Easy to submit. Free to review. Pay only if we issue your certificate.
Too Sick to Travel? We Can Help.
When illness, injury, or another medical condition forces you to cancel or postpone a trip, the last thing you need is another trip to a doctor's office.
Careborne provides no-stress FREE online medical assessments for patients who may be medically unable to travel by air. When clinically appropriate, a Careborne provider can issue a signed Not Fit to Fly Certificate that you can submit to your airline, travel company, or travel insurance provider.
No waiting rooms. No in-person visit required.
What Is a Not Fit to Fly Certificate?
A Not Fit to Fly Certificate is medical letter signed by a licensed healthcare provider stating that, based on an evaluation of your current medical condition, air travel is not medically advisable during a specified period.
You may need this documentation when a medical problem forces you to:
-
Cancel, postpone, or rebook your travel
-
Submit a medical claim to your travel insurance company
-
Document why you were unable to travel on a scheduled date
A certificate is not a guarantee of a refund or travel credit. Airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators, and insurance companies each have their own rules and policies.
That's why timing matters. Contact your travel operator or insurer as soon as you know you may not be able to travel and ask exactly what documentation is needed.
Contact your travel operator. Check your insurance policy. Then let Careborne help you determine whether a Not Fit to Fly Certificate is medically appropriate.
When Should You Stay Home?
A medical Unfit to Travel certificate may be appropriate when your condition makes flying (or travel in general) unsafe for you or those around you.
Examples include:
Acute illness
A contagious respiratory infection – such as flu, COVID-19, or measles – or another viral or bacterial infection that could make travel unsafe for you or pose a risk to other passengers.
Recent surgery or hospitalization
You may need to postpone flying while recovering from surgery, a procedure, or a recent hospitalization.
Significant injury or pain
An injury or severe pain that substantially limits your mobility or ability to tolerate prolonged sitting.
Heart or lung conditions
Certain cardiac or respiratory conditions can make the lower-oxygen cabin environment and the physical demands of travel more difficult to tolerate.
Neurological conditions
A recent stroke, seizure, brain procedure, or unstable neurological condition require postponing travel.
Mental health conditions
Severe anxiety, panic, acute psychiatric symptoms, or another mental health condition may make air travel medically inappropriate.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy itself does not automatically mean that you can’t fly. However, complications or advanced pregnancy may make travel inadvisable, and individual airlines may have their own documentation requirements.
Other medical conditions
There are many other circumstances in which flying may be inappropriate. We will consider your specific condition, severity, treatment, stability, and planned travel rather than relying on a checklist.
✓ Official medical certificate
✓ 1-hour delivery
✓ HIPAA Compliant
✓ PDF format to submit
✓ Unique Official ID
How Careborne Works
1. Check with your travel operator or insurer
Before doing anything else, contact the airline, travel company, or insurance provider.
Ask: "What medical documentation do you require if I am unable to travel because of a medical condition?"
Some companies have specific forms or deadlines.
2. Get your free Careborne consultation
Complete our online intake. Tell us honestly what happened and why you believe you cannot safely fly. Upload any relevant medical documentation and the airline's paperwork.
3. We review your situation – FREE
Our doctor reviews the information you submitted and determines whether a medical assessment and certificate may be appropriate.
If we don't believe the documentation is medically supportable, we'll tell you. You won't be charged.
4. Complete your telehealth visit
If your situation appears appropriate, you'll receive a link to schedule and pay for your telehealth evaluation.
During the visit, the provider will discuss your condition, symptoms, treatment, travel plans, and supporting documentation.
5. Receive your certificate
If the provider determines that you are indeed medically unfit to fly, your signed certificate will be delivered electronically, typically within 1 hour after your consultation.
You can then submit the documentation to your airline, travel provider, or insurer according to their instructions.
Why Flying Makes Some Medical Conditions Worse
As commercial aircraft cruise at high altitude, the cabin is pressurized to an equivalent altitude of roughly 6,000–8,000 feet. For most healthy passengers, this causes no issues. For someone who is already medically unstable, however, the combination of reduced cabin oxygen, pressure changes, prolonged sitting, dehydration, and the physical demands of travel do matter.
For example:
-
Respiratory conditions may make it harder to tolerate the lower oxygen environment.
-
Heart conditions may make the physiologic demands of travel more difficult to tolerate.
-
Severe anemia can reduce the body's ability to compensate for lower oxygen availability.
-
Ear, sinus, and dental problems may flare up during changes in cabin pressure.
-
Certain gastrointestinal conditions can worsen as gases expand at altitude.
-
Blood-clot risk can increase with prolonged immobility, particularly in people who have other risk factors.
-
Neurological conditions may deteriorate or require medical monitoring that is not available during ordinary travel.
-
Acute psychiatric symptoms can be triggered by the stress and confinement of air travel.
Whether your circumstances make you unfit to fly is determined on a case-by-case basis. Having a diagnosis on this list does not automatically qualify you for a certificate.
What Do We Need from You?
The more complete the information you provide, the better we can assess your situation.
Please have the following handy:
-
Your travel dates and itinerary
-
Government-issued photo ID
-
Documentation of recent surgery, procedure, or hospitalization, if applicable
-
Current medication list
-
Relevant laboratory or imaging results
-
Notes or recommendations from your treating specialist, if you have one
If your travel operator or insurer has its own medical form, upload it with your intake information. Some airlines use specific medical forms or medical-clearance procedures, and we can review the paperwork to determine what is needed.
We Don't Issue Certificates Just Because You Ask
This is important.
A Not Fit to Fly Certificate is a medical document, not a travel excuse. Simply saying "I'm not feeling well" is not gonna cut it. We need objective information to make a reasonable medical determination that travel is inadvisable.
If the available information does not support a certificate, we'll let you know upfront.
We would rather turn down a patient than charge you for a document that isn't medically justified or may not satisfy your airline or insurer.
A Note About Airlines and Travel Insurance
A medical certificate can provide important documentation, but the airline or insurance company makes the final decision about refunds, credits, cancellations, or claims.
Requirements vary.
Some airlines may require their own medical form. Some travel insurance policies require extensive or impose specific timing requirements.
Don't assume that a certificate automatically means you'll receive a refund. Check your airline's and insurer's requirements before submitting your claim.
The earlier you do this, the better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Unfit for Travel certificates
What does “Fit to Fly” mean?
Can I get a Not Fit to Fly Certificate online?
Yes. Careborne provides this service through telehealth for patients located in several states. A certificate is issued if the provider determines that it is medically appropriate.
Being “fit to fly” means your body can handle the changes that occur during flight, such as reduced cabin oxygen, prolonged sitting, and changes in air pressure. It also means you don’t have any health problems that could make flying unsafe for you or others.
How much will it cost?
Our QuickCare is $54, which covers the evaluation and the certificated, if indicated.
What will I receive?
You’ll get an Unfit to Fly Certificate, containing all required information for travel insurance claims and airline cancellations. The certificate will have a Unique ID so that it can be easily authenticated by the receiving entity.
When should I request a certificate?
As soon as you know you may not be able to travel.
Don't wait until you're standing at the airport. Ideally, contact your airline and insurance company before canceling your reservation and ask what documentation they need.
If your flight is tomorrow, don't panic – contact Careborne as soon as possible. But remember that some airlines and insurers have their own deadlines, and obtaining a medical certificate does not guarantee that those deadlines can be waived.
What if I don't have medical records?
That doesn't automatically mean we cannot help. However, the provider must have enough reliable information to make medical determination. Additional documentation may be necessary depending on your circumstances.
How fast can I get the certificate?
When a certificate is medically appropriate and you complete the required telehealth visit, you should expect the completed certificate within an hour after the visit. You’ll receive an email with a link to download your certificate from a secure site.
Actual timing may vary depending on the complexity of your situation and any airline-specific paperwork.
Will airlines and insurance companies honor this certificate?
Our certificates are issued by a licensed primary care provider and include all required information. Each certificate includes a unique ID number for verification. These certificates are generally accepted by most major airlines and travel insurance companies.
Whether it will be accepted in your case, we can’t guarantee since requirements differ among airlines, cruise operators, and insurance companies.
The airline, travel company, or insurer decides what they will refund, credit, or reimburse under their policies.
Will I get my money back if your certificate is not accepted?
No. If the airline or insurance company rejects the certificate, you don’t get your money back. The fee you pay is to reimburse our doctors for their time.
We thought it’s important to be upfront about it.
That’s is why we offer a FREE initial consultation. If we determine that your situation does not support a Not Fit to Fly Certificate, you won't be charged for the certificate because there won't be one.
Why do airlines care if I am sick?
If someone has a medical emergency during a flight, it becomes a big deal.
-
Emergency landings. The pilot might have to land the plane early, which can delay the flight and cost the airline a lot of money.
-
Spreading illness. If someone flies while sick with something contagious, like the flu, they can spread it to other passengers.
-
Crew distraction. If the flight crew must help a sick passenger, they might be unable to focus on other essential safety tasks.
Can I fly if I am pregnant?
Pregnancy by itself does not automatically make someone unfit to fly.
However, airlines may impose restrictions later in pregnancy, particularly after approximately 28–36 weeks depending on the carrier and whether the pregnancy is uncomplicated or multiple. Some airlines require a medical certificate confirming fitness to travel during later stages of pregnancy.
If you are pregnant and have a complication or your obstetric provider has advised you not to travel, provide that documentation during your consultation.
What about COVID, flu, or other contagious illnesses?
A contagious illness can create a different issue from simply being too sick to travel.
Depending on the illness and circumstances, an airline may have its own requirements concerning communicable diseases and documentation. A medical certificate does not override an airline's health or boarding policies.
If you are experiencing symptoms of a potentially contagious illness, tell us during your consultation.
Can you provide a certificate for a psychiatric or mental health condition?
Yes. Mental health conditions can sometimes make air travel medically inappropriate. The determination depends on the severity and current status of the condition and the provider's clinical assessment.
Is your certificate good for all countries?
That’s hard to tell. Our certificates are issued by US-licensed doctors and are recognized by many airlines and insurance companies. But policies differ. We can’t really guarantee that our certificate will be accepted by your operator.
Who sets the rules?
- International Air Transport Association (IATA) makes flying rules for airlines worldwide.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in charge of flying safety in the USA.
- European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) makes rules for European countries.
These organizations help keep passengers, pilots, and planes safe.
I have recovered and need to fly. Now what?
You may be asked to provide a Fit to Fly certificate in situations such as:
- After receiving an Unfit to Fly certificate, once you have recovered and are ready to travel again.
- Following a recent surgery, injury, or hospitalization
- During pregnancy – usually after 28 weeks or sooner if there are complications.
- When travelling for medical reasons, such as going for a treatment or surgery.
Each airline has its own requirements. It’s always best to check your airline’s specific requirements before booking your flight. If a Fit to Fly Certificate is required, Careborne can help here as well.
Where can I find more information?
Want to learn more about your treatment options? Call 941-525-9000.
If you're too sick to fly, don't wait until the last minute to figure out what documentation you need.
Contact your travel operator. Check your insurance policy. Then let Careborne help you determine whether a Not Fit to Fly Certificate is medically appropriate.
Fast. Convenient. Straightforward.
