Landside transit PCR test exemption question

arel

I am travelling from Belgium to London on Eurostar, then to Heathrow to meet my friend arriving from the USA, then we will be both be travelling by Eurostar to Belgium.

According to the current PLF guidance, my friend qualifies as exempt from a PCR test because they are in a landside transit through the UK.

But am I also in transit? I am not staying overnight anywhere and leaving the UK from the same port I arrived.
Any clues?

sheramber

If you are transiting you must go direct from your arrival port to your onward departure port.

As you are entering on Eurostar , going to Heathrow and back to Eurostar you are not complying with the transiting rules.

arel

Ok, so on my PLF I should choose Stay in UK, select No UK address, and take a PCR test in the 5 hours or so that I am in the UK?   This seems to adhere to the rules but makes no sense to me.

soolin

You must also quarantine as well don't forget- I'm not sure how travelling across a busy London and waiting at an airport will fulfil the quarantine requirements- but on the other hand I don't imagine anyone will be stopping and asking you. Your day 2 test must also have been booked in advance and entrered on your PLF - you can leave the UK without any proof you have done it though. Your problem is that without an address you can't get a kit delivered anywhere, so you are likely to be stuck with finding and paying for a very expensive on site test 'before' you land so that details of that can be added to your PLF.

CKhalvashi

soolin said:

You must also quarantine as well don't forget- I'm not sure how travelling across a busy London and waiting at an airport will fulfil the quarantine requirements- but on the other hand I don't imagine anyone will be stopping and asking you. Your day 2 test must also have been booked in advance and entrered on your PLF - you can leave the UK without any proof you have done it though. Your problem is that without an address you can't get a kit delivered anywhere, so you are likely to be stuck with finding and paying for a very expensive on site test 'before' you land so that details of that can be added to your PLF.

Depending on terminal, OP can have a pre-booked test with Collinson at Heathrow for £55.20.

They will also be in breach of their quarantine requirements in the UK and therefore risk spreading the virus to vulnerable people.

In short, I am not sure why OP is willing to risk the health of British residents with their day trip to the UK given the current rules (which they openly admit they intend to breach).

soolin

CKhalvashi said:

soolin said:

You must also quarantine as well don't forget- I'm not sure how travelling across a busy London and waiting at an airport will fulfil the quarantine requirements- but on the other hand I don't imagine anyone will be stopping and asking you. Your day 2 test must also have been booked in advance and entrered on your PLF - you can leave the UK without any proof you have done it though. Your problem is that without an address you can't get a kit delivered anywhere, so you are likely to be stuck with finding and paying for a very expensive on site test 'before' you land so that details of that can be added to your PLF.

Depending on terminal, OP can have a pre-booked test with Collinson at Heathrow for £55.20.

They will also be in breach of their quarantine requirements in the UK and therefore risk spreading the virus to vulnerable people.

In short, I am not sure why OP is willing to risk the health of British residents with their day trip to the UK given the current rules (which they openly admit they intend to breach).

This is why I believe none of this makes sense if it is truly to protect us, but that sort of talk is not allowed on here so I will desist.

OP, it really might be easier to have your friend make their own way to Eurostar and meet you in Belgium, it will save you a great deal of expense and hassle.

silvercar

The new rules prevent you doing this trip. Full stop. In transiting you can go from one place to another, even on public transport, provided they are part of your direct journey. You can't arrive at the same port you intend departing from and take a detour to anywhere!

In theory, you could arrive at the Eurostar terminal and wait for your friend to arrive and then depart together, though I would expect questions to be asked as to how and why you are making this journey. I would expect that you may be required to book a PCR test as without it you can't claim to be in transit if you aren't going anywhere. On a UK passport you couldn't in theory be denied access to the Eurostar, but I expect questions to be asked. If you are desperate to make the journey then book a cancellable/ cheap flight from Heathrow; use that as your outward trip on your plf and then have a change of plan - though if you have booked a return ticket I doubt the officials at the Belguim eurostar port will be impressed. The only other thing to claim was that you were doing a trip to get some loyalty points for the eurostar, again if the officials understand loyalty schemes and you have a UK passport then you may get away with it.

arel

Thank you all for your comments.

I do have some very good reasons for this trip and I have explored all options to avoid this.

Indeed as a UK arrival I will need to book a PCR test ahead of time so I will book the test centre at Heathrow (I am allowed to travel to a test centre).  Then I will come back to the Eurostar terminal (I am allowed to leave the country).

 

CKhalvashi

arel said:

Thank you all for your comments.

I do have some very good reasons for this trip and I have explored all options to avoid this.

Indeed as a UK arrival I will need to book a PCR test ahead of time so I will book the test centre at Heathrow (I am allowed to travel to a test centre).  Then I will come back to the Eurostar terminal (I am allowed to leave the country).

 

That is pushing the rules to the limit, but may just be within them.

Ultimately if it goes to court, it will be up to a judge.

silvercar

arel said:

Thank you all for your comments.

I do have some very good reasons for this trip and I have explored all options to avoid this.

Indeed as a UK arrival I will need to book a PCR test ahead of time so I will book the test centre at Heathrow (I am allowed to travel to a test centre).  Then I will come back to the Eurostar terminal (I am allowed to leave the country).

 

You will need to declare where you are going to isolate pending your results. If you say you are heading back on the Eurostar that will raise questions. You can’t be in transit back to where you came from and you can’t be doing any ongoing travel without something booked. Your problem is convincing the people at the start of your journey to allow you to travel. Now they may just see a completed plf and a test book and not question further. Or they may not.

onashoestring

arel said:

Thank you all for your comments.

I do have some very good reasons for this trip and I have explored all options to avoid this.

Indeed as a UK arrival I will need to book a PCR test ahead of time so I will book the test centre at Heathrow (I am allowed to travel to a test centre).  Then I will come back to the Eurostar terminal (I am allowed to leave the country).

 

What will you do if your test result is positive/ you will be required to quarantine in UK for 10 days and not permitted to end self isolation for travel. Where will you stay for the 10 days ?
You will not be permitted to enter Belgium within 10 days of testing positive.