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]
May 9, 2021, 6:06 pm
#7667
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 912
Your line of thinking is based on a misunderstanding of where the UK fits into Biden's policy priorities. The UK has nowhere near that level of influence under Biden. No matter how difficult BoJo makes things for Americans to come to the UK, Biden simply won't care. How many Americans want to go to the UK? Of that group, how many of them care enough to make a big stink about it (enough of a stink to make it a priority for the administration)? Not very many.
Frankly, a lot of people in the States will see the restrictions that the UK has on international arrivals (even the green-level restrictions) as being so difficult that they amount to a ban in all but name. Given that, if Biden removed the US ban on the UK unilaterally, he would open himself up to attacks from his political opponents. Those wouldn't amount to much on their own, but considering how razor thin his majorities are in Congress, any little thing could imperil his legislative agenda (the infrastructure bill, police reform, etc.), which he cares far more about than how anything affects the UK.
Frankly, a lot of people in the States will see the restrictions that the UK has on international arrivals (even the green-level restrictions) as being so difficult that they amount to a ban in all but name. Given that, if Biden removed the US ban on the UK unilaterally, he would open himself up to attacks from his political opponents. Those wouldn't amount to much on their own, but considering how razor thin his majorities are in Congress, any little thing could imperil his legislative agenda (the infrastructure bill, police reform, etc.), which he cares far more about than how anything affects the UK.
I think the restrictions on travel to the US will be lifted soon enough. When they are, I would not be surprised if vaccinations are a requirement for the foreseeable future. I would be surprised to see a traffic light system here.
May 9, 2021, 6:51 pm
#7668
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
So how does the US/EU deal with the Brits, many of whom are not considered fully vaccinated?
May 9, 2021, 8:02 pm
#7669
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,976
I am not sure there is any problem tbh for that. Neither vaccine has been given outside the parameters of the MHRA approvals and there is no suggestion people in the UK are not fully vaccinated - I haven’t seen any comments from the US/EU to suggest otherwise.
May 9, 2021, 8:07 pm
#7670
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: BA Gold, UA, Southwest
Posts: 119
Mom and I went to LHR T5 for our Day 5 TTR tests with Collinson today. Initially it went ok but several hours later my mom got a phone call telling her she had to come back to the airport to repeat her test due to a lab error. So we lost the better part of our afternoon, plus a good bit of money, repeating her test. Disappointed.
May 9, 2021, 9:59 pm
#7671
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,628
And this opens the door to a potentially thorny problem for UK-based travelers. The UK got to where it is, vaccination-wise, by...not exactly "cheating," but by doing something that went against medical and manufacturer's recommendations. Instead of working through the UK's population with a full, two-shot regimen at the recommended interval, the government decided to maximize coverage by extending the time between doses beyond what was recommended.
So how does the US/EU deal with the Brits, many of whom are not considered fully vaccinated?
So how does the US/EU deal with the Brits, many of whom are not considered fully vaccinated?
May 9, 2021, 11:56 pm
#7672
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,700
All communications on prospective opening of travel is clear: all exemptions of testing and/or quarantine for ex-EU travellers are for people fully vaccinated, the definition taken being 2 weeks after the second shot or 4 weeks after the shot for vaccine necessitating only 1 jab. There are no constraints on the timing between 2 shots.
May 10, 2021, 12:45 am
#7673
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: 63,828
As it happens, it probably won't make a difference in terms of travellers' impacts. Using a whole population basis (in other words including children who are not fully authorised to be vaccinated), the USA is only about 7 percentage points ahead of the UK on an all doses basis, with the UK about 7 percentage points ahead on a single dose basis. However the EU is below half of the coverage on either measure, albeit and thankfully accelerating its rollout. All these gaps will narrow in the next month.
May 10, 2021, 1:10 am
#7674
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: BG
Programs: BAEC Silver, TK Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 827
I have a plan to come back to the UK for 48 hours, 30 mins and am unsure on the day 2 test rules.
VAR-LTN Friday arriving 21.10, LTN-VAR Sunday, departing 21.40...So 48 hours and 30 minutes between scheduled arrival/departures.
My plan would be to do the PCR test in Bulgaria on the Friday morning and and use the same test to re-enter Bulgaria on the Sunday (Bulgaria requires a test within 72 hours). I did this on a VAR IST flight in February and it was ok.
What i'm not sure on is would I be expected to do a PCR test in the UK on day 2, which is my departure day?
VAR-LTN Friday arriving 21.10, LTN-VAR Sunday, departing 21.40...So 48 hours and 30 minutes between scheduled arrival/departures.
My plan would be to do the PCR test in Bulgaria on the Friday morning and and use the same test to re-enter Bulgaria on the Sunday (Bulgaria requires a test within 72 hours). I did this on a VAR IST flight in February and it was ok.
What i'm not sure on is would I be expected to do a PCR test in the UK on day 2, which is my departure day?
May 10, 2021, 1:25 am
#7675
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Am I correct in assuming that if Scotland chooses not to adopt this system, or has countries in amber/red that are green for England for example, that flying into England from green but then going a day or two later to Scotland if that place is amber or red would result in you having to go into quarantine at that stage (kind of like how what happened with the different lists last summer)?
May 10, 2021, 1:32 am
#7676
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Keeping in mind I am in Scotland, here is my plan for summer at this stage (six weeks, beginning at end of June).
Two weeks in Mexico, flying out of England just in case
Two and a half weeks in the US
10 days in Israel
Back to UK via England in early-ish August, driving up to Scotland
All done with direct flights to avoid any connection issues.
My understanding at this stage would be I would need:
PCR to go to Mexico, PCR to go to US, PCR to go to Israel, testing in Israel on arrival, testing package for the UK on arrival
Am I missing anything? Should be fairly straightforward, right? By late July/early August I assume we feel it is safe that Israel would let me in having been in the US two weeks? I will hopefully have had my second vaccine by mid June at the latest (Pfizer).
It is quite a lot of travel but I feel I need to book fairly soon due to prices, but obviously in covid times booking in advance is always a risk.
1 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel into the UK and Israel having gone red or amber by that stage?
2 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel and Scotland having rebelled and not implemented this meaning it is not green for me when I go up to Scotland?
Thanks.
I know we are in fairy tale prediction land, but any thoughts are welcome so I can try to make a more balanced judgement.
Two weeks in Mexico, flying out of England just in case
Two and a half weeks in the US
10 days in Israel
Back to UK via England in early-ish August, driving up to Scotland
All done with direct flights to avoid any connection issues.
My understanding at this stage would be I would need:
PCR to go to Mexico, PCR to go to US, PCR to go to Israel, testing in Israel on arrival, testing package for the UK on arrival
Am I missing anything? Should be fairly straightforward, right? By late July/early August I assume we feel it is safe that Israel would let me in having been in the US two weeks? I will hopefully have had my second vaccine by mid June at the latest (Pfizer).
It is quite a lot of travel but I feel I need to book fairly soon due to prices, but obviously in covid times booking in advance is always a risk.
1 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel into the UK and Israel having gone red or amber by that stage?
2 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel and Scotland having rebelled and not implemented this meaning it is not green for me when I go up to Scotland?
Thanks.
I know we are in fairy tale prediction land, but any thoughts are welcome so I can try to make a more balanced judgement.
May 10, 2021, 2:02 am
#7677
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,657
Keeping in mind I am in Scotland, here is my plan for summer at this stage (six weeks, beginning at end of June).
Two weeks in Mexico, flying out of England just in case
Two and a half weeks in the US
10 days in Israel
Back to UK via England in early-ish August, driving up to Scotland
All done with direct flights to avoid any connection issues.
My understanding at this stage would be I would need:
PCR to go to Mexico, PCR to go to US, PCR to go to Israel, testing in Israel on arrival, testing package for the UK on arrival
Am I missing anything? Should be fairly straightforward, right? By late July/early August I assume we feel it is safe that Israel would let me in having been in the US two weeks? I will hopefully have had my second vaccine by mid June at the latest (Pfizer).
It is quite a lot of travel but I feel I need to book fairly soon due to prices, but obviously in covid times booking in advance is always a risk.
1 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel into the UK and Israel having gone red or amber by that stage?
2 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel and Scotland having rebelled and not implemented this meaning it is not green for me when I go up to Scotland?
Thanks. I know we are in fairy tale prediction land, but any thoughts are welcome so I can try to make a more balanced judgement.
Two weeks in Mexico, flying out of England just in case
Two and a half weeks in the US
10 days in Israel
Back to UK via England in early-ish August, driving up to Scotland
All done with direct flights to avoid any connection issues.
My understanding at this stage would be I would need:
PCR to go to Mexico, PCR to go to US, PCR to go to Israel, testing in Israel on arrival, testing package for the UK on arrival
Am I missing anything? Should be fairly straightforward, right? By late July/early August I assume we feel it is safe that Israel would let me in having been in the US two weeks? I will hopefully have had my second vaccine by mid June at the latest (Pfizer).
It is quite a lot of travel but I feel I need to book fairly soon due to prices, but obviously in covid times booking in advance is always a risk.
1 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel into the UK and Israel having gone red or amber by that stage?
2 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel and Scotland having rebelled and not implemented this meaning it is not green for me when I go up to Scotland?
Thanks.
I know we are in fairy tale prediction land, but any thoughts are welcome so I can try to make a more balanced judgement.
May 10, 2021, 2:18 am
#7678
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Malaga Spain, Lake County Florida
Posts: 153
Keeping in mind I am in Scotland, here is my plan for summer at this stage (six weeks, beginning at end of June).
Two weeks in Mexico, flying out of England just in case
Two and a half weeks in the US
10 days in Israel
Back to UK via England in early-ish August, driving up to Scotland
All done with direct flights to avoid any connection issues.
My understanding at this stage would be I would need:
PCR to go to Mexico, PCR to go to US, PCR to go to Israel, testing in Israel on arrival, testing package for the UK on arrival
Am I missing anything? Should be fairly straightforward, right? By late July/early August I assume we feel it is safe that Israel would let me in having been in the US two weeks? I will hopefully have had my second vaccine by mid June at the latest (Pfizer).
It is quite a lot of travel but I feel I need to book fairly soon due to prices, but obviously in covid times booking in advance is always a risk.
1 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel into the UK and Israel having gone red or amber by that stage?
2 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel and Scotland having rebelled and not implemented this meaning it is not green for me when I go up to Scotland?
Thanks. I know we are in fairy tale prediction land, but any thoughts are welcome so I can try to make a more balanced judgement.
Two weeks in Mexico, flying out of England just in case
Two and a half weeks in the US
10 days in Israel
Back to UK via England in early-ish August, driving up to Scotland
All done with direct flights to avoid any connection issues.
My understanding at this stage would be I would need:
PCR to go to Mexico, PCR to go to US, PCR to go to Israel, testing in Israel on arrival, testing package for the UK on arrival
Am I missing anything? Should be fairly straightforward, right? By late July/early August I assume we feel it is safe that Israel would let me in having been in the US two weeks? I will hopefully have had my second vaccine by mid June at the latest (Pfizer).
It is quite a lot of travel but I feel I need to book fairly soon due to prices, but obviously in covid times booking in advance is always a risk.
1 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel into the UK and Israel having gone red or amber by that stage?
2 - What do we deem my risk in terms of arriving back from Israel and Scotland having rebelled and not implemented this meaning it is not green for me when I go up to Scotland?
Thanks.
I know we are in fairy tale prediction land, but any thoughts are welcome so I can try to make a more balanced judgement.
May 10, 2021, 2:53 am
#7679
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,179
I am just going for a little recap here as I want to be quite sure that I have this straight.
To come to the UK from an Amber country I would need a Covid test. Is this PCR or would Antigen be sufficient?
I arrive on a Monday and can leave before 23.59 hours on Wednesday and thus do not have to undergo Day 2 testing?
Spain requires a PCR test as far as I know.
I should add that I have now had both vaccinations although I know that this is irrelevant at the moment.
I have done Anitgen once when France did them. How do you get your results if you take one of these Home Kits abroad?
To come to the UK from an Amber country I would need a Covid test. Is this PCR or would Antigen be sufficient?
I arrive on a Monday and can leave before 23.59 hours on Wednesday and thus do not have to undergo Day 2 testing?
Spain requires a PCR test as far as I know.
I should add that I have now had both vaccinations although I know that this is irrelevant at the moment.
I have done Anitgen once when France did them. How do you get your results if you take one of these Home Kits abroad?
May 10, 2021, 2:53 am
#7680
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Newcastle UK
Posts: 1,114
Hi. I'm having difficulty getting a consensus as to what the time frame is for a travel to uk rapid test before departure. The website I've booked a kit to take with me states within 72 hrs of the time that the flight departs to the UK. Gov.uk states that if for example your flight departs on a Friday, you can have your test on Tue, Wed or Thu, which leads you to believe anytime on Tuesday? It makes a big difference to me, as my flight doesn't depart until 1930. So can I take my test only after 1930 Tuesday or could it be anytime on Tuesday, which could mean up to say 84 hrs in advance? I can't quite believe that at this stage, such important guidance is still quite vague. Thanks.