CyBeR

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I'm saying because the test is a) not perfect to start with and b) obviously not able to detect infections contracted after or even shortly before the test was taken which adds another element of leakiness requiring a test is nothing but theater. By all means encourage people to test, and make people whole if they test positive. I.e. refund them or rebook them, whichever they prefer. As it stands, all this testing nonsense does it add uncertainty and extra costs to international travel, which is stressful enough for many people as it is.

I've not seen a supervised test for less than $30, and the point isn't that the cost is low because to me and I'm sure to you it is, but for a family of 5 that's not $35, it's $175 which they may not be able to afford. And worse, if they're going to one of those stupid places that requires a PCR and doesn't accept RATs that's another $500 if not more spent on useless bullcrap. At that point even to me it's a lot of money.

Not for rapid tests, no, but many countries still require a full-blown PCR test which is neither cheap (often running over $100) and in most cases is still done using a brain scrape.

I agree that if you are sick you should stay home, but this rings true for any other disease like the flu as well.


In any case: the goal of the pre-departure test requirement is and has always been to keep COVID out of the country. A goal that that measure has failed spectacularly at, given that not a single country that has or has had a pre-departure testing requirement is covid-free. I understand fully that this method of keeping covid at bay was attempted -- it seems reasonable at first glance but policies like these should always be evaluated and if they are ineffective (which objectively this requirement is) they should be abolished asap.

wooootles

Well, the good thing is that you won't test positive if you don't test at all (for ->US flights).[Moderator edit.]

I would also say that testing positive =/= actually sick. I still tested positive 2 weeks after recovery from symptoms (that's what recovery certs are for)

And if another country requires a test? Cool, they're at the bottom of my list. However if Australia and Singapore can let people in without a test, I have no doubt most countries would be moving to remove test requirements, eventually.

Texas_Duck

We are 4 US citizens headed to and returning from Switzerland this September. All have vaccinations but some do not have boosters. Assuming no 90-day change in regulations, it is clear that we no longer need the 24-hour negative test. Just want to make sure I am correct on the CDC card and the Covid vaccinations.

QUESTION - absolutely no vaccination information required by Delta on return to JFK from Zurich? In other words (not that we would do this) we wound not required to show/bring the CDC card?

Not complaining because we have been healthy - but we have cancelled 4 European trips in the past 2 years.

smartytravel

If you are a US citizen, all you need is passport to return to USA.

Mountain Explorer

There are no covid-related requirements for either Switz or US. You don't even need masks. You can pretend it's 2019

dlffla

Assuming no changes, you will be required to show only your passports. However, just as I keep my international vaccine certificate card with me when I travel, I will also always carry the CDC card. Be on the absolute safest side and keep it with your passport. It doesn’t take up any room.

LupineChemist

The bigger question is what is the testing accomplishing in terms of grand strategy. Containment is just not viable anymore with how contagious the new variants are so there really shouldn't be that much effort on stopping spread but on mitigating the resulting spread. We are nowhere near overwhelming the health care system so the whole "flatten the curve" argument isn't really useful at this point either. Basically trying to not get covid through masking and testing is just an exercise in futility because you're thinking of an individual not on a large scale.

If a significant number of people have it, it will evade detection and spread. Simple as that.

RobertS975

The government required tests in an attempt to keep the virus out of the country. For that, it was always a spectacular failure. Same for the closed land border between Canada and the USA for so long. That would have only made sense if one of the countries was relatively disease free.

But it doesn't hurt to pick up positive but asymptomatic people BEFORE they get in a metal tube with hundreds of other people.

NWIFlyer

It would seem that at least some airlines - those on Verifly - will accept an electronic version of the attestation for those us with no automatic right of entry to the US. I have a flight on Sunday (with AA) so started the Verifly documentation. It allowed me to tick a box in the app which certified that I was vaccinated, then prompted me to scan my NHS QR code.

It's certainly a lot less painful than printing an absurd number of mostly redundant pages.

MSPeconomist

DL wouldn't let me do OLCI without returning to the DL version of Verifly to re-visit documents (which I couldn't even see earlier) only to decide that I didn't need to complete the attestation. It would have been a problem if I had tried to check in on a computer to print my boarding pass without having my cell phone handy. In the meantime, my phone was telling me that I had already checked in. GRRRRR.

In the meantime, I printed the current generic CDC attestation form just in case someone demands it at the airport.

N830MH

Go to airport and see ticket agent. They will print your BP out. They will take care of it.

abraxias

Done Verifly (twice!) which gives me a load of green ticks and boxes saying I’ve done everything. BA OLCI says they haven’t confirmed my details, won’t let me check in. Should I just stop bothering and do it at the airport tomorrow? I want to try and get an upgrade anyway so I’ll need to speak to someone before going through security either way.

Just no idea why it’s not working really. Bloody technology.

MSPeconomist

I was able to print my boarding pass in advance, but the confusion about what steps were necessary was very frustrating and completing OLCI took much longer than necessary.

GloballyServiced

Any more experiences to report on non-citizens having to show proof of vaccination or other documents?

stupidhead

Good riddance. About 24 months too late but better late than never I guess. No more traveling with my work laptops when I'm on vacation.