PCR tests for travel - Are the charges fair?

ratechaser

JamoLew said:

I wouldn’t be against the fees doubling (as long as some form of regulation is introduced)

It might make the masses reconsider what are In effect unnecessary foreign trips (holidays)

Well absolutely, make travel reassuringly expensive again and you won't have to fight your way through the working classes at the airport any longer.

Or was that not what you meant 

(Incidentally, I'm one of the masses, currently with 4 foreign holidays booked for this year - either brave/stupid or both but let's see what transpires... at least I'm not risking a lot of money here)

Romb678

What about the safest countries to travel to now?

JamoLew

ratechaser said:

JamoLew said:

I wouldn’t be against the fees doubling (as long as some form of regulation is introduced)

It might make the masses reconsider what are In effect unnecessary foreign trips (holidays)

Well absolutely, make travel reassuringly expensive again and you won't have to fight your way through the working classes at the airport any longer.

Or was that not what you meant 

(Incidentally, I'm one of the masses, currently with 4 foreign holidays booked for this year - either brave/stupid or both but let's see what transpires... at least I'm not risking a lot of money here)

I wasn't directly suggesting that foreign travel (holidays) should be exclusively for those that can afford it - although one could argue that particular holidays/resorts/flights are exactly that

However - significant extra costs may make some reconsider their holiday plans.

Ultimately, I believe this will only ever be gotten under worldwide control with restricted foreign travel, so cost prevention/deterrent does seem to have some benefit on that basis

NHS England is already predicting a 3rd (4th?) wave in September based on the number of people expected to be travelling overseas for their summer 2 weeks.

 Hopefully more likely a swell than a wave - time will tell

Thrugelmir

k3lvc said:

Pollycat said:

Not great news:

Testing system for holidaymakers at risk of collapse, says Which?

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/testing-system-for-holidaymakers-at-risk-of-collapse-says-which/ar-BB1gawCf?li=BBoPWjQ

And this is exactly what will make it a sellers market over the coming weeks/months - none of this is likely to be insurable and will add significant cost/risk to anyone who chooses to take their trip.

Even the boss of Heathrow is flagging the issue  Heathrow Airport: Home Office must 'get a grip' on border delays - BBC News

I'm sure there are plenty who 'need' their 2 weeks in the sun but you've got to question the benefit if you have to queue for hours on arrival/test (at market price) and quarantine 

The foreign owners of Heathrow Airport are losing money that's the bottom line. The CEO is merely expressing a corporate not personal view.  Shouldn't be the top priority for the Home Office at the current time. More important issues to address. 

JJC1956

I Flew into Heathrow on Apr 3rd from Madeira via Zurich, firstly we had to pay €95 pp for a PCR test, then we had to book our 2nd & 8th day test whilst self isolating for 10 days, using the Govt recommended Test companies we paid £175pp BUT the price varied from £160pp to £399pp. Quite expensive for families.

One of the reasons there are delays at Heathrow is a shortage of staff, there were 5 staff (T2) checking everyones paperwork,  which included proof of Negative PCR test, Passenger Locator Form and Proof of 2 & 8 day tests, all of which had to be shown at Funchal and Zurich airports, even though we were in transit. Please note the electronic gates are not in use as obviously all paperwork has to be checked by hand.

An elderly couple in our group, weren’t allowed to board the Zurich to Heathrow flight as they couldn’t find the paperwork on their Phone due to poor WiFi, so they had to stay in a transit hotel in Zurich Airport overnight, which totally screwed up their flights from Heathrow to Newcastle the next day, even though they checked in ok in Madeira.

Funchal airport was very quiet the day we left but the flight was delayed 30 mins due to the length of time it now takes to get through check in, May I suggest if possible that you print off all necessary paperwork, no point turning up at airports with 5% charge left on your phone. God knows what it will be like at busy airports during the summer months if it takes twice as long to check in, our flight was 50% full but it was still held up.

If and when Boris decides to introduce a Traffic light system hopefully he will liaise with their governments, bit pointless having a vaccine passport if the destination country still has restrictions in place.

Worst case scenario: Someone tests positive abroad, they are not coming home, doesn’t matter how many tears they shed, believe you me, I saw it happen in Zurich Airport

If you decide to go on holiday please have a safe and Covid free time 😎

eskbanker

JJC1956 said:

An elderly couple in our group, weren’t allowed to board the Zurich to Heathrow flight as they couldn’t find the paperwork on their Phone due to poor WiFi

[...]

May I suggest if possible that you print off all necessary paperwork, no point turning up at airports with 5% charge left on your phone.

And if you are relying on using your phone to access documentation, ensure that you download a local copy, even if just in screenshot form, before setting off, rather than relying on network access when on the move!