Are fit to fly tests processed over weekends - due to arrive in Mallorca on a Monday morning

sky_rat

My daughter (aged 15) needs a fit to fly test for entry to Mallorca and we are due to arrive on Monday 23rd at 11am (flight departs at 730am).

The test sample has to be taken within 72 hours of arrival, therefore the sample needs to be taken from Friday 20th at 11am onwards.

But that means the sample needs to be processed over the weekend, and it also means Royal Mail only have rest of that Friday (and possibly Saturday ?) to deliver the sample to the lab for processing.

If the lab does not process the sample over the weekend, then how are you supposed to get the results back in time for the flight ?

PS. I received my 2nd vaccination over 2 weeks ago so I'm classed as fully vaccinated.  It will just be myself and my daughter going on holiday.

CKhalvashi

I would go to an on site testing service such as Collinson for this type of test (others are available, this is the company I have experience with) to reduce the risk of this.

If you haven't already paid for tests elsewhere, I'd get online now and try to get an appointment within the next few hours, as this should be back either tonight or tomorrow morning. I haven't had a test from this specific company take longer than late afternoon next day to come back.

sky_rat

CKhalvashi said:

I would go to an on site testing service such as Collinson for this type of test (others are available, this is the company I have experience with) to reduce the risk of this.

If you haven't already paid for tests elsewhere, I'd get online now and try to get an appointment within the next few hours, as this should be back either tonight or tomorrow morning. I haven't had a test from this specific company take longer than late afternoon next day to come back.

Thanks CKhalvashi

Its an absolute nightmare, I never gave it one thought about the fact the sample will need to be posted and then tested over a weekend.

We aren't due to fly until 3 weeks tomorrow (23rd August).

The package holiday was booked with Jet2 and I've been on hold for nearly 2 hours trying to get through to them.

I wanted to ask them how to deal with this nightmare, or cancel the holiday.

How do other people who need a pre flight COVID test and fly at the start of the week deal with this ?  Or is it only fully vaccinated people who are able to fly at the start of the week i.e. no children ?

onashoestring

https://www.royalmail.com/priority-postboxes

Royal Mail have increased their capacity to help process COVID tests - if your test provider has told you to use Royal Mail then you can find the nearest priority box near you and post before midday Friday - they collect everyday from these boxes even Sundays . The results are sent to you electronically. 

Spendless

I'd also go and get it done at an on-site testing place. My daughter and boyfriend for Greece went to Boots and good tests that had results within the hour. Possibly not the cheapest option, but the easiest for us in terms of getting there

CKhalvashi

sky_rat said:

CKhalvashi said:

I would go to an on site testing service such as Collinson for this type of test (others are available, this is the company I have experience with) to reduce the risk of this.

If you haven't already paid for tests elsewhere, I'd get online now and try to get an appointment within the next few hours, as this should be back either tonight or tomorrow morning. I haven't had a test from this specific company take longer than late afternoon next day to come back.

Thanks CKhalvashi

Its an absolute nightmare, I never gave it one thought about the fact the sample will need to be posted and then tested over a weekend.

We aren't due to fly until 3 weeks tomorrow (23rd August).

The package holiday was booked with Jet2 and I've been on hold for nearly 2 hours trying to get through to them.

I wanted to ask them how to deal with this nightmare, or cancel the holiday.

How do other people who need a pre flight COVID test and fly at the start of the week deal with this ?  Or is it only fully vaccinated people who are able to fly at the start of the week i.e. no children ?

Apologies, read the Monday part but didn't take the date into account.

I'm not sure of the specific requirements of Spain but if you say 72 hours I'll believe you, however I have flown on a Monday previously, had the test on the Friday evening and results were back on the Saturday afternoon, as above with Collinson.

Not flying with children, but a test was then required for entry to that country whether vaccinated or not.

sky_rat

Thanks all, having just rang this place and spoke to a helpful person I have booked the standard test....
 
https://mdxhealthcare.com/

It costs more than others (£130 !!!!!) but I need the reassurance and peace of mind that the results will arrive in time, otherwise it risks the holiday being cancelled and I don't know the T&Cs about refunds if your test results don't arrive in time for the outbound flight. 

It will also be easier to get to during Friday rush hour traffic (its about an hour from where I am in Milton Keynes) and its reassuring to know they can be contacted even on a Sunday afternoon. 

They perform the swab (so theres less chance of it being invalid) and the swab is then hand delivered to the laboratory on the SAME day. 

So I've booked my daughter in for Friday afternoon and the results will be ready by the following Saturday evening.

They also said that "IF" the result is invalid they will do another test for free on Sunday morning and get the results back by Sunday night.  

They said they deal with a lot of people who have had problems with other provides such as Boots. 

It will be a stressful waiting to see what the results come back as.

Sandtree

sky_rat said:

But that means the sample needs to be processed over the weekend, and it also means Royal Mail only have rest of that Friday (and possibly Saturday ?) to deliver the sample to the lab for processing.

If the lab does not process the sample over the weekend, then how are you supposed to get the results back in time for the flight ?

Each lab is different... Royal Mail obviously dont deliver on Sundays and some labs I looked at for a day 5 release test said they dont accept post on Saturdays either.

There are, if you are willing to pay for it, labs that offer next day and same day tests... the Mrs did her same day test at 11am and had her results by 6:30pm but it was £149... £99 would have got it next day - probably a central London premium too.