The latest I can buy a day 2 PCR test?

bigfer

Flying back to Scotland 2nd Nov so need to purchase a day 2 PCR test (thanks Sturgeon). In the faint hope that this ridiculous anomaly is relaxed before I depart, what would be the safest time to purchase said day 2 PCR test to ensure I obtain the oh so important code for my passenger return form?
I live in  England so the whole issue is a nonsense. TIA

NSG666

I live in England and went to Portugal 6th - 20th October. When we left England the date for changing to lateral flow had not been announced so I made sure I knew where I would buy either a PCR or lateral flow test before I left and hoped it would change so I could save a few quid - it didn't.

I ended up buying PCR tests from Randox (£43 each) and the order confirmation email with the PLF code came back instantly - on that basis you could order your test just before filling in your PLF.

bigfer

Cheers. I'll try and play the long game....

bigfer

....looks like the scotch witch has finally relented. If you believe the Daily Mail, LFT accepted from 4am Sunday.
Not seen it confirmed by any reliable sources though.

eskbanker

bigfer said:

....looks like the scotch witch has finally relented. If you believe the Daily Mail, LFT accepted from 4am Sunday.
Not seen it confirmed by any reliable sources though.

If you believe the Daily Mail then you're probably more likely to use silly terms like 'the scotch witch' but it was announced in her statement to the Scottish Parliament yesterday:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-update-first-ministers-statement-26-october-2021/

Fully vaccinated travellers, returning from non-red list countries, are currently required to take a PCR test on day two of their arrival back to or into Scotland. The UK Government announced recently that travellers arriving into England will be able to take a lateral flow test, with photo verification, instead of a PCR test.

For practical reasons, the Scottish Government will align with this change. That means from 4am on Sunday 31 October, people travelling to Scotland can also provide a lateral flow test – rather than a PCR test - on day two of their arrival. 

Travellers will be able to book lateral flow tests from the list of providers on the gov.uk site in advance of arrival into Scotland from around 5pm on Friday. These tests cost between £20-£30 – which is less than a PCR test - so I am sure this change will be welcomed by travellers, and by the travel industry. However it is important to stress that if a lateral flow test is positive, a PCR test must then be booked to confirm the result.

bigfer

many thanks. i don't rely on the daily mail as an informed source, but i don't consider the BBC as unbiased either. But I do still think she (as you identified her as) is a witch in what she is doing to her country.

Greenqueen_2

We ordered ours whilst away, about 5 days before due return date. Randox asked for our date of return and said they would be sent out on time.  

 The next morning we received a text to say they were on their way with a signed for Royal Mail delivery which was going to arrive the following day. ( 2 days BEFORE we travelled back). Fortunately my son was house sitting so the package did get here safely but it’s a warning to others to plan the times very carefully.

silvercar

You can buy it just before completing your plf, so a couple of hours before your return flight if you want to cut it fine.

zagfles

You can order it last minute, however you may find the cheaper providers have no availability so it may be more expensive.