Originally Posted by
st8dm
It's not clear what is happening for those who
a) connect from Schengen to Non-Schengen and vice-versa
you "cross the border" but not to Poland...
your are only transiting
b) have booster (3x doses)
many authorities require either a test or the booster
Experienced this nightmare in WAW two weeks ago.
Schengen to Non-Schengen = no tests required as long as you are transiting onwards.
Non-Schengen to Schengen = test required even if transiting within 24 hours and never entering Poland. Border agents consider entering Schengen as “entering Poland” and everyone was sent to get tested in the transit zone.
Needless to say, many passengers missed their connecting flights because the process was so slow. I barely made it with seconds to spare while waiting in line for 2,5 hours to sign up and pay for the test, then 30 mins for the test to be done and certificate issued.
The border agents claim that even for transit, they interpret that as entering Poland. Even with boarding pass for onwards flight out of Poland in hand, they didn’t care. We need to see negative test.
The whole process made no sense as we were all discussing in line how if someone now tests positive, then they cannot return back to point of origin, nor connect onwards. So now they are stuck in Poland. Just as it happens, someone tests positive and panic sets in for everyone and that passenger is quickly escorted away by medical and airport staff.
Supposedly one can do the test past passport control but the border guards wanted none of that. Negative tests or nothing. Overall, a very unpleasant experience for everyone.