Random arrival testing
Aug 24, 2022 | 3:41 pm
#137
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 117
We are flying into YYZ on Friday. Assuming all goes well we are taking the train to Niagra ONT and spending the night there Tuesday. Our plan was to cross over to the NY side and pick up our rental car when we get in Tuesday morning and drive it back to our hotel on the Canadian side of the falls. We are driving to Cooperstown early Wednesday morning. This now seems like a bad idea. a)do we have to do further ArriveCan info for our "trip" across the border to Hertz in NY and then back to our hotel on the CA side? b)this also seems to set us up for another chance at random testing. I know some here say that there is no testing at land borders but that directly contradicts the information on the CA govt website. Land testing was never suspended even when the random air arrival testing was briefly suspended earlier this summer. I am now wondering if we should just stay in Canada and pick up our car Wednesday morning. The reason we were trying to avoid this is it's my understanding Uber/Lyft will not drive you across the border. We need to leave early Wednesday, so trying to cross the border on foot (with all our luggage for a 9 day trip) then get a Lyft to Hertz on the NY side seems like a giant pain. Any advice on that end (assuming I'm not in a 10 day quarantine)? I'm paranoid enough that I'd cancel this trip if it wasn't too late. 
Two weeks ago, when I was in YUL at the enterprise-rent-a-car desk, and I noticed an American tourist who did exactly that. The agent told him that they're giving him a rental car with a US license plate, since he was goint to drive to the US and return it there (at least that's what I could gather from their conversation).
Aug 24, 2022 | 3:57 pm
#138
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: TUL
Programs: Delta, Marriott, IHG Platinum
Posts: 299
You can also pick up the rental car in Canada and drop it off in the US, although it might be more expensive.
Two weeks ago, when I was in YUL at the enterprise-rent-a-car desk, and I noticed an American tourist who did exactly that. The agent told him that they're giving him a rental car with a US license plate, since he was goint to drive to the US and return it there (at least that's what I could gather from their conversation).
Two weeks ago, when I was in YUL at the enterprise-rent-a-car desk, and I noticed an American tourist who did exactly that. The agent told him that they're giving him a rental car with a US license plate, since he was goint to drive to the US and return it there (at least that's what I could gather from their conversation).
Aug 28, 2022 | 4:13 pm
#139
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 632
Got randomly selected today on my return from MKE. I had stopped for lunch after landing and was literally across the street from the off site testing facility at International Centre when I got the email, so went in there and was in and out in a minute. But seriously thought about saying .... it and not even bothering to order the at home kit, maybe next time.
I do think this new email notification thing is infinitely worse than the old system of testing you right at the airport, or even better, handing you an at-home box as you leave. Don't know what idiot in Ottawa thought it was a good idea.
Wondering if next time, I can just drive to Buffalo and re-enter on a new ArriveCan submission instead.
I do think this new email notification thing is infinitely worse than the old system of testing you right at the airport, or even better, handing you an at-home box as you leave. Don't know what idiot in Ottawa thought it was a good idea.
Wondering if next time, I can just drive to Buffalo and re-enter on a new ArriveCan submission instead.
Aug 28, 2022 | 4:21 pm
#140
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 6,478
Got randomly selected today on my return from MKE. I had stopped for lunch after landing and was literally across the street from the off site testing facility at International Centre when I got the email, so went in there and was in and out in a minute. But seriously thought about saying .... it and not even bothering to order the at home kit, maybe next time.
I do think this new email notification thing is infinitely worse than the old system of testing you right at the airport, or even better, handing you an at-home box as you leave. Don't know what idiot in Ottawa thought it was a good idea.
Wondering if next time, I can just drive to Buffalo and re-enter on a new ArriveCan submission instead.
I do think this new email notification thing is infinitely worse than the old system of testing you right at the airport, or even better, handing you an at-home box as you leave. Don't know what idiot in Ottawa thought it was a good idea.
Wondering if next time, I can just drive to Buffalo and re-enter on a new ArriveCan submission instead.
Aug 28, 2022 | 4:24 pm
#141
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 145
Any updated info on:
1) what happens if you ignore the email (it went to your spam folder, and you didnt check it) and you dont answer phone calls from unknown numbers.
2) it seems there is no way to provide a prior positive test result from the last 6 months, but someone mentioned that the automated phone call asks if thats why you havent submitted a test specimen. So what happens if you choose that option on the phone system when they call you?
thanks
1) what happens if you ignore the email (it went to your spam folder, and you didnt check it) and you dont answer phone calls from unknown numbers.
2) it seems there is no way to provide a prior positive test result from the last 6 months, but someone mentioned that the automated phone call asks if thats why you havent submitted a test specimen. So what happens if you choose that option on the phone system when they call you?
thanks
Aug 28, 2022 | 5:07 pm
#142
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Aeroplan AA
Posts: 251
Aug 28, 2022 | 8:45 pm
#143
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: YYZ
Posts: 632
Aug 28, 2022 | 10:42 pm
#144
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 117
Any updated info on:
2) it seems there is no way to provide a prior positive test result from the last 6 months, but someone mentioned that the automated phone call asks if that’s why you haven’t submitted a test specimen. So what happens if you choose that option on the phone system when they call you?
thanks
2) it seems there is no way to provide a prior positive test result from the last 6 months, but someone mentioned that the automated phone call asks if that’s why you haven’t submitted a test specimen. So what happens if you choose that option on the phone system when they call you?
thanks
Aug 28, 2022 | 11:30 pm
#145
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold
Posts: 18,960
it seems there is no way to provide a prior positive test result from the last 6 months, but someone mentioned that the automated phone call asks if thats why you havent submitted a test specimen. So what happens if you choose that option on the phone system when they call you?
Aug 29, 2022 | 12:17 am
#146
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: NCL
Posts: 101
Originally Posted by Adam Smith;[url=tel:34553830
34553830[/url]]If only someone had provided this information just a few days ago
Aug 30, 2022 | 3:01 am
#147
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 117
If only someone had provided this information just a few days ago
Interestingly, the poster mentioned that "After selecting that option, the recording told me I needed to keep proof of said positive test in case they asked me for it."
How long do they expect you to keep the proof ? And how would they contact you to get it ? I don't think travellers are required to keep answering phone calls or respond to spam looking emails.
Sep 1, 2022 | 10:05 am
#148
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,474
So if I'm understanding all of this correctly, a nonstop transborder flight such as SEA-YYJ/YEG/YLW there would be no random COVID testing requirement whatsoever?
Additionally, how would a flight going say DEN-YYC-YLW be handled where YYC is only a connection. Do you do complete the test in YLW?
Additionally, how would a flight going say DEN-YYC-YLW be handled where YYC is only a connection. Do you do complete the test in YLW?
Last edited by kinglobjaw; Sep 1, 2022 at 10:21 am
Sep 2, 2022 | 2:33 am
#149
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 117
So if I'm understanding all of this correctly, a nonstop transborder flight such as SEA-YYJ/YEG/YLW there would be no random COVID testing requirement whatsoever?
Additionally, how would a flight going say DEN-YYC-YLW be handled where YYC is only a connection. Do you do complete the test in YLW?
Additionally, how would a flight going say DEN-YYC-YLW be handled where YYC is only a connection. Do you do complete the test in YLW?
Right, random testing is only done if you enter in one of the 4 largest airports, so it wouldnt be applicable to any other airport.
As for a connection after arrival at YYC, I think you can be selected randomly, and in that case you should receive an email notification. You would then need to complete the test after you arrive to your final destination.
Sep 3, 2022 | 10:09 pm
#150
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,073
Anyway this thread has made me feel much better about this process. Seems that even if you follow the rules within normal timelines short trips to Canada lasting only a couple days are, for all intents and purposes, exempt. Chances are you could be gone before you even get the results.