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]
Jul 7, 2021, 12:34 am
#9151
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 90
I've aways thought it should be either pay for testing and don't isolate or don't pay for testing and isolate for x days regardless of vaccination status, one can still carry the virus.
a) pay for day 2/8 tests and you don't need to isolate unless positive
b) don't pay for the tests and isolate for x days
Simple and doesn't discriminate against the under thirties/forties.
a) pay for day 2/8 tests and you don't need to isolate unless positive
b) don't pay for the tests and isolate for x days
Simple and doesn't discriminate against the under thirties/forties.
Jul 7, 2021, 5:59 am
#9152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,107
Jul 7, 2021, 6:57 am
#9153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,029
This is good news in the right direction. Interesting choice of pilot cities. Montego Bay? Lol
And even better this pilot is starting this weekend.
I’m keeping optimistic.
I did also enjoy the two of the worlds airlines comments too. I think AA has more planes in storage than VS has in their fleet altogether.
And even better this pilot is starting this weekend.
I’m keeping optimistic.
I did also enjoy the two of the worlds airlines comments too. I think AA has more planes in storage than VS has in their fleet altogether.
Jul 7, 2021, 7:19 am
#9154
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Posts: 211
This is too little too late. I don't think anyone is going to change their travel plans based on saving a few minutes in the immigration queue. What really matters is the quarantine, which this does nothing to change:
.
It's a carefully crafted press release to seem like the government is doing something while in fact it's doing nothing at all.
Those taking part in the trial will still have to follow all the rules according to the government's traffic light system; book all the required tests and quarantine if they come from an amber list country.
It's a carefully crafted press release to seem like the government is doing something while in fact it's doing nothing at all.
Jul 7, 2021, 7:25 am
#9155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,029
This is too little too late. I don't think anyone is going to change their travel plans based on saving a few minutes in the immigration queue. What really matters is the quarantine, which this does nothing to change:
.
It's a carefully crafted press release to seem like the government is doing something while in fact it's doing nothing at all.
.
It's a carefully crafted press release to seem like the government is doing something while in fact it's doing nothing at all.
Jul 7, 2021, 7:28 am
#9156
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
I don't think this is led by the government. It is the airlines and LHR trying to show the government that they can make a system work.
Jul 7, 2021, 7:29 am
#9157
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 710
This is too little too late. I don't think anyone is going to change their travel plans based on saving a few minutes in the immigration queue. What really matters is the quarantine, which this does nothing to change:
It's a carefully crafted press release to seem like the government is doing something while in fact it's doing nothing at all.
It's a carefully crafted press release to seem like the government is doing something while in fact it's doing nothing at all.
Jul 7, 2021, 7:41 am
#9158
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: 63,829
There does seem to be some confusion. While the BBC article says quarantine applies, the Telegraph front page says quarantine will be waived. However, it also says the program will start with UK residents. Guess we'll have to wait for the press release later today.
It's tomorrow when we hear more about the HMG scheme, there may (or may not) be something more in the newspapers overnight, but otherwise you need to wait until 12:30 hrs when Grant Shapps is due to speak to the House of Commons on the plans for Amber countries.
Jul 7, 2021, 8:28 am
#9159
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
We'll have left the UK several hours before the actual appointments, so won't be attending. Who knows, maybe I can reschedule them for a future use.
What happens if you try to re-use a Day 2 test confirmation code that gov.uk has already seen before?
Jul 7, 2021, 9:53 am
#9160
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
I've now booked in-person Day 2 tests @ £55 each, and have my confirmation codes, hopefully that's enough for the gate agent and UK Border staff.
We'll have left the UK several hours before the actual appointments, so won't be attending. Who knows, maybe I can reschedule them for a future use.
What happens if you try to re-use a Day 2 test confirmation code that gov.uk has already seen before?
We'll have left the UK several hours before the actual appointments, so won't be attending. Who knows, maybe I can reschedule them for a future use.
What happens if you try to re-use a Day 2 test confirmation code that gov.uk has already seen before?
Jul 7, 2021, 10:18 am
#9161
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,440
From what I’ve heard there won’t be any reduced testing for fully vaccinated ‘Green List’ arrivals. Does anyone else think that’s nuts?
A double jabbed person coming back from Indonesia will take the same tests as someone from Iceland???
A double jabbed person coming back from Indonesia will take the same tests as someone from Iceland???
Jul 7, 2021, 12:39 pm
#9162
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 710
Forbes has done an article on why a US-UK travel corridor is a non-starter until September at the earliest. Nothing we haven't discussed here already, but a good summary of the issues. The two primary ones being the lack of US recognition of the AZ vaccine and the lack of a common, single US digital vaccine certificate. There is significant pressure being applied from both sides to relax travel restrictions.
Jul 7, 2021, 1:06 pm
#9163
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,628
And there will never be a single, digital vaccine certificate in the US. If the British government is really hung up on that, things will be stuck for a looong time.
Also, I think a lot of Americans will be turned off if the testing requirement stays. A pre-arrival test, a day 2 test, plus a test required by the US government to get back into the States? A lot of Americans will look at that & go, "Screw that." Yes, a lot may be willing to put up with it, but a lot won't be.
Jul 7, 2021, 2:13 pm
#9164
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EP, MUCCI, Proudly BA Blue,.
Posts: 887
Would it be too much to ask someone way more experienced than me to update the Wiki to provide some clarity about the Collinson in-airport testing at LHR? I'm a bit confused about this - can I buy a Collinson Day 2 and 8 test online prior to departure, list that on the PLF, and somewhere in the ordering process specify that the day 2 test will actually be in person day 0 test at LHR? Surely this seems to be the most efficient way to get day 2-8 started?
Then, does anyone know if it's possible to pick up a Day 8 test to take with you after you've done the Day 2 test at LHR on Day 0?
Sorry - I know there are hundreds of posts above this one already and hate to ask the same questions over and over!
Then, does anyone know if it's possible to pick up a Day 8 test to take with you after you've done the Day 2 test at LHR on Day 0?
Sorry - I know there are hundreds of posts above this one already and hate to ask the same questions over and over!
Last edited by matinicus rock; Jul 7, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Jul 7, 2021, 2:49 pm
#9165
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: 63,829
Would it be too much to ask someone way more experienced than me to update the Wiki to provide some clarity about the Collinson in-airport testing at LHR? I'm a bit confused about this - can I buy a Collinson Day 2 and 8 test online prior to departure, list that on the PLF, and somewhere in the ordering process specify that the day 2 test will actually be in person day 0 test at LHR? Surely this seems to be the most efficient way to get day 2-8 started?