Jun 4, 2020, 5:57 am
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
Mod note on thread engagement:
A reminder that this thread is about the self-isolation requirements for UK arrivals.
It is a help/Information resource for those travelling or returning to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Let's concentrate on news, questions and answers that are relevant and on-topic and stay away from speculations about the spread of the virus, the performance of politicians and other topics which are more suitable for OMNI.
Please stay within these requirements to avoid issues.
A reminder that this thread is about the self-isolation requirements for UK arrivals.
It is a help/Information resource for those travelling or returning to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Let's concentrate on news, questions and answers that are relevant and on-topic and stay away from speculations about the spread of the virus, the performance of politicians and other topics which are more suitable for OMNI.
Please stay within these requirements to avoid issues.
LATEST UPDATES
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-t...virus-covid-19
18 March travel to the UK changes
If you will arrive in the UK from abroad after 4am, Friday 18 March, you do not need to:
- take any COVID-19 tests – before you travel or after you arrive
- fill in a UK passenger locator form before you travel
This will apply whether you are vaccinated or not.
You also will not need to quarantine when you arrive, in line with current rules.
Other countries still have COVID-19 entry rules in place. You should check travel advice before you travel.
If you will arrive in England before 4am, 18 March, you must follow the current rules as set out in this guidance.
*****
The following historical information is retained for the time being.
The Passenger Locator Form for passengers arriving into the UK can be found here:
https://visas-immigration.service.go...r-locator-form
This can only be completed once you are within 48 hours of arrival in the UK.
Exemption list from quarantine requirements - specific details:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...k-border-rules
England
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to England: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/582/contents (this html version is updated, but may not have the very latest updates for Statutory Instruments released in the last few days)
Test to release for England only from 15 December, see post 4776 https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32841066-post4776.html
Statutory instrument for transport providers http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2.../contents/made
Scotland
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to Scotland: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/169/contents (this html version is updated)
Wales
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to Wales: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2020/574/contents (this html version is updated) &
Welsh language version: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2...0200574_we.pdf
Northern Ireland
Statutory instrument https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2021/99/contents (this html version is updated)
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR QUICK RELEASE FROM SELF-ISOLATION (based on November 28th updates)
[This section has been moved lower down in the wiki post following the change in self-isolation rule on 7th January 2022[
Any PCR test noted as a UK Government Day 2 test will be accepted for release from self isolation as soon as you get the negative result. If it is any other PCR test (eg "Fit to Fly") and not advertised specifically as a Day 2 test then it won't be valid.
This means that you can:[list]
- Book a suitable Day 2 PCR test before you travel and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF (Passenger Locator Form).
- On your day of arrival go to your scheduled test.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
Alternatively:- Book any Day 2 PCR test before you travel even if you do not intend to use this test, and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF to ensure entry to the UK.
- Note that you are not strictly required to have a PCR booking before arrival, but your carrier might not know that so you run the risk of being denied boarding
- On your day of arrival (or before end of Day 2) go to a walk-in test centre and take a different test to the one you booked.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
If you are leaving the UK before the end of day 2 then you do not need to take a test, but are required to self-isolate for the duration of your trip (since you do not have a negative result). Also, if you are self-isolating while waiting for a result (and hence have not been informed of a positive result and need to isolate) you may travel to leave the country.
If you take a test and it is positive for any variant of COVID you will be required to isolate for 10 days from the date of the test.
Whether you take a test or not you may be contacted by the UK Test and Trace system at any time if it becomes apparent that you have been in contact with another case. This is very unlikely to happen before day 3 if it is in relation to your flight to UK. Depending on the suspected / identified variant for that case and if you are fully-vaccinated by an accepted programme (see below for links to what this means and valid exemptions) :- Omnicron or not fully-vaccinated: You will be required to isolated for 10 days, including a bar on travel to leave the country. A negative Day 2 test does not release you from this requirement.
- Other and fully vaccinated : You will not be required to isolate.
- Book any Day 2 PCR test before you travel even if you do not intend to use this test, and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF to ensure entry to the UK.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
- On your day of arrival go to your scheduled test.
Test Providers for Day 2/8 tests & Day 5 Test to release
This section is for FTers to post their experience with specific providers (good or bad). Keep it brief and to the point. Please mention how the service is provided and your FT name.
DNA Workplace - Postal - Test kits arrived with me on time. Royal Mail slow for return. 5+ days for Day 2 result. #DaveS
DNA Workplace - Postal - Test kits both arrived on time, video of tests required, results by late evening Day 3 and Day 9. #TSE
ExpressTest Gatwick - Drive through - Tested early at 1000 a few times for TTR. Results came through in evening. #DaveS
NowTest - Postal - Day 2 kit arrived on time, day 8 did not. Will update with result arrival times when applicable. #wilsnunn
Collinson - Postal - Day 5 Test to Release kit arrived in time. Results and release by end of day 6. #tjcxx
CTM - Postal - Days 2/8 kits arrived together in time. Both sent results 2 days after posting. #tjcxx
Qured (Oncologica) - Postal -Day 2/8 kits arrived late. Results 3+ days from posting. #Gagravarr
Qured (Oncologica) - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived on time. Day 2 result on Day 5 and Day 8 result on Day 10 - happy customer! #EddLegll
Qured (Ocnologica) - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived on time. Day 2 result on Day 5 (after bedtime; ironically after my TTR result). #KSVVZ2015
Anglia DNA - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived early. (Both were labelled Day2). Results on Day 4 and Day 9. Cheapest on the list at the time, and good service/result. #tjcxx
Qured - Pre-flight test booked and bought through BA. Very efficient service. Highly recommended. #lhrsfo
Randox - Days 2 and 8. Booked two days before return, using BA discount. Kits already arrived on return. Slightly confusing instructions but manageable. Used Randox dropbox and results next day. Good. #lhrsfo
Randox - Day 2 (also used as pre departure test for a London to Milan flight). Used a drop box and results arrived at midnight the next day. #11101
Randox - Day 2 test centre - 2h30 queues outside the test centre in Waterloo. Results of antigen arrived 45 minutes later. #11101
Collinson - Test to Release at LHR T2. Good trip out! Very efficient service and well organised. Used BA discount. Results by end of day. Excellent. #lhrsfo
DAM - Test to Release in Fulham (they have many locations) - the cheapest fast turnaround TTR we have found. They promise 24 hours but in reality me, my wife, and my son (on different days) have received results inside of 12 hours. Very efficient staff as well. Princes outside of Central London as low as 99 GBP. Fulham is 129 GBP. #KSVVZ2015
Boots/Source Bioscience - days 2&8. Both packs sent in the same mail, waiting at the isolation address. Dropped off at postbox at 4pm, result back next day between 4 and 5 pm, very effective. Bought from Boots, £160, but same package sold directly bu Source Bioscience is just £120. Aaargh! Instructions said nasal and throat swabs, did only nasal and marked accordingly, no issues. #WilcoRoger
Collinsons/Stansted walkin TTR - test taken 1:30 pm, email with results 10:10 pm same day If the BA20OFF doesn't work (didn't work for us) there's another discount on the airport's site #WilcoRoger
Ordered Day-2 kit from Chronomics a week before our return for £18.99. Duly dispatched day we were returning to UK, so arrived on day following return. Reasonably simple process to do test and upload -ve result picture. Not sure where +ve result would have led to... #EsherFlyer
Hale Clinic testing centre (near Oxford Circus) - While not the least expensive, appoint schedules are accurate and results returned in promised timeframe. I've used the clinic for Day 2 tests (twice) and antigen test for US (once). I would def utilize again. #ecaarch
Halo at T5 (Sofitel) - Day 2 PCR spit test. Took the test 7pm, results arrived 7am the next day. No queues but a slightly awkward process to follow.
Useful data sources:
New cases per 100k - 7 days: https://covid19.who.int/table
New tests per 1000 - 7 days: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-testing
Vaccination doses per 100: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
Sequenced samples uploaded to GISAID: https://www.gisaid.org/index.php?id=208
NHS Track & Trace data (positivity rates for arriving passengers are published every three weeks, so if you can't find the data in the current release it will be in one of the previous two) https://www.gov.uk/government/collec...weekly-reports https://assets.publishing.service.go...ut_week_50.ods
UK daily COVID data https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/?_ga...827.1594116739
Risk assessment methodology to inform international travel traffic light system
Data informing international travel traffic-light risk assessments
Testing Terminology
Notes which may assist with understanding which tests to use and with "reuse" of UK tests for other countries regulations:
- LFT: Lateral Flow Test - A rapid antigen test using nasal / throat swab typically performed by the traveler at home, hotel, etc using simple disposable device. Usually tests the "outer shell" of the nucleus (which causes the symptoms and is reasonably stable across variants) and not the "spikes" (which allow new variants to invade more easily), so gives a positive result for many variants. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-...d_antigen_test)
- PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction - A laboratory based test which looks at the nucleus of the virus to determine which specific variant it is. After a positive LFT test ("I have some form of COVID") a PCR test ("You have the Gamma variant") allows identification and tracking of new variants to see if they are likely to become a "variant of concern". (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction)
- NAAT: Nucleic Acid Amplification Test - A general class of laboratory based tests which includes PCR, LAMP, etc tests. (See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...b/naats.html)
UK arrivals - pre-departure, quarantine and post-arrival [currently no requirements]
Nov 22, 2020, 4:51 am
#4726
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,543
There was a pretty massive fall in France however, I think the biggest fall we have seen on one day in the above chart series. This was the double benefit of a genuinely falling level of infection and a particularly high data number from 2 weeks ago falling out of the data span.
Nov 22, 2020, 8:39 am
#4727
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
Some friends of mine were discussing this on Twitter, and raised a question about viral transmission on planes with the authors of the report. The two hour stop in KUL during which nobody disembarked, the 77W will have either been running off APU or maybe GPU (I do not know enough about aircraft to know), but this would mean the regular, HEPA-filtered air circulation system (powered by the main engines) wouldn't have been operating in that time, making the likelihood of transmission much higher. The authors confessed to being immunologists, not aviation experts, hence the report not lingering upon that ground stop.
Nov 22, 2020, 8:51 am
#4728
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,986
I don’t think the hepa filters are powered by the engines as such. They are part of the air conditioning system and any air conditioning, whether supplied with air from the engines, apu, or ground source, goes through them.
Nov 22, 2020, 8:53 am
#4729
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,578
Sure, but is the air circulation system itself as effective at swapping the cabin's air out when not being fed by a ton of fresh air rushing into the main engines?
Nov 22, 2020, 9:41 am
#4730
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
I recently travelled on TK who make a big deal about their COVID safety. One thing I did notice at LHR was that the ventilation system was not running until after engine start - more than 30 minutes after boarding. I can only guess that the ground power cannot run the ventilation system (or they choose not to run it). In the summer there would be a cooling air supply, but not in the winter it seems. I think it is a fair assumption that there is an increased risk as a result of this.
Nov 22, 2020, 9:47 am
#4731
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,701
The IATA guidelines for safe flying during COVID are clear on that point:
https://www.iata.org/contentassets/d...t-pandemic.pdf
3.1.6 Air conditioning during boarding and disembarkation
The following are general recommendations for the optimization and management of cabin air within the aircraft while on the ground during passenger boarding and disembarkation. In order to minimize people generated contaminant concentrations during ground and flight operations, aircraft manufacturers recommend maximizing total cabin airflow to occupants. It is recommended that operators consult with the aircraft OEM for questions specific to an aircraft type.
a) It is recommended that the fresh air and recirculation system be operated to exchange the volume of cabin air before boarding. Care should be taken to avoid blocking air vents (particularly along the floor). These are general recommendations for cabin air considerations and there may be exceptions for specific aircraft models. It is recommended that operators consult with the Aircraft OEM for questions specific to an aircraft type.
b) Operators should consider reviewing their procedures for the use of recirculation fans in air conditioning systems based on information provided by the aircraft manufacturer or, if not available, to seek advice from the manufacturer in order to achieve optimal performance conditions.
c) For those aircraft with air conditioning, run the air conditioning packs (with bleed air provided by the APU) or supply air via external Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) source at least 10 minutes prior to the boarding process, throughout boarding and during disembarkation. Avoid operations without the air-conditioning 22 Guidance for Flight Operations During and Post Pandemic Edition 3 –28 Aug 2020 Not controlled whern downloaded or printed PACKs or external Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) source. It should be noted that external air sources are not processed through a HEPA filter.
d) The aircraft APU should be permitted to be used at the gate to enable the aircraft’s air conditioning system to be operated, if equivalent filtration from a PCA unit is not available. Dispatch with APU operative is highly recommended.
e) For those aircraft without an air conditioning system, keep the aircraft doors open during the turnaround to facilitate cabin air exchange (passenger doors, service door and cargo door) as much as practical.
f) Aeroplane operators and airport operators should collaborate to ensure that passengers are not kept on board an aircraft without proper ventilation for longer than 30 minutes
The following are general recommendations for the optimization and management of cabin air within the aircraft while on the ground during passenger boarding and disembarkation. In order to minimize people generated contaminant concentrations during ground and flight operations, aircraft manufacturers recommend maximizing total cabin airflow to occupants. It is recommended that operators consult with the aircraft OEM for questions specific to an aircraft type.
a) It is recommended that the fresh air and recirculation system be operated to exchange the volume of cabin air before boarding. Care should be taken to avoid blocking air vents (particularly along the floor). These are general recommendations for cabin air considerations and there may be exceptions for specific aircraft models. It is recommended that operators consult with the Aircraft OEM for questions specific to an aircraft type.
b) Operators should consider reviewing their procedures for the use of recirculation fans in air conditioning systems based on information provided by the aircraft manufacturer or, if not available, to seek advice from the manufacturer in order to achieve optimal performance conditions.
c) For those aircraft with air conditioning, run the air conditioning packs (with bleed air provided by the APU) or supply air via external Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) source at least 10 minutes prior to the boarding process, throughout boarding and during disembarkation. Avoid operations without the air-conditioning 22 Guidance for Flight Operations During and Post Pandemic Edition 3 –28 Aug 2020 Not controlled whern downloaded or printed PACKs or external Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) source. It should be noted that external air sources are not processed through a HEPA filter.
d) The aircraft APU should be permitted to be used at the gate to enable the aircraft’s air conditioning system to be operated, if equivalent filtration from a PCA unit is not available. Dispatch with APU operative is highly recommended.
e) For those aircraft without an air conditioning system, keep the aircraft doors open during the turnaround to facilitate cabin air exchange (passenger doors, service door and cargo door) as much as practical.
f) Aeroplane operators and airport operators should collaborate to ensure that passengers are not kept on board an aircraft without proper ventilation for longer than 30 minutes
https://www.iata.org/contentassets/d...t-pandemic.pdf
Nov 22, 2020, 10:03 am
#4732
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,986
I recently travelled on TK who make a big deal about their COVID safety. One thing I did notice at LHR was that the ventilation system was not running until after engine start - more than 30 minutes after boarding. I can only guess that the ground power cannot run the ventilation system (or they choose not to run it). In the summer there would be a cooling air supply, but not in the winter it seems. I think it is a fair assumption that there is an increased risk as a result of this.
Nov 22, 2020, 10:07 am
#4733
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
It is possible - I know they are not 100% reliable and I have been on a few flights when they have not worked. We were on the aircraft for about 45 minutes before pushing back. It was a significant time without the ventilation system.
Nov 22, 2020, 10:44 am
#4734
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
Hmm, so you don't want to board early, wait util the last possible moment so that the air circulation is going inside the cabin?
Nov 22, 2020, 12:24 pm
#4735
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
It did not work that way for us. There was a long delay from boarding complete until push back because of missing passenger(s) and loading of cargo. It would have made sense not to board anyone until everything was loaded.
Nov 22, 2020, 12:30 pm
#4736
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC, Eurostar
Posts: 3,293
Quick question because there seems to be a few people in the know here, if the travel task force come up with a plan for testing on the way into the UK, is this likely to be also for rail travel? I would expect that Eurostar would be desperate for the scheme to include them.
Nov 22, 2020, 12:54 pm
#4737
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,844
Quick question because there seems to be a few people in the know here, if the travel task force come up with a plan for testing on the way into the UK, is this likely to be also for rail travel? I would expect that Eurostar would be desperate for the scheme to include them.
Nov 22, 2020, 2:22 pm
#4738
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,844
Quick question because there seems to be a few people in the know here, if the travel task force come up with a plan for testing on the way into the UK, is this likely to be also for rail travel? I would expect that Eurostar would be desperate for the scheme to include them.
- The travel corridor system continues, and those that travel from those places don't need to do anything different
- For those countries not on the travel corridors, so all the countries in red on the daily chart, the 14 day rule still continues
- However for those who wish, on day 5 they can pay privately for a PCR test from an approved contractor listed on GOV.UK (the list isn't there yet). As soon as they get their negative test result, which will be on day 5 or day 6, they are released from self isolation requirements
- the cost will be set by the market, probably around £150, airlines and airports can join the system with their own contractors (e.g the sub £100 PCR tests at Gatwick Airport).
- the idea is that this will move to Lateral Flow Testing as a quicker and cheaper alternative to PCR, but (a) all LF testing in the UK is currently under state control and (b) the results of mass sceening in Liverpool and Merthyr Tydfil need to be further advanced before this can get the go ahead.
- First passengers able to use this will be arriving in the UK on 16 December.
- Longer term, De La Rue is being contracted to provide secure documentation to those who are tested regularly (twice weekly), moving to those who have had the vaccine, to permit easier movement without self isolation requirements.
Nov 22, 2020, 3:18 pm
#4739
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
That all sounds great - fingers crossed the legal council travel restrictions in Scotland come to an end and that Scotland takes up that scheme, and it might make Christmas a bit easier.
Nov 22, 2020, 3:18 pm
#4740
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Wondered whether those who had the vaccine would be given proof, sounds like they will, good carrot approach if they can ditch the masks sooner.