Originally Posted by bchandler02

Just want to make sure I am understanding the requirements correctly. I've read that the test must be done within 72 hours of departure, and then read on the CDC site that it must be within 3 calendar days.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...travelers.html

So if I have a departure back to the USA on a Thursday at 3PM - can I do the test anytime Mon/Tues/Wed, or do I have to wait until Monday 3PM? I want to get it done as early as possible on my trip.

Originally Posted by 84fiero

Note that for flights to the US, the above-linked CDC page specifies leeway for delays outside the passenger's control:

Originally Posted by 84fiero

Sure sometimes one encounters a poor agent but not always, and supervisor escalation usually resolves such IME. Regardless, it's best to begin with knowledge of the specific rules as published.

Originally Posted by mdkowals

My concern here is the Constitutional or American value implication that you can effectively ban a US citizen or resident immigrant from entering the US. It's via workaround [President orders the FAA which orders the airlines, etc...], so it's not "technically" denying entry - but every sniff test can see that's the intent.

What happens if someone tests positive? Do we want our citizens spending weeks in a foreign hospital? Quarantine on their own dollar in a hotel? Do they become homeless in country X if they can't afford weeks worth of a hotel stay? It'd be much more to everyone's benefit to rapid test on arrival, in their own country, if that's what is needed to be done. Let them then go immediately from the airport to a medical facility where they can navigate their path forward.

While it becomes some sort of ideal to limit COVID spread, but I really don't like breaking our own set of inscribed values to do it.

Originally Posted by gnomey

I never understand why the loophole argument is a valid argument to protest against testing requirement. so should all speed limits on road be eliminated because some crafty drivers installed apps that tell them where the speed camera is and therefore will always know when to speed and when not.

i agree US never thought things through in the sense that they didnt make this an airtight requirement for all modes of entry, (but this is a rarity, rather than a common occurrence if you observe how testing requirements are implemented in other countries worldwide). however, in their defense this is more of a circumstantial issue than anything. first, not everyone who enters US are US citizen and have rights to be admitted as long as they present themselves to border and second, not every US citizen will be aware of or will make the effort to use the Tijuana backdoor. Third, there are not necessarily direct flights to Mexico from wherever Loophole Larry is and therefore if they are limited in choices in airlines and transit cities, it presents another layer of difficulty in actually boarding a plane when unable to present a negative test result

a multi prong approach is needed to address a pandemic, not single solution. any approach that presents more obstacles to the end user will contribute towards the end result of reducing spread. it will make any user think twice before circumventing, lying about test result, etc plus in some countries, you actually need to test negative before exiting so the Tijuana backdoor is not even an imminent reality.

instead of griping about testing requirements, make lemonade out of lemons. with a drop in the volume of people willing to travel abroad, the astute traveler will notice that there are quite a number of travel deals abound as some places slash prices in a bid to reactivate tourism, while others will take advantage of this quiet period to visit places that are traditionally overpacked. all these opportunities will not last long, and will start disappearing the moment travel barriers are lifted for the "average joe" in US and outside of US

Originally Posted by mdkowals

My concern here is the Constitutional or American value implication that you can effectively ban a US citizen or resident immigrant from entering the US. It's via workaround [President orders the FAA which orders the airlines, etc...], so it's not "technically" denying entry - but every sniff test can see that's the intent.

What happens if someone tests positive? Do we want our citizens spending weeks in a foreign hospital? Quarantine on their own dollar in a hotel? Do they become homeless in country X if they can't afford weeks worth of a hotel stay? It'd be much more to everyone's benefit to rapid test on arrival, in their own country, if that's what is needed to be done. Let them then go immediately from the airport to a medical facility where they can navigate their path forward.

While it becomes some sort of ideal to limit COVID spread, but I really don't like breaking our own set of inscribed values to do it.

Originally Posted by sbandy

There are some very useful threads in the Italy forum about where to get tests [[url=https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/italy/2041607-where-can-you-get-covid-test-italy-before-you-fly-out.html?2041607=#post33298900]here] and [[url=https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/italy/2045908-antigen-tests-milan.html]here]. Also this site seems to list locations around the country. In a few weeks I will be able to report back on my experience.

Originally Posted by SamirD

And before anyone thinks this is cold, consider this fact--my father died from covid. If every [person] in the US locked down hard and sat at home until the vaccine was available and then slowly started to venture back out, my dad would still be with me and alive. But no one really considered that when they were being selfish and spreading the disease, so if someone gets stuck positive when traveling when warned not to travel, I find it really hard to show any empathy. People died because of stupidity like traveling and now you want help? Good luck, but you dug your own grave.

Originally Posted by sbandy

I am in Milan now and getting a test was surprisingly easy. We got here yesterday and while walking to dinner saw a rapid antigen test sign at a pharmacy (Boots Pasubio) 10 mins from the hotel. Went in and the lady said make an appointment online. So this morning made an appointment online for later this afternoon but stupidly chose molecular (pcr) instead of rapid antigen. Having found no way to modify this online, walked 10 mins back to the pharmacy and the lady goes no need to do anything with the incorrect appointment but you can take the rapid test now if you want. So we take the test. Results in hand after 15 mins or so. 25 EUR per person. Walking around this morning and afternoon saw few other pharmacies advertising rapid tests as well. One of them was San Lorenzo I think.

Unlike in the US where CVS, Curative etc are self swab these tests were administered by a tech in a tyvek suit a mask and a face shield and it was not exactly a shallow swab. Sorry for this detail but I had to get tested routinely last year before vaccines got rid of mandatory testing at my workplace.

Originally Posted by sbandy

I am in Milan now and getting a test was surprisingly easy. We got here yesterday and while walking to dinner saw a rapid antigen test sign at a pharmacy (Boots Pasubio) 10 mins from the hotel. Went in and the lady said make an appointment online. So this morning made an appointment online for later this afternoon but stupidly chose molecular (pcr) instead of rapid antigen. Having found no way to modify this online, walked 10 mins back to the pharmacy and the lady goes no need to do anything with the incorrect appointment but you can take the rapid test now if you want. So we take the test. Results in hand after 15 mins or so. 25 EUR per person. Walking around this morning and afternoon saw few other pharmacies advertising rapid tests as well. One of them was San Lorenzo I think.

Unlike in the US where CVS, Curative etc are self swab these tests were administered by a tech in a tyvek suit a mask and a face shield and it was not exactly a shallow swab. Sorry for this detail but I had to get tested routinely last year before vaccines got rid of mandatory testing at my workplace.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker

I'm glad it all worked out. But isn't this the perfect endorsement for doing an eMed test from the comfort of your hotel? Why bother with pharmacies? You're obviously tech-savvy (made appoint online), but you had to make two trips. I realize it's not a big deal, but for me I'd much rather use the 15 minute testing-wait time to do something like shower or shave so that it doesn't eat into my vacation time.

Originally Posted by Jenn0625

It might come down to who the airline carrier is for your flight back to the US. Delta, United and American have all partnered with these companies and will accept the test results to board the plane, however there has been discussion that other airlines, like Emirates will not accept the test results since they are not done "in lab".

Originally Posted by jamienbaker

Well, it's the U.S. that permits the use of eMed for re-entry, it's not technically the airline's call. That said, do you have first-hand experience with Emirates? Only asking because I fly them soon. When you say Emirates won't accept, are you specifically referring to the eMed tele-tests (done with agent watching, who then validates the results)? Or are you referring to the tests one just does at home WITHOUT a technician monitoring?

I can't find anything on the EK site saying they wouldn't accept eMed teletest, since results come from a lab, includes the type-test, collection time, etc.

Appreciate your input - Jamie

Originally Posted by jamienbaker

Well, it's the U.S. that permits the use of eMed for re-entry, it's not technically the airline's call. That said, do you have first-hand experience with Emirates? Only asking because I fly them soon. When you say Emirates won't accept, are you specifically referring to the eMed tele-tests (done with agent watching, who then validates the results)? Or are you referring to the tests one just does at home WITHOUT a technician monitoring?

I can't find anything on the EK site saying they wouldn't accept eMed teletest, since results come from a lab, includes the type-test, collection time, etc.

Appreciate your input - Jamie

Originally Posted by SamirD

Generally the airlines are the gatekeepers, even when they are wrong. ymmv.