JetBlue and Vault Health Offer At-Home COVID-19 Testing

Shortly after United Airlines partnered with a health care provider to offer COVID-19 testing, JetBlue is following suit with an at-home test. Partnering with Vault Health, the New York-based airline will offer at-home testing with virtual support from a test supervisor.

JetBlue is the latest airline to offer COVID-19 testing for flyers, but at the convenience of their home. The New York-based airline announced a partnership with Vault Health to offer a discounted test, with the support of a virtual test supervisor.

PCR Test Samples Collected at Home, Analyzed Before Flight

Under the plan, JetBlue flyers with an active PNR will be able to access the test ordering page. During the checkout process, flyers are asked personal information and if they have had exposure to anyone with COVID-19.

The disclaimer states that this is not an antibody test but rather a saliva test, which will determine if flyers currently have COVID-19. The collection process is guided virtually with a test supervisor from Vault Health over a Zoom call. From there, the sample is sent overnight to a laboratory, and results will be provided in 72 hours or less.

The tests will be available to JetBlue flyers for a discounted rate of $143. The normal Vault test costs $150.

“We continue to hear from health officials that testing is incredibly important in the fight against the coronavirus, and we want to make sure our customers have options for testing, especially prior to travel,” Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer of JetBlue, said in a press release. “Now with easier testing options, those safety requirements may not be a deterrent for travel, but rather provide greater public health and peace of mind with little inconvenience.”

While the test is offered to all flyers, Vault warns that they can virtually supervise sample collection in most, but not all, states in the U.S. In addition, Vault notes that they only provide testing for COVID-19, not medical or treatment advice. If a flyer tests positive for COVID-19, Vault is legally obligated to report the infection to state health authorities.

Although the test is available to JetBlue flyers, it’s unclear if those with a negative test will be allowed to bypass 14-day quarantine requirements upon arrival to a state where the requirements are still in place, such as Hawaii (JetBlue does not fly to Hawaii, but has a partnership with Hawaiian Airlines). A spokesperson for JetBlue told FlyerTalk they recommend “all customers check entry requirements to make sure the test is accepted,” and that their research shows all states with entry requirements require a PCR test, which Vault offers.

JetBlue Becomes Second Airline to Offer At-Home COVID-19 Testing

With their announcement, JetBlue becomes the second U.S.-based carrier to offer pre-flight COVID-19 testing from home. On Sept. 24, 2020, United Airlines announced they would offer an at-home testing option for flyers traveling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to four destinations in Hawaii.