Options for COVID testing prior to AS flights from Mexico
Jan 13, 2021, 12:35 pm
#1
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Options for COVID testing prior to AS flights from Mexico
I know it's a relatively new requirement, but I wondered if AS had any plans to offer pre-departure COVID testing in any of it's Mexico destinations. I've got a long weekend trip planned to PVR in a few weeks that I may need to cancel if there are no viable (inexpensive/easy) testing options available. If everyone is just "on their own", my guess is that they're going to see a SIGNIFICANT increase in Mexico cancellations which is the one place where I think AS has been doing fairly well during the pandemic. I asked about this via Facebook Messenger and received this response: "as this is all very recent news, we do not have that information at this time. We are working to pull resources for guests." So it sounds like we may see something from AS soon as it sounds like they're scrambling to put something together.
Jan 13, 2021, 2:59 pm
#2
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It's going to be a free-for-all. Finding those resources in most of Mexico isn't going to be easy and obtaining government permission to use the limited supply for leisure travelers is going to be harder.
Jan 13, 2021, 3:02 pm
#3
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Yeah....not something I care to deal with on a 3-day weekend. I mentioned to the AS Rep on Facebook Messenger that I think I'll cancel and re-book to Orlando and she seemed to think that was a good idea. My guess is that those flights to/from Mexico are about to get a lot more empty (sadly). COVID testing prior to leaving the US is totally doable....my wife and I had no problem doing that last summer for our trip to Alaska, but this is an entirely different level of difficult.
Jan 13, 2021, 3:46 pm
#4
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Agreed, it's likely to decimate the MX flights unless they fly in the tests from the US and offer it themselves, which I find highly unlikely. Same for CR.
Jan 13, 2021, 4:47 pm
#5
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I have a trip to PVR in early Feb. booked and I am hoping they come up with something. If not I guess it goes in the ever increasing pile of cancelled bookings I have.
This is also going to affect the few remaining flights from Canada as well as Costa Rica flights (if they have restarted).
This is also going to affect the few remaining flights from Canada as well as Costa Rica flights (if they have restarted).
Jan 13, 2021, 4:55 pm
#6
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For the "right price," I wouldn't be surprised if "obtaining government permission to use the limited supply for leisure travelers" doesn't become easier.
Jan 13, 2021, 5:09 pm
#7
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What about those at-home test kits where the lab mails you the test, you self-administer on video chat, and you mail it back to them?
Presumably you’d need to pay extra for express shopping from Mexico, but if it works for Hawaii...
Presumably you’d need to pay extra for express shopping from Mexico, but if it works for Hawaii...
Jan 13, 2021, 5:27 pm
#8
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My guess is the testing supply isn't the problem, Alaska can easily fly tests down. The problem is getting a lab to get them processed.
Jan 13, 2021, 6:09 pm
#9
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Edited to add: I looked at the order again and it definitely says lab results too, so rapid antigen must be disqualified from this order. What a mess.
I'll just continue sheltering here in SF, since a Mexico holiday isn't even allowed for those of us in most of CA.
Last edited by NoLaGent; Jan 13, 2021 at 6:24 pm
Jan 13, 2021, 6:42 pm
#10
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Obtaining an export license for a scarce resource to test leisure travelers does not strike me as "easily".
AS isn't going to take on the risk & liability. It's an air carrier not a health care provider. Perhaps some vendor, but that's not going to be cheap and these are not exactly high PRASM routes.
If the traffic isn't there, frequencies & routes get cut before AS shells out for what this would cost.
Jan 13, 2021, 8:43 pm
#12
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"easily"?
Obtaining an export license for a scarce resource to test leisure travelers does not strike me as "easily".
AS isn't going to take on the risk & liability. It's an air carrier not a health care provider. Perhaps some vendor, but that's not going to be cheap and these are not exactly high PRASM routes.
If the traffic isn't there, frequencies & routes get cut before AS shells out for what this would cost.
Obtaining an export license for a scarce resource to test leisure travelers does not strike me as "easily".
AS isn't going to take on the risk & liability. It's an air carrier not a health care provider. Perhaps some vendor, but that's not going to be cheap and these are not exactly high PRASM routes.
If the traffic isn't there, frequencies & routes get cut before AS shells out for what this would cost.
Pretty sure in Mexico it's an easy setup for those with connections (there are plenty of medical and dental clinics catering to americans as is) - before there was no demand for that but now some entrepreneurial folks will have those running in no time. IMHO of course...
Jan 13, 2021, 10:41 pm
#14
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I cancelled my PVR trip today....not worth the hassle for just a short trip....it will be interesting to see how the Mexico flights will be affected by the next round of schedule changes.
Jan 13, 2021, 11:43 pm
#15
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Was looking at CUN earlier due to testing requirements to return to the state of Alaska to avoid quarantine. However, one needs to get results back in order to board, whereas SOA just needed a pending test to avoid additional testing... not going to risk it. Too many tests have taken too long in the great white North.
And one date I was looking at returning was the 26th
Yes, there are places in CUN to get tested. I would research ahead; wouldn't be surprised to hear these resources becoming tighter.
...And DL just added SEA-CUN
And one date I was looking at returning was the 26th
Yes, there are places in CUN to get tested. I would research ahead; wouldn't be surprised to hear these resources becoming tighter.
...And DL just added SEA-CUN