6.com. https://www.liputan6.com/amp/5332677/kronologi-ibu-melahirkan-di-pesawat-pelita-air-hingga-dibantu-mua-sang-anak-diberi-nama-unik.
