Canaries Antigen Test

Pollycat

ripofflondon said:

Thanks all. I am due to fly to TFS with Wizz Air on Fri and am left wondering whether i need to get a PCR test or can get away with a TMA or antigen 1.  Don't suppose any MSE-ers have had any recent experience? 

I'd contact Wizz Air direct and ask them what they require.

If they say PCR test, ask if they are aware of the change to acceptance of Antigen test.

Do it via email, print off the conversation and take it with you to the airport.

ripofflondon

Pollycat said:

ripofflondon said:

Thanks all. I am due to fly to TFS with Wizz Air on Fri and am left wondering whether i need to get a PCR test or can get away with a TMA or antigen 1.  Don't suppose any MSE-ers have had any recent experience? 

I'd contact Wizz Air direct and ask them what they require.

If they say PCR test, ask if they are aware of the change to acceptance of Antigen test.

Do it via email, print off the conversation and take it with you to the airport.

Thanks, Pollycat.  I googled Wizz and Covid testing and got this - https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/wizz-air-cheap-covid-test-b1761622.html

Then went to the Wizz website and got this -https://wizzair.com/en-gb/country-specific-travel-information  scrolling down to Spain found this - https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/spth.htm which contains inter alia this -

NEW: REQUIREMENT OF A NEGATIVE PCR/TMA TEST IF YOU TRAVEL TO SPAIN FROM A COUNTRY/RISK ZONE

As of November 23, 2020, all passengers who come from a country/risk zone in relation to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus must present, in order to enter Spain, a certificate with NEGATIVE PCR result (COVID-19 RT-PCR), made within 72 hours prior to arrival in Spain. As of December 10, 2020, TMA (Transcription Mediated Amplification Test) has been incorporated as an accepted diagnostic test in conjunction with the PCR.

ripofflondon

Hi all - follow-up.  I tried contacting Confirm Testing, the so-called partners of Wizz, and got told they weren't accepting any new bookings due to demand.  Then tried Boots and couldn't find anything anywhere in London till Jan. Then a high-street pharmacy in Southall that wanted £250 for a PCR test and hadn't heard of TMA.  Finally googled TUI and got directed to a drive-through place at LHR called Express Testing - the site said it was £80 for people flying out of LHR and £99 for everyone else but there was no option to confirm whether or not I was flying out of LHR.  I booked for 4PM on 15/12.  It asked me for my flight no and I truthfully entered the Wizz flight no out of LTN.  Still it remained at £80 and I have paid this, so wonder what will happen when I turn up with details of my LTN flight! 

Tucker

As of 10th December you can now as stated get a TMA test instead of the PCR. 
The confusion appears to be that TMA tests are not done in the UK. 
However, the Spanish Consulate has now confirmed that a PT LAMB test is acceptable. The UK gov website has also been updated to confirm this. 
There's a company called Collinson that are based at several UK airports doing these tests for £79 with a turn around of 90 minutes.
They are based at Heathrow, Manchester and several others. 
This seems to be the best option for those concerned about getting PCR test results back in time to fly. 

ripofflondon

Hi all - FCDO Spain Travel Advice now updated today - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain

'From 10 December, a TMA (Transcription-Mediated Amplification) swab test or a LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) test are also accepted by Spanish authorities, again taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival'.

I am going for my PCR test @ LHR at 4 today and it's already booked and paid for, so.....

AND, after last week's nail-biting 'will the FCDO change its Canaries travel advice to avoid-but-essential-travel’' / 'which COVID tests will the Spanish accept' / 'can I even travel to the airport if London gets put in Tier 3' / 'what happens with BREXIT on 1 Jan?' this morning I got an email from Kiwi.com telling me my Wizz flight on 1 Jan has been cancelled!  Long story short - after running the gauntlet of both Kiwi and Wizz's obstructive call centres - I've been able to shift to Wizz's 2 Jan flight @ no extra cost.

I don't think I've ever had such an intense experience as this when simply trying to go away for Christmas.  Rollercoaster ride!

Pollycat

ripofflondon said:

so.....

this morning I got an email from Kiwi.com telling me my Wizz flight on 1 Jan has been cancelled!  Long story short - after running the gauntlet of both Kiwi and Wizz's obstructive call centres - I've been able to shift to Wizz's 2 Jan flight @ no extra cost.

I don't think I've ever had such an intense experience as this when simply trying to go away for Christmas.  Rollercoaster ride!

I'm surprised that you got any kind of service from KIWI at all.
Of all the shonky 3rd party flight sellers they seem to have the worst reputation on TripAdvisor. Vying for top spot with eDreams.
Check out the Air Travel board on TA before you book with them again.

ripofflondon

Pollycat - hahaha, that's exactly what a work colleague said who overheard my irate phone conversations with them! 

FWIW, I've just got back from the Express Test drive-thru place at LHR.   Seemed very nice, efficient and well-organised (although I nearly threw up when they put the swab at the back of my throat!)  Lots of their people were watching as they said today was the first day testing members of the public after dry runs for the last few days.  They asked for my passport, but nothing was said about 'where are you going? - if it's not from LHR you've got to pay more than £80'  I stopped at a pharmacy for something separate on the way back and they had a sign saying they did fit-to-fly certificates - for £170:o

I won't tempt fate by endorsing them fully until the test certificate safely turns up tomorrow or the day after tho! 

ripofflondon

Update - have just received my negative PCR test certificate by email from Express Test

ripofflondon

Further update - FCDO has  today updated the travel advice to remove the reference to the Antigen test being acceptable for Spain (and the Canaries)

Guapo58

re Express Test EDI. Just come back. Turned up with no QR code. Only proof was payment. No further emails frim them. Staff testung at EDI were unbelievably helpful. Sorted the whole admin mess inn5 mins. Got tested. Ladies were so nice informative and reassuring- I was gagging like hell. 5 stars for the workers there. No queues, breezed thru. Jus waiting for results   tomoz. Fingers crossed its Neg!!! Made up for all the call centre shambles and hassle !!!