ISTFlyer

As the USA stopped stamping passports ( at selected arrival points ), there is no way that the state officers could understand that you are arriving from another country or have been visited another country within the last 14 days. They don't have the authorization to check or ask the travel history of the passengers. That's why arriving with a commuter train or car would work. If you are stopped and unless you tell them you've been outstate, they would not ask you for a form.

However, if you are arriving from a flight from the UK, there would be officers waiting at the jetbridge where they are 100% sure that those passengers arrived from the UK and they would monitor the quarantine status of those passengers and there is no getaway.

jope_taco

December 26th is almost over, and there is preciously little information on ba.com on the new covid testing requirements that go into effect on the 28th. Even for JFK-bound flights, where the requirement has been in effect for days, the instructions on their website is shockingly incomplete. What kind of test is accepted? Will BA require a negative test for transfer passengers flying in from a non-UK airport? Delta, Virgin, and United all had this information up on the first day this requirement affected their operations. But when asking BA customer service via email, they send a generic response that more than anything just demonstrates that the agent hadn't understood the question.

I understand BA is going through a tough time right now, but the US flight policy seems like crucial information to share with their customers in a clear fashion. As an EU-based customer traveling this coming Wednesday, I need to know very soon what to expect... And unless their rules are in clear writing on ba.com, I can't just wing it without a test (which would be the right thing to do if flying VS, DL, or UA)

corporate-wage-slave

The ask-ba FAQ linked above says both LAMP and PCR are certainly acceptable, by the sounds of it the leading Antigen tests will be ok. The second question is also in the FAQ - transferr passengers don't need test certifications. It wouldn't seem logical to exempt transfer passengers since they are not segregated for very long in T5, but the FAQ says otherwise.

jope_taco

Thank you for the prompt and helpful response. I was not aware of the faq; it certainly is not linked to in a transparent way on ba.com. It also is not readable on my phone, but I look forward to trying the full gamut of browsers and operating systems tomorrow.

I would agree with you, if the test took place 1-4 days after arrival in the USA, as a transfer passengers may catch it at LHR or even en route to the US. But since the test takes places 1-3 days prior to departure, it does make sense to exempt transfer passengers. Of course, there is an assumption that the new virus strain is far less prevalent in continental Europe, which may not remain true for long, but that's a different story. At that point everyone will need the test before they fly.

Simon Schus

I believe it is the US CDC which exempts transfer passengers: "Passengers who originate on flights outside the UK but connect through an airport in the UK on a transit flight with a connection time of no more than 24 hours."
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/U...-encrypted.pdf

I'm guessing that BA are following that rule to the letter.

The wording seems to leave a way around it, if you meet the other exemptions to enter the US. For example, leaving the UK for an ex-EU connection on a separate ticket (e.g., ex-DUB) to then transit through UK. I wouldn't advise that though, as that does not seem to be in the spirit of the rules, and I wouldn't want to have to explain it on the Covid arrival forms (if/when it is checked), or to US CBP on arrival (if/when you speak to them). I'm not suggesting that anybody would ever try that, I'm just commenting on that it appears to be an option.

stimpy

Having taken Acela from Washington DC to New York a week ago, and regularly before that, I can tell you that there are no guards looking at tickets at New York Penn station. What they do have now are people at the top of the escalator handing out forms. That's it. And I as one of the million-plus people designated by the State of New York as an essential worker simply ignored them and walked out the door to the street.

But I do have a question for anyone who can answer and it is about what BA's rules are in this matter. If I am flying CDG-LHR-JFK does BA care about 72h before the first flight or the second flight? Or does BA not apply this at all as I am not entering the UK?

ISTFlyer

For the train part, I took another posters experience as a report. I guess the Amtrak ticket control was mentioned either somewhere in the NY state quarantine or the US general state quarantine threads on the respective boards.

Also for the CDG-LHR-JFK part, TIMATIC indicates that if you have been in the UK for less than 24 hours, you would not need a COVID-19 negative test so that regulation does not apply to you.

jope_taco

Per the references mentioned by Simon and Corp-Wage-Slave, a transit passenger CDG-LHR-JFK would be exempt from the pre-departure COVID test. What irks me is that this has been deduced from an Ask-BA forum for the travel trade and from the CDC proclamation in legalese, neither of which are mainstream sources. As a transit passenger, the thought of being denied boarding or arguing against misinformed agents when the language on BA.com is so vague makes me very uncomfortable. Especially when BA sent me two automated emails a couple of days ago indicating that I would need the COVID-test, an email that appeared to be directed at everyone booked on an LHR-JFK service.

I can only hope someone at BA returns to the office on Dec 28th and is able to beef up the language on their website. As mentioned earlier, DL and VS were clear on the transit policy from day 1 (and UA on the first day it became known that the policy will apply to them).

Confus

Depends what you think is reasonable. BA flies to many destinations around the world, and if they write a list on their website they are then responsible for keeping it up to date (with changes potentially several times a day even for the same destination) - and paying staff to work 24x7 to manage this process. Or they could very clearly signpost customers (covid FAQ on ba.com) to regulatory authorities in their destination country for the latest requirement instead - which is the option they’ve taken. IMO there comes a point where those customers who are travelling at the moment have to take a bit of personal responsibility to make themselves aware of regulations, it changes so fast.

stimpy

Yeah but I was asking if anyone has news about what BA actually does rather than what is in TIMATIC. I have seen airlines go beyond what NYC and NYS rules are and sometimes over-react to new COVID regulations. AF did this to me a month or so ago. If anyone takes this route I would be obliged with feedback. And of course I will do the same after I take this trip.

Confus

BA follows TIMATIC practically to the letter. There’s a (very) small specialist team in T5 that difficult/grey cases can be referred to for a second opinion - it can take time, but they are usually able to contact immigration authorities if required rather than turn people away. It’s notable that there are significantly fewer reports on BA in this regard than most airlines.

Remember too that if BA denies boarding to a passenger who later turns out to have the correct entry documents it’s a slam-dunk case for EU261 denied boarding compensation, so this focuses the mind and they do tend to err on the side of allow it wherever practicable.

jope_taco

I hope the out-station agents on the continent, many of whom may not even work directly for BA, have their number Useful information to have nonetheless (as is the EU 261 reminder)

stimpy

BA does have some good and professional staff in the UK. But I will be checking in at CDG. Probably not be an employee of BA, right? But OK, I won't worry about this for now.

FWIW with AF, when NY started their current rules there was confusion about whether a PCR test was necessary or not. Before the flight to JFK, AF insisted by telephone that a PCR test was mandatory. But on the day I checked in there was no mention of a PCR test at CDG, nor JFK. So it was only the people on the phone who had it wrong.

ExpatExp

Fascinating. Had no idea. Well done, BA.

stimpy

Can that special team update the MMB team? Even though my flight is CDG-LHR-JFK MMB tells me, through following another link or two, that I must present a PCR test. I get it that I don't, but probably a lot of other general flyers will look at MMB and the email like the one titled Things to know before flying to New York and not realize that a test isn't required.