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 8, 2021, 3:56 pm
#9271
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,848
That is a fair point that I am prepared to concede cws - though it does still feel the focus is very much on ‘important markets and holiday destinations’, and not so much on families.
I just hope (and trust your hints!) that there is more work ongoing and we will hear about the fruits of it sooner rather than later.
I just hope (and trust your hints!) that there is more work ongoing and we will hear about the fruits of it sooner rather than later.
Jul 8, 2021, 5:24 pm
#9272
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 204
Ugh me too Envirorian - days are ticking down to my son going to boarding school for the first time in England and I so desperately want to see him off over there - but work will get in the way if I need to quarantine and TtR 5 days prior... Unless I get clever with my "Quarantine..." 
Personally I’ve just had my TTR result today - I complied with the testing requirements but didn’t really pay much attention to the quarantine and in my experience it’s not exactly hard to circumvent the ridiculous rules if you have better things to do.
I have been fully vaccinated for months (having had the vaccine in the US in March/April) and the people I was socializing with knew about my vaccination and travel status I can’t say I felt bad about breaking the rules.
Ultimately it’s a personal choice as to whether to comply with the quarantine laws - in my view they’re disproportionate and ineffective so I was willing to accept the consequences if busted. My suspicion that the UK government machine’s incompetence would lead to a failure to detect my breach of the rules was confirmed - a few phone calls and one single visit in 5 days were easy enough to get past without too much effort.
There are some things in life too important to miss - I’d suggest your son’s first days at boarding school fall into that category and if I were you I’d not worry too much about the quarantine nonsense and look forward to celebrating the next steps in your son’s life together.
Jul 8, 2021, 7:41 pm
#9273
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: HANDAN
Programs: Air China Phoenix Miles
Posts: 61
It is now 8 weeks for everyone, 12 weeks is often happening in the field because people haven't moved their 2nd appointment dates made some time ago, but we are allowed to vaccinate at 8 weeks for all age groups. If you have completed a course of vaccines then that is a contraindication for further vaccination. The limited trials in this space suggest you may get a new round of standard side effects if you go for a different vaccine to the earlier vaccine.
There has been a noticeable uptick in demand for vaccines in the last 24 hours, I've got to work an extra hour tomorrow......
There has been a noticeable uptick in demand for vaccines in the last 24 hours, I've got to work an extra hour tomorrow......
Jul 8, 2021, 7:45 pm
#9274
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 816
You're right. There is an awful lot of emotion here. It is grossly unfair. Unless, of course, you're sitting in England contemplating where to jet off to for your fortnight's summer holiday when the schools break up on Friday 23rd July. It really smacks of an "I'm alright, Jack" attitude and to hell with everyone else. I am pretty sure I am not the only one who feels this way either.
Perhaps someone could explain to me why simply being resident in England and having been vaccinated by the NHS somehow makes such a substantive difference here? The UK is currently reporting in the region of 32k cases per day compared with 23k with the USA. The UK has almost 5x the positivity rate of the USA.
Being vaccinated either works or it doesn't. Amber list countries either present a lower risk or they don't. Unless I have missed something obvious I don't think anyone has said that the vaccines being distributed in the UK are somehow superior to the same vaccines being distributed elsewhere. Is it really the case that Kevin & Tracy's return to England after a fortnight's lounging on a beach somewhere in Amber Europe is somehow a significantly lower risk to the overall health of the UK than my visit to England from the USA - simply because they live in England and have been vaccinated by the NHS?
Perhaps someone could explain to me why simply being resident in England and having been vaccinated by the NHS somehow makes such a substantive difference here? The UK is currently reporting in the region of 32k cases per day compared with 23k with the USA. The UK has almost 5x the positivity rate of the USA.
Being vaccinated either works or it doesn't. Amber list countries either present a lower risk or they don't. Unless I have missed something obvious I don't think anyone has said that the vaccines being distributed in the UK are somehow superior to the same vaccines being distributed elsewhere. Is it really the case that Kevin & Tracy's return to England after a fortnight's lounging on a beach somewhere in Amber Europe is somehow a significantly lower risk to the overall health of the UK than my visit to England from the USA - simply because they live in England and have been vaccinated by the NHS?
My point however was that relaxation or introduction of rules have never happened across the board. It’s always been haphazard.
For instance these rules currently only apply to England and NI and yet other UK nations used the same vaccines. (Although it’s hard to see Scotland and Wales not following).
Even using your examples - you compare US and UK residents- as a UK resident, I have and I am still not allowed to travel to the USA - unless I commit the extra time and expense of staying 14 days in a third country. This even applied when UK had some of the lowest rates in the western world. As a US resident you have no restriction on travel to the UK although you have to self isolate for 10 days - with the option of cutting that to 5 days. (And as you can see from some accounts adherence to self isolation might be a bit ‘patchy’).
My point is that rules have never aligned that well from the get go. I strongly suspect they it will be sorted for EU vaccinated citizens soon. Hopefully also for US vaccinated residents although I fear it might take a little longer.
Jul 8, 2021, 7:53 pm
#9275
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,851
Thanks to KSVVZ2015 for any info from your surgery. I am in the same boat.
Jul 8, 2021, 8:34 pm
#9276
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,033
I have a ticket on hold to LHR 9/23-9/26 to surprise my sister for her 50th. Of course no one knows but what is the best speculation the quarantine for fully vaccinated US citizens will be then. Who knows. Ugh.
It’s a pretty good J fare $2K all in and worst comes to worst I can cancel it and it goes 100% credit (which I can use for Christmas)
Guess I’ll trying to read what y’all think.
It’s a pretty good J fare $2K all in and worst comes to worst I can cancel it and it goes 100% credit (which I can use for Christmas)
Guess I’ll trying to read what y’all think.
Last edited by enviroian; Jul 8, 2021 at 8:40 pm
Jul 8, 2021, 8:35 pm
#9277
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
It is great news but always depressing when Scotland doesn't (at least immediately) say yes too 
Jul 8, 2021, 8:39 pm
#9278
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 207
I’ve given up on the England portion of our trip but we are flying home from LHR. We plan to arrive via Eurostar and fly out the next day. My question is - are they picky about where we overnight? We have a reservation in the city center that we’d just as soon keep.
Jul 8, 2021, 9:03 pm
#9279
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,774
UK citizen in China, fully vaccinated with SinoVac, travelling back to the UK mid August, guess I'll be doing the self isolating, do you know if I would be able to leave isolation to visit a vaccination centre to get either the AZ or Pfizer vaccine, if I could it would give me enough time to have the second jab before returning to China, if they allow me back in...
Jul 8, 2021, 10:06 pm
#9280
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AS, US, Hilton, BA, DL, SPG, AA, VS
Posts: 1,628
Jul 8, 2021, 10:37 pm
#9281
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LCY/DXB/MCY
Programs: BA Silver / SQ Sol PPS / KE & EK Nobody!
Posts: 387
Jul 8, 2021, 11:04 pm
#9282
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
I have a ticket on hold to LHR 9/23-9/26 to surprise my sister for her 50th. Of course no one knows but what is the best speculation the quarantine for fully vaccinated US citizens will be then. Who knows. Ugh.
It’s a pretty good J fare $2K all in and worst comes to worst I can cancel it and it goes 100% credit (which I can use for Christmas)
Guess I’ll trying to read what y’all think.
It’s a pretty good J fare $2K all in and worst comes to worst I can cancel it and it goes 100% credit (which I can use for Christmas)
Guess I’ll trying to read what y’all think.
Jul 8, 2021, 11:06 pm
#9283
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,237
Robert Boyle has published a new article (link here) and, in it, has reviewed the data on positive tests and so on.
For reference, the UK's test positivity rate is 6.3% for the latest day for which there's data, 03/07 (although the comparison is not like-for-like since it's not that everyone in the UK gets tested).
The most important thing is the minuscule amount of DNA sequencing. If we believe HMG, expensive PCR test is required for Day 2 testing as it will allow DNA sequencing. HMG also says that all day 2 tests are DNA sequenced. It'll come to no one's surprise that they're lying. Boyle says that Day 2 tests accounted for 42% of all 'quarantine-at-home' tests, so the number of DNA sequencing ought to be in that ballpark (and even higher for red countries as they don't do day 5 TTR). You can see for yourself the result.
So why exactly are we being charged a premium for Day 2 testing being a PCR?
For reference, the UK's test positivity rate is 6.3% for the latest day for which there's data, 03/07 (although the comparison is not like-for-like since it's not that everyone in the UK gets tested).
The most important thing is the minuscule amount of DNA sequencing. If we believe HMG, expensive PCR test is required for Day 2 testing as it will allow DNA sequencing. HMG also says that all day 2 tests are DNA sequenced. It'll come to no one's surprise that they're lying. Boyle says that Day 2 tests accounted for 42% of all 'quarantine-at-home' tests, so the number of DNA sequencing ought to be in that ballpark (and even higher for red countries as they don't do day 5 TTR). You can see for yourself the result.
So why exactly are we being charged a premium for Day 2 testing being a PCR?
Jul 9, 2021, 12:15 am
#9284
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: 63,836
UK citizen in China, fully vaccinated with SinoVac, travelling back to the UK mid August, guess I'll be doing the self isolating, do you know if I would be able to leave isolation to visit a vaccination centre to get either the AZ or Pfizer vaccine, if I could it would give me enough time to have the second jab before returning to China, if they allow me back in...
Jul 9, 2021, 12:21 am
#9285
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: 63,836
The UK positivity rate is around 3.5% approx - 1 million tests daily, around 35,000 are proving positive, round terms. Inbound airline passengers are running higher than this even from countries which don't have high infection rates on their national stats.