Mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing by Airlines ie Etihad, Emirates etc

samkma

See below email from Etihad.
Mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing -  It is mandatory to have a COVID-19 PCR test when flying on all flights with Etihad Airways. Your test can be carried out at any government accredited medical facility a maximum of 96 hours before your flight departure time.  
The nearest approved testing centre is 100 miles away and there in no way to find the costs before hand. The cheapest I found on a online search is £145 /person.
Your thoughts?

JamoLew

1) get tested and go on your flight
2) don't and stay at home

Alan_Bowen

An excellent idea to reduce the risks of contracting the virus on a long haul flight.

Thrugelmir

Either pay up or choose an alternative carrier. Remember you'll need a similar test to undertake the return flight. 

silvercar

samkma said:

See below email from Etihad.
Mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing -  It is mandatory to have a COVID-19 PCR test when flying on all flights with Etihad Airways. Your test can be carried out at any government accredited medical facility a maximum of 96 hours before your flight departure time.  
The nearest approved testing centre is 100 miles away and there in no way to find the costs before hand. The cheapest I found on a online search is £145 /person.
Your thoughts?

Find out if the airline will accept an email time stamped result from the NHS, then see if you can get an NHS test without symptoms. Some areas will allow it as they want to survey the rate in the general population. 
If you are flying Etihad, I'm guessing Heathrow. There must be somewhere within 20 miles of Heathrow, so it could be a case of going to the airport a day earlier than planned. I have heard that Boots in the airport may be offering tests soon with a very short turn around.

epm-84

If you booked the flight before that was a requirement then you should be able to push them for a refund if you don't agree to the new requirements of paying for a test.  The alternative is to pay for one and to go.

epm-84

silvercar said:

samkma said:

See below email from Etihad.
Mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing -  It is mandatory to have a COVID-19 PCR test when flying on all flights with Etihad Airways. Your test can be carried out at any government accredited medical facility a maximum of 96 hours before your flight departure time.  
The nearest approved testing centre is 100 miles away and there in no way to find the costs before hand. The cheapest I found on a online search is £145 /person.
Your thoughts?

If you are flying Etihad, I'm guessing Heathrow. 

Eithad also fly daily from Manchester using their double decker planes. They also have code sharing agreements so it's possible to book indirect flights including an Eithad flight from other airports.  So it may or may not be Heathrow that's the airport in question.

silvercar

Flyertalk Etihad sub board has been discussing this topic:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etihad-airways-etihad-guest/2022376-covid-test-required-4.html

Thrugelmir

epm-84 said:

If you booked the flight before that was a requirement then you should be able to push them for a refund if you don't agree to the new requirements of paying for a test.  The alternative is to pay for one and to go.

More likely an entry requirement at the destination than a rule set by the airline itself. 

samkma

silvercar said:

samkma said:

See below email from Etihad.
Mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing -  It is mandatory to have a COVID-19 PCR test when flying on all flights with Etihad Airways. Your test can be carried out at any government accredited medical facility a maximum of 96 hours before your flight departure time.  
The nearest approved testing centre is 100 miles away and there in no way to find the costs before hand. The cheapest I found on a online search is £145 /person.
Your thoughts?

Find out if the airline will accept an email time stamped result from the NHS, then see if you can get an NHS test without symptoms. Some areas will allow it as they want to survey the rate in the general population. 
If you are flying Etihad, I'm guessing Heathrow. There must be somewhere within 20 miles of Heathrow, so it could be a case of going to the airport a day earlier than planned. I have heard that Boots in the airport may be offering tests soon with a very short turn around.

Will be flying from Manchester, but live 100 miles from airport.  

Thrugelmir

Here's a service based in Manchester.

https://www.doctorcall.co.uk/private-gp-services/coronavirus--covid-19--testing