What If You Test Positive Before Return to the US?
Sep 7, 2021, 11:25 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA PP
Posts: 541
(I am writing this from the American perspective.).
I was just in French Polynesia and they have a set procedure if you test positive upon arrival, but there wasn't a clear procedure for "what if americans test postiive before return?" While we were there we spoke to the US Consul who said he was currently dealing with 20 positive american cases and was trying to find them local accomodations.
We do know of someone who tested postiive before return and was able to arrange to stay in their resort bungalow for 10 days until they got a letter stating they were negative and able to fly again.
I was just in French Polynesia and they have a set procedure if you test positive upon arrival, but there wasn't a clear procedure for "what if americans test postiive before return?" While we were there we spoke to the US Consul who said he was currently dealing with 20 positive american cases and was trying to find them local accomodations.
We do know of someone who tested postiive before return and was able to arrange to stay in their resort bungalow for 10 days until they got a letter stating they were negative and able to fly again.
Sep 7, 2021, 1:10 pm
#32
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,773
Does anyone know whether airlines are rebooking passengers for free who have to delay their return due to a positive COVID test? Of must one rely on either travel insurance or pay out-of-pocket for a new return ticket after achieving a negative test?
Sep 7, 2021, 1:34 pm
#33
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
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Sep 7, 2021, 1:54 pm
#34
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA PP
Posts: 541
Most travel insurance will not cover expenses related to quarantine or air fare changes as a result of Covid. The airlines have not been charging change fees, so as long as the fare hadn't risen you should be able to rebook with no problem and with perhaps minor additional expense. If I were in the situation, I'd rebook my flight for day six if I could retest at five, and if I was still positive, change the flight to day 11, and so on.
Sep 8, 2021, 9:46 am
#35
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,074
Yikes! That's an expensive place to have to find a last minute room, and a very expensive place to end up in. I'm assuming he was in Tahiti, an OWB goes from expensive to astronomical in Moorea and Bora Bora. I doubt anyone who had tested positive would be able to travel from Tahiti to another island.
I purchased specific travel insurance just for this possibiility, but it only maxed out at $200/day. Obviously if you buy a pricier policy you will get more coverage. That $200 would probably get me most of a garden room on Tahiti, but would only make a small dent in the price of a resort room/bungalow on one of the outer islands.
Sep 8, 2021, 12:40 pm
#36
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA PP
Posts: 541
Agreed. I think that if one goes to a destination like that, at this time, one should be prepared to cover at least 10 more days of costs should they get quarantined.
I purchased specific travel insurance just for this possibiility, but it only maxed out at $200/day. Obviously if you buy a pricier policy you will get more coverage. That $200 would probably get me most of a garden room on Tahiti, but would only make a small dent in the price of a resort room/bungalow on one of the outer islands.
I purchased specific travel insurance just for this possibiility, but it only maxed out at $200/day. Obviously if you buy a pricier policy you will get more coverage. That $200 would probably get me most of a garden room on Tahiti, but would only make a small dent in the price of a resort room/bungalow on one of the outer islands.
Sep 8, 2021, 1:09 pm
#37
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Join Date: May 2000
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PCR can continue to come back positive well after someone is no longer contagious. They are also more expensive and have a longer turnaround time. I suppose they are a bit more accurate, but that's a double-edged sword here.
Sep 8, 2021, 1:19 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; OW Emerald; MVP Gold 100k;Marriott/SPG LTPlat; HH Diamond
Posts: 968
https://www.allianztravelinsurance.c...oronavirus.htm
Sep 8, 2021, 2:06 pm
#39
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,074
I also looked into Seven Corners which appealed.
I've also seen World Nomads recommended though it didn't match my needs.
Then there's MedJet which will whisk you back home (don't know the pricing) without having to stay at a local hospital first.
There's a lot of info to sort through so good luck!
Sep 9, 2021, 2:17 am
#40
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,527
In testing, apparently one should always ask what the "cycle threshold" is, because if it is too high, then the test is too sensitive and more prone to false positives.
https://medicine.yale.edu/labmed/sec...0_36854_v1.pdf
https://medicine.yale.edu/labmed/sec...0_36854_v1.pdf
Sep 9, 2021, 3:13 am
#41
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,752
Most travel insurance will not cover expenses related to quarantine or air fare changes as a result of Covid. The airlines have not been charging change fees, so as long as the fare hadn't risen you should be able to rebook with no problem and with perhaps minor additional expense. If I were in the situation, I'd rebook my flight for day six if I could retest at five, and if I was still positive, change the flight to day 11, and so on.
The insurance cover applies:
- worldwide for all trips starting from 07/15/2021 to 01/15/2022 (return trip must be made before 02/28/2022)
- when paying for the trip with your Miles & More Gold Credit Card or credit card with status - also for trips that have already been booked
- for the costs of additional means of transport in the country of travel, e.g. B. public transport, rental cars and taxis, up to 250 EUR
- for rebooking fees for a flight, a train or bus journey or a rental car up to an amount of 50 EUR
- for the cost of the return flight or return ticket up to EUR 500 per insured person if the original airline or the originally booked means of transport is not available within 72 hours
- for accommodation costs including meals or cancellation costs or actual costs for unused overnight stays in the accommodation up to EUR 175 per night and up to a maximum of 14 nights for all co-insured persons
- for costs due to missed excursions and events due to quarantine up to an amount of EUR 200 per co-insured person
- for the costs of a medically ordered PCR test in the country of travel or on arrival at the place of residence of the insured person, provided that the country of travel was declared a risk area during the trip, if a longer quarantine can be avoided as a result
Sep 9, 2021, 7:58 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
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In testing, apparently one should always ask what the "cycle threshold" is, because if it is too high, then the test is too sensitive and more prone to false positives.
https://medicine.yale.edu/labmed/sec...0_36854_v1.pdf
https://medicine.yale.edu/labmed/sec...0_36854_v1.pdf
Sep 9, 2021, 9:49 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
SG is both "kiasu" and "kiasi" (afraid to lose and afraid to die). Obviously they will be very conservative with their numbers.
Sep 9, 2021, 12:40 pm
#44
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Be careful to read the fine print on the medical evacuation policies. Do they provide the evacuation if you test positive somewhere and want to go home (but obviously can't fly commercial) or only if your symptoms are bad enough that some other hospital or care not available at your location make the evacuation medically necessary? Will they evacuate you to the nearest/cheapest facility that they consider adequate, to your home, or to a medical facility of your choice?
Sep 10, 2021, 12:02 am
#45
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,610
How is that "fully allowed by the rules"? If they test positive, even if it's a "private" test, they have to notify the health authorities in Italy (or wherever they are) and isolate!
Again, that's not the rule. If you are positive, you have to isolate for at least 10 days.
Depending on where you are in Europe, the local healthcare authorities might have hotels to host you during your mandated isolation.
Again, that's not the rule. If you are positive, you have to isolate for at least 10 days.
Depending on where you are in Europe, the local healthcare authorities might have hotels to host you during your mandated isolation.
Similar to lots of things that are allowed due to no enforcement mechanisms. I shouldn't have said "fully allowed", you are right there.