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 23, 2020, 12:06 pm
#556
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,028
COVID-19: UK and French travel and quarantine measures
Travellers to France
In France, the following measures have been announced:
"For travellers arriving from European countries whose authorities have decided, in an uncoordinated fashion, to apply 14-day quarantine measures to travellers entering their territory from European countries, a voluntary 14-day quarantine period will be reciprocally requested. For example, from Monday 25 May onwards, travellers arriving from Spain, on flights only, will be asked to go into voluntary quarantine, because Spain imposed a quarantine system on 15 May for travellers arriving in Spain by plane. This applies to travellers of Spanish, French and all other nationalities. Likewise, travellers arriving from the United Kingdom, whatever their nationality, will be asked to go into a 14-day quarantine period when the British 14-day quarantine measure, announced this evening, actually comes into force."
https://uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-U...ntine-measures
Travellers to France
In France, the following measures have been announced:
"For travellers arriving from European countries whose authorities have decided, in an uncoordinated fashion, to apply 14-day quarantine measures to travellers entering their territory from European countries, a voluntary 14-day quarantine period will be reciprocally requested. For example, from Monday 25 May onwards, travellers arriving from Spain, on flights only, will be asked to go into voluntary quarantine, because Spain imposed a quarantine system on 15 May for travellers arriving in Spain by plane. This applies to travellers of Spanish, French and all other nationalities. Likewise, travellers arriving from the United Kingdom, whatever their nationality, will be asked to go into a 14-day quarantine period when the British 14-day quarantine measure, announced this evening, actually comes into force."
https://uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-U...ntine-measures
May 23, 2020, 12:26 pm
#557
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
What is the minimum time BA can get flying in, say on the 1st review of the quarantine rules on 29th June air bridges are agreed, can BA realistically start up its engines so to speak in early July? I know there's obviously maintenance issues and getting staff training but how long does this take?
May 23, 2020, 12:51 pm
#558
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
May 23, 2020, 1:18 pm
#559
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,514
May 23, 2020, 1:39 pm
#560
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
The French measure is described as "voluntary". Does this mean there is no penalty if it is not adhered to?
May 23, 2020, 2:50 pm
#561
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Exith checks are done digitally. It could create issues the next time you visit.
May 23, 2020, 3:02 pm
#562
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,850
…if it is indeed disallowed to leave the UK before the 14-day quarantine period is complete (as it's not sufficiently clear yet). Will be interesting to see if or how this is addressed in the coming weeks before the quarantine begins.
May 23, 2020, 4:06 pm
#563
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Perhaps the pound will collapse and become worthless. Then at least the quarantine would be cheap 
May 23, 2020, 5:06 pm
#564
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 55
I don't get the point... Cabin crew who mix with all passengers can go about normal life... we're told we can self isolate with friends or family (who can go about normal life).
Just a vague mess.
Just a vague mess.
May 23, 2020, 8:13 pm
#565
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,562
I'll probably sound pedantic but the above is not quite correct (though in fairness, if one read the story for the British media, with their overwhelming illiteracy in EU law, accounts were indeed confusing) - and obviously, if it were, it would render the British quarantine protocol with its Irish exemption illegal, as would the current bilateral open border limited to specific countries (such as Germany-Austria). The EU will have told the UK that it would be illegal to discriminate based on citizenship. This means that had the UK made an exemption for France it would have had to apply to all people coming directly from France (as should be the case for all people coming directly from Ireland or the Channel islands regardless of nationality), which might arguably make enforcement of such a bilateral agreement harder but not impossible.
Well, to me, that would not be throwing a tantrum. As you point out, the end of the discussion between the UK and France mentioned reciprocity, and reciprocity does not mean that one country gets to decide all the details and the other to just accept them. The UK has imperious (indeed, one could say vital) reasons to exempt freight drivers. This exemption is not natural (plenty of other agreements do not create exemptions for freight drivers, or for that matter fruit pickers) and it will be complex and expensive to implement. The would be nothing intellectually shocking (or in my view tantrum like) in France reciprocating the quarantine as planned but including the exemption that makes sense to her rather than those which make sense to the UK (for instance, in the spirit of the Cummings news, exempting minors with parents living in the two countries, which would not be an absurd exception) and not the freight drivers one which also create complex loopholes in addition to making enforcement difficult. In fact, the only way I could imagine freight drivers being implicitly included is based on France using its current standard exception of "imperious family or professional reason", but that would then (not unreasonably) include a number of other categories well beyond what the UK is currently planning to exempt.
Well, to me, that would not be throwing a tantrum. As you point out, the end of the discussion between the UK and France mentioned reciprocity, and reciprocity does not mean that one country gets to decide all the details and the other to just accept them. The UK has imperious (indeed, one could say vital) reasons to exempt freight drivers. This exemption is not natural (plenty of other agreements do not create exemptions for freight drivers, or for that matter fruit pickers) and it will be complex and expensive to implement. The would be nothing intellectually shocking (or in my view tantrum like) in France reciprocating the quarantine as planned but including the exemption that makes sense to her rather than those which make sense to the UK (for instance, in the spirit of the Cummings news, exempting minors with parents living in the two countries, which would not be an absurd exception) and not the freight drivers one which also create complex loopholes in addition to making enforcement difficult. In fact, the only way I could imagine freight drivers being implicitly included is based on France using its current standard exception of "imperious family or professional reason", but that would then (not unreasonably) include a number of other categories well beyond what the UK is currently planning to exempt.
The above statement of 10 May indicates that cooperation was being discussed, but Britain decided otherwise. The reciprocity argument means that France will impose quarantine on pax from Britain, as it will do with any other country that impose quarantine on travelers from France. What I find not credible, is that France will have an additional knee jerk reaction specifically targeting Britain by making trade of goods between Britain and France extremely difficult.
May 23, 2020, 11:05 pm
#566
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
I've been reading the list of exemptions on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/public...k-border-rules (as also posted by CWS earlier in the thread), and one caught my eye - an individual arriving to attend pre-arranged treatment, when receiving that treatment in the UK. Healthcare means all forms of healthcare including mental and physical health
If I've read that right, it sounds like you need to book a GP appointment for the week after your return, then you can skip the whole 14 day quarantine period...
If I've read that right, it sounds like you need to book a GP appointment for the week after your return, then you can skip the whole 14 day quarantine period...
May 24, 2020, 12:05 am
#567
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,477
I've been reading the list of exemptions on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/public...k-border-rules (as also posted by CWS earlier in the thread), and one caught my eye - an individual arriving to attend pre-arranged treatment, when receiving that treatment in the UK. Healthcare means all forms of healthcare including mental and physical health
If I've read that right, it sounds like you need to book a GP appointment for the week after your return, then you can skip the whole 14 day quarantine period...
If I've read that right, it sounds like you need to book a GP appointment for the week after your return, then you can skip the whole 14 day quarantine period...
It’s clear that’s not the intention, and my bet is that when the legislation is published that category, and what defines “treatment”, will be very tightly defined. It’s not going to be a convivial chat with the nurse at your local surgery when you’re having a health check.
Nonetheless, this isn’t a full lockdown akin to house arrest - you can still fetch your own shopping if no-one else can do that for you. It’s supposed to be about reducing risk and limiting contact with others as much as possible. Now we’ll all have our own views on the effectiveness/impact of that - mine is firmly at the highly skeptical end of the scale - but the fact remains that If you want to avoid quarantine there’s only one way to do it, and that’s to arrive from the CTA.
May 24, 2020, 12:08 am
#568
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
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We're a laughing stock.
May 24, 2020, 12:47 am
#569
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: M&M FQT, BA G, Bonvoy LTT, WoH GLOB
Posts: 960
So to answer my own question, BA told me by email that they do not know, are investigating, and will be informing customers in due course. I don’t blame them, but what a joke overall. Incompetence rules.
May 24, 2020, 2:27 am
#570
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,562
When the measures was announced, officials said that you have to voluntarily accept it otherwise entry would be denied and you have to fly back.
Whether that is more "legal", I don't know.
Could anyone assist me in answering a question from my wife (MD quite specialized on covid)? We live far away and do not read the UK press.
Any insight on the true motivation for imposing a UK quarantine?
From a health reason, it does not make much sense. UK is the bad student of Europe, so the risk is lower, often far lower, elsewhere. A list of risky destinations (e.g. Latin America, India) might have made some sense, as imposed in some other countries at an early stage. But imposing it to all destinations?
Maybe a tourist runs higher risk of catching covid because tourists keep going to crowded public places (beach, swimming pools, cafe, restaurants, shopping). Hence, it would be the behavior rather than the location that is at risk.
Maybe it is an economic consideration. UK is a net exporter of tourists. By forcing them to stay at home, their spending will boost the UK economy rather than the foreign ones.
There must be some rationale besides the "we do something". But as pointed out by many,, it seems weird to implement quarantine so late in the game. The UK had been, by far, the most open country so far.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Last edited by brunos; May 24, 2020 at 3:23 am