American Expands COVID-19 Testing to Flyers Bound for More U.S. Destinations

American Airlines is adding COVID-19 testing options to another Caribbean route, along with any state that currently has entry restrictions. Starting Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, the airline will provide testing options for flyers bound to two airports on the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as 14 states and the District of Columbia.

American Airlines continues to expand their COVID-19 testing options for domestic travelers, in the hopes of encouraging more travel going into 2021. In a press release, the airline announced at-home COVID-19 test kits will go on sale for travelers bound for 14 U.S. destinations, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Negative Tests Allow Flyers to Bypass Quarantine at U.S. Virgin Islands Upon Arrival.

Starting Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, flyers bound for destinations with COVID-19 travel restrictions within the territorial United States will be able to purchase testing kits from their partner LetsGetChecked if they have a travel date on or after Dec. 12, 2020. The tests will be available to those heading to a city or state with COVID-19 travel regulations, along with the two major airports of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As it stands today, there is no national standard for COVID-19 testing among domestic travelers. Rather, each state, county and municipality are allowed to set their own rules on who can and cannot enter certain destinations. This creates a patchwork of various rules for flyers who have a need to travel.

For example: While the City of Chicago currently has a COVID-19 travel rule requiring flyers from 46 states and two territories to provide a negative test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, the rule doesn’t apply to all of Illinois. Across New York state, all out-of-state travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival, quarantine for three days, and then take another COVID-19 test on the fourth day.

To enter the U.S. Virgin Islands, travelers must present a COVID-19 test within five days of scheduled travel, or a positive COVID-19 antibody test taken within four months of planned travel. In addition to uploading the results to the U.S.V.I. travel portal, travelers must present test results and their online certification upon arrival.

Working with LetsGetChecked, American will give flyers heading any of the affected destinations the option to purchase a at-home COVID-19 test kit. The nasal swab test is supervised on a video visit, with results processed within days of sending the exam back to the lab. Each test costs $129, and a separate exam must be purchased for each flyer.

“We’ve made great strides to help open international travel with our testing partners, and we recognize the need for similar domestic travel solutions,” Alison Taylor, chief customer officer for American, said in a press release. “As travel requirements continue to quickly evolve, we’re simplifying the research and COVID-19 testing fulfillment process for an overall more seamless travel experience.”

American and JetBlue Continue To Lead COVID-19 Testing Options for Flyers

With the program expansion, American and JetBlue are becoming the clear leaders on pre-travel COVID-19 testing within the United States and the Caribbean. In November 2020, American announced they would offer testing to flyers bound for Belize, Grenada and St. Lucia, while JetBlue partnered with the government of Aruba to offer testing options with provider Vault Health.