Unable to fly due to UK 2 day quarantine rules

pwb10brier

Myself and 3 others are due to fly to Berlin on Friday 10th December returning the following Sunday.  Due to the changes in UK entry we can no longer fly as we cannot self isolate for 2 days on return,  We all have to go to work on the Monday.  I've contacted Ryanair who say as the flight is still going we can't cancel.  Their zero fees policy is no use either as it doesn't apply if you wish to change flight to next year, only the 31st December.

Am I able or use credit card chargeback or section 75 to recover my money?  i don't want to lose £670

emmajones1976

You have misunderstood the rules. You dont have to isolate 2 days on return, you isolate until you get a negative test result back which CAN be taken the same day you land, you dont have to wait until Day 2.

As for S75.....no, the flight is going, the new testing regime isnt Ryanairs problem.

pwb10brier

oh thanks for clarifying...really panicing.  Xmas markets here we come!!

emmajones1976

Section 75 isnt a silver bullet.

Either move the flights (and pay associated fees), find somewhere on the Sunday that can turn around the tests quickly, book a days annual leave, or call in sick.

onashoestring

pwb10brier said:

oh thanks for clarifying...really panicing.  Xmas markets here we come!!

As others have said you can take the test on the Day you arrive back in UK, but you will need to self- isolate until you get the result - so you will need to find a provider who can get the results back quickly- if you choose one of the cheaper tests that you return by post you take the risk of having to self isolate  for up to 14 days or until your negative result has arrived. In your situation the cheapest is probably not the best option.

eastcorkram

I'd imagine all these testing places are suddenly going to get a lot busier, so I'd say waiting times for results will go up.

soolin

pwb10brier said:

oh thanks for clarifying...really panicing.  Xmas markets here we come!!

Be careful though, the ‘on the day result’ centres my colleagues found were charging up to £200 per person for conveniently placed centres and they couldn’t actually find anything available within a reasonable distance,  they ended up just giving up their flights.  They were looking late last week for a centre this week, so might just have seen the immediate prices that hit when the panic ensued, it might have calmed down now. 

silvercar

I plan on doing a day2 test on arrival at 5am and hope that the results are back for work the next morning. I may take a back up PCR test locally too.

onashoestring

@silvercar have you found a provider offering this turnaround time , the quickest I have found is express test at Gatwick they aim to get the result to you by 10pm the following day ( but that isn’t guaranteed) 

J_B

pwb10brier said:

.......... Due to the changes in UK entry we can no longer fly as we cannot self isolate for 2 days on return, 

We all have to go to work on the Monday.

I think you are not quite using the right words you would rather not isolate because you would like to go to work on Monday

silvercar

onashoestring said:

@silvercar have you found a provider offering this turnaround time , the quickest I have found is express test at Gatwick they aim to get the result to you by 10pm the following day ( but that isn’t guaranteed) 

I've seen these mentioned, no personal experience:

HALO verify at Sofitel Heathrow T5, PCR within 5 hours if taken before 6pm - £60.

Aloft near the excel centre do 3 hr tests

novotel nr Heathrow £65 for a 3 hour test.

Hasu diagnostics (slough) £56/ £99.

emphasising no personal experience (scraped from elsewhere)