Alaska announces rapid COVID testing for Hawaii-bound passengers
Sep 30, 2020, 2:53 pm
#1
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Alaska announces rapid COVID testing for Hawaii-bound passengers
https://investor.alaskaair.com/news-...i-bound-guests
Tech-enabled health care provider Carbon Health will make rapid COVID-19 testing available at its pop-up clinic located in downtown Seattle at 220 6th Avenue North. Guests will be able to make an appointment with Carbon Health starting Oct. 8, with priority testing for Alaska Airlines flyers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PDT, starting on Oct. 12. Test results will be ready within two hours at a discounted cost of $135. More information, including how to schedule an appointment, will be available after Oct. 5 at alaskaair.com/hawaii-bound.
At this time, testing will be offered in Seattle, as the airline has focused the full return of twice-daily flights to all four major Hawaiian Islands from its largest hub starting Oct. 15. Additionally, on Nov. 1, nonstop service to Hawaii will resume from Portland, Oregon; San Jose, California; and San Diego, California. Hawaii service will begin from Anchorage, Alaska, and Los Angeles on Nov. 20. Carbon Health is planning additional pop-up and full-service clinics for rapid COVID-19 testing in those Lower 48 cities in the coming weeks.
At this time, testing will be offered in Seattle, as the airline has focused the full return of twice-daily flights to all four major Hawaiian Islands from its largest hub starting Oct. 15. Additionally, on Nov. 1, nonstop service to Hawaii will resume from Portland, Oregon; San Jose, California; and San Diego, California. Hawaii service will begin from Anchorage, Alaska, and Los Angeles on Nov. 20. Carbon Health is planning additional pop-up and full-service clinics for rapid COVID-19 testing in those Lower 48 cities in the coming weeks.
Sep 30, 2020, 4:13 pm
#6
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Well....nothing is "free"....testing equipment, reagents, personnel, etc need to be paid for somehow. Kaiser is a closed panel HMO and either you or your employer are paying the premium but I am glad they have made that service available to you without charge. I think my insurance would cover testing or maybe have a small co-pay. I think it is a nice option that Alaska has for people who cannot obtain testing easily from other places. Now what about this; if it is required that all passengers be tested within 72 hours, does that mean that AS can fill the seats (no open middle row)? I guess the answer would be no as someone could be exposed to the virus within the 72 hours and I doubt the flight crew have to be tested prior to each flight. Just a thought.
Sep 30, 2020, 4:14 pm
#7
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No doubt. But it is a start, better than UA's $250 SFO scheme, and soon enough, there will likely be quick and inexpensive clinics in airports all over, which may be the only way to get on a plane to much of the world over the next year or so.
Sep 30, 2020, 4:36 pm
#8
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Gary over at View From The Wing is unimpressed 
https://viewfromthewing.com/alaska-a...id-19-testing/
https://viewfromthewing.com/alaska-a...id-19-testing/
Alaska needed to announce something, I suppose, and they’ve announce something. But rapid tests that are administered downtown, take two hours for results, and cost $135 isn’t the sort of advance we’re seeing elsewhere. It’s not the convenience or price that holds the potential to really re-open travel, the way other airlines are promoting efforts might. Someone in Seattle missed the memo. Of course Southwest and Delta haven’t announced anything yet. Maybe that’s better and they’ll do it right.
Sep 30, 2020, 4:38 pm
#9
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I truly don't understand why anyone would opt for any airline testing option at all (alaska's or otherwise) when covid tests are free for every single US insurance under the CARES act. People just like to pay for things you can otherwise get for free?
I've gotten covid tested in the US about ten times in the last couple months, across different clinics and labs, all free (either through a typical US insurance with high deductible but the copay covered under CARES act, or because the popup-covid test site doesn't take any money or info at all other than an email to send results). All results back under 2 days, same as private clinics since the processing labs are generally the same (LabCorp etc). Had I gone to these airline or private clinics fleecing people over something available next door for free it would've cost over $1k.
I've gotten covid tested in the US about ten times in the last couple months, across different clinics and labs, all free (either through a typical US insurance with high deductible but the copay covered under CARES act, or because the popup-covid test site doesn't take any money or info at all other than an email to send results). All results back under 2 days, same as private clinics since the processing labs are generally the same (LabCorp etc). Had I gone to these airline or private clinics fleecing people over something available next door for free it would've cost over $1k.
Sep 30, 2020, 4:43 pm
#10
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I truly don't understand why anyone would opt for any airline testing option at all (alaska's or otherwise) when covid tests are free for every single US insurance under the CARES act. People just like to pay for things you can otherwise get for free?
I've gotten covid tested in the US about ten times in the last couple months, across different clinics and labs, all free (either through a typical US insurance with high deductible but the copay covered under CARES act, or because the popup-covid test site doesn't take any money or info at all other than an email to send results).
I've gotten covid tested in the US about ten times in the last couple months, across different clinics and labs, all free (either through a typical US insurance with high deductible but the copay covered under CARES act, or because the popup-covid test site doesn't take any money or info at all other than an email to send results).
Sep 30, 2020, 4:48 pm
#11
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I truly don't understand why anyone would opt for any airline testing option at all (alaska's or otherwise) when covid tests are free for every single US insurance under the CARES act. People just like to pay for things you can otherwise get for free?
I've gotten covid tested in the US about ten times in the last couple months, across different clinics and labs, all free (either through a typical US insurance with high deductible but the copay covered under CARES act, or because the popup-covid test site doesn't take any money or info at all other than an email to send results).
I've gotten covid tested in the US about ten times in the last couple months, across different clinics and labs, all free (either through a typical US insurance with high deductible but the copay covered under CARES act, or because the popup-covid test site doesn't take any money or info at all other than an email to send results).
I want an idiot-proof, guaranteed option that will be accepted by Hawaiian authorities without me being stuck in my hotel for 10 days. After nearly losing thousands in reservations over a trip to Spain this last May that didn't happen, I am more than willing to spend the $135 to get results quickly that will be accepted by authorities for our upcoming November trip to Kauai.
Sep 30, 2020, 5:54 pm
#12
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Maybe we aren’t all, you know, American? And since Hawaii hasn’t said they will accept anything other than US based tests at this point, looks like this might be my only option.
Sep 30, 2020, 6:16 pm
#13
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The "free" rapid tests available at Walgreens, etc are not the NAAT/PCR tests required by the State of Hawaii. Sensitivity of those tests is low, so wisely Hawaii has opted for the more accurate test.
Sep 30, 2020, 6:48 pm
#14
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Gary over at View From The Wing is unimpressed https://viewfromthewing.com/alaska-a...id-19-testing/
https://viewfromthewing.com/alaska-a...id-19-testing/
Sep 30, 2020, 7:22 pm
#15
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