Have i understood the travel requirements correct + which pre-travel and return to UK test to use?

abbas5001

Hi all,

Would greatly appreciate if folk can read my understand of what is required to travel so I know I have understood it (or not!) Naively booked a holiday via Jet 2 months ago back when Portugal was on the green list thinking in a few months the restrictions on travel would be minor - as i said very naive! Now i wish i had never booked the holiday when i see what is required.

Am i right in saying that pre-travel i will require ::

• to have a negative PCR test carried out within 72 hours or a negative rapid antigen within 48 hours? I know some countries don't accept the rapid antigent but i have checked the .gov website and Portugal's travel website which state they do. 

• complete a passenger locator form  

Thereafter, for my return to the UK:

• a negative PCR or antigen test, however it is confirmed that the UK accepts the antigen so better getting that as it is cheaper
• again to complete a passenger locator form

On day 2 of return in UK:

• Complete a day 2 PCR test which i would book before departing obviously ( i am in Scotland so would need to book through the official CTM portal rather than use a private third party provider)

Please tell me that sounds about right???!!!

I am confused about who to use for the pre-departure test and return to the UK test - i see the company Chronomics being mentioned a lot, presumably as they are pretty cheap and meet the government's criteria but i have seen mixed reviews for them, and indeed for many other private clinics and companies that have been set up. Are they a safe bet or does someone have a better suggestion.

PS i have read the article on MSE about covid tests and travel so i have tried to do my research!

onashoestring

Are you double vaccinated as that makes a difference to the requirements? 

abbas5001

No, but I will be getting my second vaccination in 2 weeks and that will be more than 14 days before I travel

onashoestring

Yes you are correct ( as the rules stand today ) but of course as you holiday is more than 4 weeks away you need to check closer to the time as they could change .

With regards to the Day 2 test , I would say pick the cheapest as you are not required to quarantine so you will not be relying on the result to come back quickly. 

Most of the issues have been tests or results arriving late which impacted people in quarantine .

Makes sense to do your homework as you have - but personally I would wait til closer to the time to purchase any tests for 3 reasons :

1) If for some reason your holiday can’t go ahead - most of the test providers will not refund you for unused test kits.

2) The Government is trying to get costs of tests reduced so you may save money by waiting a few weeks. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58137461

3) You will be able to check more recent reviews of test providers as some are taken off the list when they fail to provide the proper service. 

Ben1989

The OP is travelling from Scotland so they can only purchase tests from the CTM portal.

You've smashed what is required. You'll know more than me regarding travelling to Portugal. 

One thing to keep in mind is that the requirements are 72 hours or 48 hours. Ensure to do the maths taking into account possible delays to your flight.

I recommend Qured for pre-UK test. You order your tests, take them with you, book a slot and take the test via webcam. You send a picture of your test with your passport and then they send you a cert, £39. However, others have been doing cheaper ones where you don't even use a webcam which i find bonkers as they cant validate the test was taken correctly. Also, most tourist places now have test centres set up for even cheaper I believe.

isplumm

abbas5001 said:

Hi all,

Would greatly appreciate if folk can read my understand of what is required to travel so I know I have understood it (or not!) Naively booked a holiday via Jet 2 months ago back when Portugal was on the green list thinking in a few months the restrictions on travel would be minor - as i said very naive! Now i wish i had never booked the holiday when i see what is required.

Am i right in saying that pre-travel i will require ::

• to have a negative PCR test carried out within 72 hours or a negative rapid antigen within 48 hours? I know some countries don't accept the rapid antigent but i have checked the .gov website and Portugal's travel website which state they do. 

• complete a passenger locator form  

Hi

I looked at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements

Quarantining on arrival in mainland Portugal

If you have travelled from the UK to mainland Portugal, you must quarantine for 14 days in the place you are staying or at a place indicated by the Portuguese health authority, unless you can show you have been fully vaccinated with an EU approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel. Children under 18 are exempt from quarantine if they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult.

That might impact you?

Thanks Mark

sheramber

isplumm said:

abbas5001 said:

Hi all,

Would greatly appreciate if folk can read my understand of what is required to travel so I know I have understood it (or not!) Naively booked a holiday via Jet 2 months ago back when Portugal was on the green list thinking in a few months the restrictions on travel would be minor - as i said very naive! Now i wish i had never booked the holiday when i see what is required.

Am i right in saying that pre-travel i will require ::

• to have a negative PCR test carried out within 72 hours or a negative rapid antigen within 48 hours? I know some countries don't accept the rapid antigent but i have checked the .gov website and Portugal's travel website which state they do. 

• complete a passenger locator form  

Hi

I looked at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements

Quarantining on arrival in mainland Portugal

If you have travelled from the UK to mainland Portugal, you must quarantine for 14 days in the place you are staying or at a place indicated by the Portuguese health authority, unless you can show you have been fully vaccinated with an EU approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel. Children under 18 are exempt from quarantine if they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult.

That might impact you?

Thanks Mark

See post 3 above yours

superbigal

I had a Dutch customer in yesterday who flew into Edinburgh.  They got through the Scottish "system" with a cheaper Day 2 randox test.
Is it only if you get a real jobsworth paper checker that not booking an inflated CTM test is a problem.
Or is it meant to be impossible to book ?

Sandtree

superbigal said:

I had a Dutch customer in yesterday who flew into Edinburgh.  They got through the Scottish "system" with a cheaper Day 2 randox test.
Is it only if you get a real jobsworth paper checker that not booking an inflated CTM test is a problem.
Or is it meant to be impossible to book ?

Book what?

On our return to the UK (LHR) we went through e-gates so no one looked at anything in person at all. You would think/hope that had there been an issue, eg we put an invalid booking reference on the PLF, that when we tried to use the e-gates we'd have been rejected and directed to a manned gate where the issue would have been discussed etc but I'd be surprised if the government had managed to setup anything that well linked up... after all they sent the Mrs a letter saying she was vulnerable and so should really have had the vaccination about 4 months after she had (and the NHS app shows her vaccinations correctly) 

onashoestring

Sandtree said:

On our return to the UK (LHR) we went through e-gates so no one looked at anything in person at all. You would think/hope that had there been an issue, eg we put an invalid booking reference on the PLF, that when we tried to use the e-gates we'd have been rejected and directed to a manned gate where the issue would have been discussed etc but I'd be surprised if the government had managed to setup anything that well linked up... 

Thanks for the update . I remember reading that e-gates were set up to check PLF but don’t know if it is at all airports . Out of interest, were your forms and negative test results looked at by airline when you checked in for the flight ? 

Sandtree

onashoestring said:

Sandtree said:

On our return to the UK (LHR) we went through e-gates so no one looked at anything in person at all. You would think/hope that had there been an issue, eg we put an invalid booking reference on the PLF, that when we tried to use the e-gates we'd have been rejected and directed to a manned gate where the issue would have been discussed etc but I'd be surprised if the government had managed to setup anything that well linked up... 

Thanks for the update . I remember reading that e-gates were set up to check PLF but don’t know if it is at all airports . Out of interest, were your forms and negative test results looked at by airline when you checked in for the flight ? 

No, they asked if they'd be done/we had them but did ask to see them themselves and was asked in the same not really waiting for an answer way that they also ask if you packed your own bags and you're not carry explosive etc.