We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Covid Testing before and after Travel

Options
124»

Comments

  • JJC1956 said
    As you have been Madeira before, you must know that they will give you a FREE PCR test at the airport, you just need to stay in your residence until the test result comes through, usually late the same evening. Just take a free Rapid Antigen test before you go
    When we went last year, tests to fly back to the uk were not required- you now need a test within 3 days of flying home and the current rules don’t allow the free nhs lateral flow tests to be used for this purpose - they have to be either carried out by a professional or verified through a video call. 

    Madeira gives one free test per person. Our plan was to have a pcr test before we go, then use our free test in Madeira before our return flight. This has the added benefit of not requiring isolation on arrival until test results arrive. 

    Last year my result arrived at 6pm, but my partner’s didn’t arrive until 2am. 

    I just asked because the test procedure on the eurofins video looked very minimal so I wondered if it was fully acceptable. 
    mortgage balance 1/1/2021 £334000 end date June 2036
    2021 MFW 0.5% £408.31/£1670
  • ess0two
    ess0two Posts: 3,606 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Washboy said:
    Eurofins have been doing PCR tests for less than £45 for weeks. Surely you can beg/borrow that much to save your dream holiday?
    Have you seen some of the reviews for this company, i would'nt be relying on them for a fit to fly, as they are not processing test in time.
    Official MR B fan club,dont go............................
  • michael1234
    michael1234 Posts: 668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Washboy said:
    Eurofins have been doing PCR tests for less than £45 for weeks. Surely you can beg/borrow that much to save your dream holiday?
    I've used Eurofins for the day 5 test. As of around a week ago they were not authorised to provide day 2/8 tests. 
    Given they are scientifically the same thing (PCR tests) it is odd how a provider can offer tests for one purpose but not another. 
    For the record, Eurofins were fine but its always a little worrying relying on the post to return test samples as they degrade over time.
  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 49,504 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    Washboy said:
    Eurofins have been doing PCR tests for less than £45 for weeks. Surely you can beg/borrow that much to save your dream holiday?
    I've used Eurofins for the day 5 test. As of around a week ago they were not authorised to provide day 2/8 tests. 
    Given they are scientifically the same thing (PCR tests) it is odd how a provider can offer tests for one purpose but not another. 
    For the record, Eurofins were fine but its always a little worrying relying on the post to return test samples as they degrade over time.
    Day 2/ 8 tests are sent for genome sequencing if they are positive, to help track variants. TTR don’t need to be genome sequenced.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • mbtaylor
    mbtaylor Posts: 20 Forumite
    Second Anniversary 10 Posts
    Can anyone tell me the mechanics of how the test pre-coming home works? eg in the TUI package.  Is it organised by TUI (eg) with a test done in the hotel & a printed certificate? Or does involved posting a test off to somewhere within Portugal or...?
  • CKhalvashi
    CKhalvashi Posts: 12,134 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 18 May 2021 at 10:31PM
    mbtaylor said:
    Can anyone tell me the mechanics of how the test pre-coming home works? eg in the TUI package.  Is it organised by TUI (eg) with a test done in the hotel & a printed certificate? Or does involved posting a test off to somewhere within Portugal or...?
    I have entered (travelling for work before anyone asks, physical prescence required due to both AML and the fact I needed to get a local tax number which can only be done in country) using a PCR test and PLF on my phone with no physical paperwork other than a passport.

    This has been at both Luton and Stansted. 

    Edit to add: the physical testing was done by a local company (Unilab in Lviv if you are really interested), and returned by both SMS and certificate by e-mail and on their website. As the tests going out worked in the same way (Collinson), I would expect that the majority of providers are working like this.
    💙💛 💔
  • michael1234
    michael1234 Posts: 668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    mbtaylor said:
    Can anyone tell me the mechanics of how the test pre-coming home works? eg in the TUI package.  Is it organised by TUI (eg) with a test done in the hotel & a printed certificate? Or does involved posting a test off to somewhere within Portugal or...?
    When I came back around 2-3 weeks ago, I took a test in the country I was in from one of the better known local providers. I didn't know if the British side would know of the company I used but the check-in people in the country I was coming from certainly did so no issues getting on the plane.  Then on the British side, I figured, well I was already in the UK by that point  so border force would need pretty good evidence that there was anything dodgy about my test results (obvisouly there wasn't...) to fine me £500.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.