Testing while overseas

marcbriscoe

As holidaying is not yet permitted, this is probably a little premature in asking, but will get a conversation going anyway..

As I read it, going to a (hopefully) 'green' country (in my case Gran Canaria, Spain)

We will need PCR test in advance of leaving the UK?
We will need some form of test prior to leaving GC for UK?
We will need PCR test on or before day 2 following return to the UK?

Regarding the test in GC prior to UK return. What kind of test is expected? and how is this going to be facilitated whilst overseas?

Caz3121

marcbriscoe said:

We will need PCR test in advance of leaving the UK? - refer to Spanish rules
We will need some form of test prior to leaving GC for UK? - almost certainly
We will need PCR test on or before day 2 following return to the UK? - unless rules change day 2 and day 8 likely....to be booked before departure

Regarding the test in GC prior to UK return. What kind of test is expected? and how is this going to be facilitated whilst overseas? - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england...you arrange and pay for it yourself, ensuring it meets the requirements

pages worth keeping an eye on
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements
https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk
https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/self-isolating-when-you-arrive

important to factor in these additional costs

PGraham

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Butts

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

If they ring you is it on a landline or how do they know you are at home ?

Thrugelmir

Butts said:

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

Nothing compared to the cost of looking after somebody in ICU. 

Butts

Thrugelmir said:

Butts said:

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

Nothing compared to the cost of looking after somebody in ICU. 

Or the Billions they wasted on a flawed Test and Trace system.

gettingtheresometime

Butts said:

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

If they ring you is it on a landline or how do they know you are at home ?

We have one if these 'virtual' numbers so someone could ring it & we could be in Tesco.

Butts

gettingtheresometime said:

Butts said:

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

If they ring you is it on a landline or how do they know you are at home ?

We have one if these 'virtual' numbers so someone could ring it & we could be in Tesco.

Tesco anywhere in the UK ?  - complete joke. If they are serious about it they should be knocking on doors.

spiro

Butts said:

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

If they ring you is it on a landline or how do they know you are at home ?

I have heard that when they phone people at home they ask them what is showing on TV channel X at the moment. 

michael1234

Thrugelmir said:

Butts said:

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

Nothing compared to the cost of looking after somebody in ICU. 

Thrugelmir said:

Butts said:

PGraham said:

We returned from Portugal on Friday (16th April).  As things stand at the moment, Ryanair wanted to see pcr test within 72 hrs of flying, confirmation that 2 & 8 day tests booked - these have to be booked and paid for on-line and reference numbers entered on UK Gov. Passenger Locator Form.  Ryanair also wanted to see payment receipt for the tests, presumably to ensure not forged reference no's. Cost of all tests for two of us approx £600. There are lots of clinics in overseas locations doing tests, a nice little earner.  UK Gov site says lateral flow test is acceptable, many airlines stipulate pcr.

All docs checked at check-in and best to have them printed out, staff won't handle smart phones and there are several pages.  Everything checked again on arrival at Manchester and we're now quarantining at home, have already had two phone calls checking we're here.

Jesus, what a racket, hopefully a thing of the past shortly.

Nothing compared to the cost of looking after somebody in ICU. 

Its a shame you don't seem to understand the nuanced point being made. Of course we need to impose quarantine and certain categories of traveller and of course we need to mandate testing.

The issue is about doing it in a sensible manner. Having to take privately paid for tests before arriving to the UK then on days 2, 5 and 8 seems unbalanced. If someone needs to enter the UK for say a week, that person also needs to take an additional test and I know of at least one case whereby someone took two tests on the say day and time with the same company - two sets of swabs and two time slots at the lab.

To those who continually ask why are there so many people coming in and out? The answer is there are not that many. When I left Gatwick last Tuesday, my flight at around 11am was the only flight in the entire airport for several hours - it was completely dead. There were also police manning entry to the security departutre gates and plain clothes more experienced police interviewing everyone getting on the plane. The check-in lady told me they usually pull a few off.

The situation was completely different at the start of the pandemic. It was then we should have shut the stable door but we didn't and at that time I was also very angry that the borders were essentially open.

sheramber

michael1234 said:

.

To those who continually ask why are there so many people coming in and out? The answer is there are not that many. When I left Gatwick last Tuesday, my flight at around 11am was the only flight in the entire airport for several hours - it was completely dead. There were also police manning entry to the security departutre gates and plain clothes more experienced police interviewing everyone getting on the plane. The check-in lady told me they usually pull a few off.

The situation was completely different at the start of the pandemic. It was then we should have shut the stable door but we didn't and at that time I was also very angry that the borders were essentially open.

Gatwick is hardly representative ,

At Heathrow on Monday, the first flight to arrive was BA flight 74 from the Nigerian city of Lagos, at 4.44am – a Boeing 777 with typically 250-300 seats. Others followed from Hong Kong, Singapore, Ghana and Kenya, before a second morning wave, largely from North America and the Gulf – but only 30 services in total by 9am, when traffic had peaked. By the afternoon only a handful of international flights arrived every hour at what was once Europe’s busiest airport.

Heathrow’s numbers nonetheless far outstrip others: at London Gatwick, which is more oriented towards leisure travel, there were only six in-bound flights scheduled on Monday 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/25/why-are-people-still-flying-into-the-uk-despite-covid-rules  from 26January

Heathrow Airport's passenger numbers were down 92 per cent year-on-year in February 2021, with 461,000 people travelling through the airport.

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/heathrow-airport-passenger-numbers-fall-20064622