YorkieFlyer

as does Alicante

AdFlyer

I have the same issue, booked test on Wednesday at 5pm so that I would get the result in time, cert issued Thursday, flight on Saturday at 9am.
Did this based on the UK gov advice of "documentation issued within 48 hours prior to arrival in Spain" but now I am worried that the test should have been done within 48 hours.

Can anyone shed any light on this? Am I likely to be turned away at the airport tomorrw?

Thanks

nick50000

You can check in in person with it no problem. Uploading the docs enables OLCI but is not required if you are happy to check in in person.

jamiegutz

Seeing a few comments about AGP, having gone through here a few times in the last couple of months, a few points of note that may help others:

Departure

1. As others have mentioned, check in is a shambles. This week (Tuesday) they opened the desks exactly 2 hours before departure. On the departure boards, they only list one desk before opening so there was a looooong queue when i got there. Then when they opened the two CE check in desks there was a big bun fight between people who had hung back to go straight to CE desks as soon as they opened (myself included), and those that had gotten there hours earlier to get first spot in the CE check in only to find they were in the economy line. A few DYKWIA moments to be witnessed.

2. Doc checks - PLF and negative test. They werent really interested in Day 2/8 bookings. I strongly recommend printing docs out as much easier to give them paper than passing a phone back and forth.

3. Security - depends on time of day, but it is fairly functional. You need to walk right to the far side of security to get to fast track.

4. Lounge - Nice lounge, but you need to line up and wait to be served very small portions. No real organization as to where to wait, and multi tasking does not seem to be a strong point for those serving, but they are friendly enough.

5. Immigration - after the lounge. A Ryanair flight left last week while they still had passengers waiting at immigration. Best to leave plenty of time to get to the gate from the lounge as this can take time. Egates are all closed.

6. Priority boarding - forget it. Flight loaded from back to front with no exceptions

Arrival

1. Lastnight, we landed in the Non schengen section of the terminal. Im EU resident on British passport and the staff were kind enough to let me use the EU lane. Not sure if that is normal or not. Egates also closed.

2. Health check was alot busier and they have a 'fast control' lane (presumably for EU digital certificates) and a 'Document Control' lane. I was sent to the latter. Took about 10 minutes and doc check was very quick. They took a very quick look at my covid result on my phone and didnt scrutinise it for date/time.

3. Bags now delivered to the non schengen baggage carousells (belts 31-34) but there were no customs delays. Bags took around 30 mins to come out, with sporadic recognition of priority tags.

As with alot of things in Spain, patience is key, even moreso during the challenging times we are seeing at the moment.

AdFlyer

To anyone with query around testing timeframes, just to follow up, the 48 hours is from when the documentation is issued not from when the test is taken.

Hope this helps anyone with a similar issue.

andymcdonnell

Guys, hoping for some help…

If I was to fly from DUB under Irish passport & spend a couple of days in London and then head to Spain, do I need PCR/ antigen etc as a fully vaccinated person with EU passport?

layz

In general your nationality doesn't matter, but the country you're flying from and any you were in before that. Looking at Timatic you'll be fine going in fully vaccinated without a test as long as your certificate is recognised by Spain. So if you have one of the EU ones then no problem.

jeremyBA

my daughter did a test at express testing 2:30pm yesterday and we are still waiting for the result.

I have used them 4 times before and had results in 6/7 hours. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I will bottle out at 5:30 and head to Heathrow for a lamp test

Frequentflyer99

Deleted

jeremyBA

I did bottle out at 5:30 and paid Collinson.

if course at 6 pm the express test came in. Holiday taxes are increasing !

want2goeverywhere

Updates from my trip:

Express test results came through about 1030pm day after swab taken (and about 14hrs before our flight). Back up plan was lamp test at airport.

Checkin Desk staffed by BA although not a BA flight, checked all QR codes and certs. Mobile copies were fine.

Spain (bilbao) checked Spain qr code only.

Could not check in online for flight home as had not done PLF. Had not done PLF as didn't know seat number. Had to do PLF multiple times in the end as also couldn't book test to release before getting home as had issues with collinson website.

LGW expresstest is very easily accessible after arrivals.
Will be trying the collinson LGW drive thru test to release lamp later this week.

Doc checks on UK side almost non existent...

PUCCI GALORE

This seat number thing is utter nonsense - how do you complete that for the Tunnel coming from France? I just put down 1A and 1C for us irrespective -no one could care less. I suppose that it's in case someone tests positive on the aircraft subsequently.

Earthman

My Ireland issued EU digital covid vaccination certificate arrived by email today complete with its QR code
test free and quarantine free entry to the other 25 EU countries and no quarantine when I get home
Delighted with it!

layz

Is that how it works? I thought you still had to meet the requirements of the country you're visiting. Some countries like Austria will issue this certificate a few weeks after your first vaccine, does that mean someone from Austria can then visit any other EU country even those who require both doses + 14 days without a test or quarantine? The certificate does have details of the vaccinations on it so it's easy to check if they meet the requirements.

PGberkshire

Just wanted to sanity check my logic here

Flying to PMI Sunday

Spanish locator form filled in, and on hold until 48 hours before departure
We are both vaccinated fully (over 14 days) and have the NHS app with digital pdf / qr code on phone
We also have the form printed
PCR test booked for day 2 arrival back into UK with Randox
No need for specialist travel insurance now Spain is safe to travel by FCDO

The only thing left is the test to come back to UK from PMI....

Thanks