To test or not to test.
 

It looks like as of last week things became a lot easier for US travelers heading to Europe. All the countries I'm visiting or transiting next week allow for vaccinated travelers to travel without testing; but what's DL's take? Since France allows vaccinated travelers, I _shouldn't_ need a negative test for ATL-CDG, but when heading back home FRA-ATL; I will need a test (as of 10/13/21).

This is my international trip since the rules were relaxed. Previously you needed to show the GA the forms for the destination country to board, so will I need my vaccine card for boarding or should i be expecting an email from DL in the coming days that will explain all that?

I read that a couple of times but I can't figure out what you're trying to ask. So let me break it down for you:

If a country you are going to requires proof of vaccine, then you will need to bring proof of vaccine.

If a country you are going to requires a negative test result, then you will need to bring a negative test result.

The rules for entry into countries are set by the relevant regulatory authorites, not the airlines. The airlines are just the ones carrying out the document checks, and thus liable to validate them before accepting you on board.

If the rules for entry into France from the US dictate no PCR test is required, then DL will not ask you for them. Just proof of vaccination.
When travelling to the US, an antigenic or PCR test is required. The good news for you is that it is quite easy to get tests in Europe at relatively low cost and no hassle (around 30 € for an antigenic test) which will be fine for travel to the US.

You're responsible for keeping up-to-date on the entry requirements ; don't expect the airlines to send reminders.

One suggestion. Start the French process if getting an EU vaccination certificate now. The process they use is painfully slow. Alternatively if in Germany for any reason, simply stop at pharmacy and they can issue one, very easy/quick. Once issued it's valid in all EU countries.

You will need the EU vaccination certificate to be able to enter most places.

Not true. Proof of vaccination is required for numerous spots, but it does not need to be the EU QR Code. It's nice to have, but when my mother came from the US to visit, no one cared that she was using a CDC card, even for a domestic French flight. And in Germany, they do not even scan it.

How long ago was this? This changed back in August/September. A number of countries now require use of a COVID Pass even for foreigners. The CDC card will work for airline/ immigration purposes but not to enter restaurants/grocery stores/etc.... If you don't convert, then you must take a CV19 test every couple days to scan into Pass app.

I used Germany only as example where getting an EU compliant certificate is easy.

I flew into the US this week and was never asked to show my test (not by the airline or CBP.)

Thread is about going to Europe.

Regardless the airline should've asked to see the result and collected the attestation form. CBP has nothing to do with US testing requirement. The testing requirement is a CDC mandate. Unless flight is selected for random compliance check by CDC staff (highly unlikely) you don't show anything.

If you read the OP’s entire post, it’s about both going and coming back.

It is actually worse than that, at least in theory. In Germany for example there are state specific rules, so when entering you have to follow the national rules and then the state rules. And to add insult to injury, things change frequently. In practice, nobody seems to care, i.e. ask for anything, when you enter the country. So what you need is really what Delta asks you to provide/ lets you get away with.

Once you are in the country, you need proof of vaccination to go to restaurants, museums, and to take a plane, maybe more. All kinds of proof are acceptable, the US CDC card works almost everywhere in Germany, in France they ask for QR code.

It's funny, Germany for most part will take CDC card, but makes it very easy for foreigners to get EU version. France requires the EU version, but makes you jump through couple hoops and wait forever to get one (if they don't just outright cancel request).

You're right. I just read the post as issue being concerned about going.

In France, you can get around just fine with a CDC card (or any other foreign vax certificate) - I was there late Sept and we had people from the US and South Africa in our party without a QR code and no issues on trains or in restaurants. And we weren't in Paris either. In reality YMMV, but in the week we spent going around the CDC card was not rejected once.

On-topic: at the time, France did not require an entry test. But at check-in in STL the agents were clueless about what was needed to get into France beyond a vax record. They tried to get me to sign an attestation which literally said "for unvaccinated persons". Ultimately I convinced them i'd sort it at the gate in ATL and they gave me my boarding pass.

We went to France in July and got tested just in case but no one asked to see them. DL did ask for our vaccine cards at check in and when we landed at CDG, they checked them as well. At the time unvaccinated people could go in with a test, a friend of mine was able to enter with just the test.

Wow, yea, I butchered that post didn't I?

The key point I was trying to ask about was: If the countries need proof of vaccine rather than negative tests, I should take my CDC card yea? I mean, I'll need it anyway once I get to Germany so it's a moot question really.

I've had co-workers denied access to restaurants without EU PASS. If business is willing to take risk I guess they can accept CDC card. However the rules say need a scannable EU Pass. If not you're supposed to get a PCR test every couple (3 I think) days.

Yep. Although I was merely transiting through CDG last week, they wanted proof of a negative PCR test at the gate before allowing me (or, anyone for that matter) to board. GA made several announcements that everyone needed to check-in and show the negative test ahead of boarding.

Didn't care a lick about the vaccination card.

​
This depends on country flying to. Some require PCR test even if vaccinated to enter.

This is separate from requirement of number of countries to have proof of vaccination or recent PCR test to enter restaurants, etc..

If you don’t bring your CDC how will you show proof of vaccination?

For France (at least for me) it was pretty simply to get a EU digit covid certificate. Mine was done in a day but YMMV. https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/

We are heading there in about 10 days so I was planning on taking my CDC card (if requested when returning from France) as well as a paper printout of the digit covid certificate since a couple of the wineries we are visiting mentioned the certificate was needed for the tour. I would love to hear any recent experience in getting a covid test for re-entry the states as that still seems to be a requirement...

For instance, in France is it pretty fast to get results or can you just get tested then have them email the results? do they have them at the airport (CDG) with a turnaround of less than an hour? We are moving to a new location just about every day so if it requires more than a couple hours we will have to make some space in the itinerary.

Maybe not applicable to the OP, but Italy (just returned on sunday) required the vaccine card frequently, but the CDC card was fine. Pretty much any indoor dining asked for it. Was actually a lot quicker than greenpass, because they just had to glance at it and not scan it in.

Good to know. Heading to Italy tomorrow! Did you have to show proof of negative test along with your CDC card? I have both, but my 72 hour before arrival window is pretty narrow.

Italy requires a negative test to avoid quarantine; in our case, the only check was done by the airline.

Correct, and I totally understand that; however, in ATL they were requiring everyone boarding the flight, regardless of final destination, to show the negative test.

To your 2nd question, yes.

Here's my take.

As a responsible person before I travel I test. I don't have to be told to do so by some regulatory body.

SO for example I am going to Las Vegas next week for a conference. I will test before I leave and a few days after I get back. It's just the right thing to do IMHO

Sounds like an agent that doesn't have a clue.

The EU COVID certificate is all you need. You only need CDC card if have no COVID Pass (based on vaccine, if pass is because you took PCR test in last three days, CDC will be required). I've used the French EU Vaccination certificate to enter multiple EU countries.

Is it pretty easy to find and get a COVID test prior to re-entry into the states?

What location?

You can order a set of 6 test kits from emed.com. They are administered by yourself while a company rep watches via video. Work fine for US and some other countries.

France; Bordeaux area and Paris

Paris no problem. Not familiar with the rest of France.

We were coming from madrid (into florence), so a schengen flight. We didn't have to show a thing, was pretty much a joke the rest of our trip. No plf document check, no covid test check, no vaccine check. Just walked off the plane, collected bags and walked away.

was fairly easy in madrid (for test into italy) but limited sites that I could see on google so we had to walk for 30 minutes or so to the place (could have taken a taxi, but it was a nice morning), and italy was super easy for our test back to USA. You can see the white test tents on the sidewalk all over the city next to pharmacies. 20 bucks, 10 minutes and done.

What I find odd is that Italy will let you enter the country without a negative covid test. You just need to quarantine for 5 days and let their health department know. However, Delta will not let you board the flight without a negative covid test. Maybe a hold over from the covid tested flights they had going earlier.

When did you personally experience entering Italy without a negative covid test and quarantined for 5 days?
Where did you quarantine? What procedure did you use to notify their health department?

I have not personally done it because who wants to go through the hastle. But it is possible according to the Italian web site. http://www.italia.it/en/useful-info/covid-19-updates-information-for-tourists.html

If, on entering Italy, travellers do not present green certification or the negative result of a swab test, they can nevertheless enter the country but will have to undergo fiduciary isolation for 5 days and inform the Prevention Department of the competent area health authority (see page: COVID-19 Toll-free numbers and regional information). After 5 days of isolation, they must perform an additional molecular or antigen test.

Flew to Portugal and Spain last month (LAS-SLC-AMS-LIS then MAD-ATL-LAS). DL required Covid test and verified it at ticket counter AND gate in LAS, then again at the gate in SLC. AMS wanted 3 forms (per website) one of which was also distributed on the flight (but not collected). No one at AMS wanted the form or anything Covid related. On deplaning at LIS, 6 police officers stationed at the end of the jetway wanted passports and vaccination certificates (CDC card was OK). No interest in Covid test.

Hotel wanted vaccination roof at check-in but not interested in Covid test. Weekends after 7 pm required Green Pass (or CDC card) to enter restaurants, bars and malls.

No requirements for train to Porto but hotel in Porto only would look at Green Pass or vaccination certificate, no CDC card. They looked at week old certificate from pre-departure of outbound flight and were OK with that. Porto is much more into following rules than Lisbon but the cab drivers are more honest.

Spain required a form which would produce a QR code for entry to Madrid. No requirements for certificate or test. Air Europa required a Covid test prior to check-in, so that was 30 Euro per person and a 20 minute delay. Only 2 passengers on flight in first so there was no line for Sky Priority.

Entering Spain, everyone was routed to someone with a scanner to verify the QR code, that was it for Covid requirements in Spain. We did use the Abbott BinaxNow test for return to the US. Only required at check-in, but no one wanted to look at anything Covid in the US. New GE machines just use facial recognition, no more passport or fingerprint verification. Very fast but a little creepy. It does work faster than the Clear system, much faster.

Next month is Italy but I did get a Green Pass and a Green Pas Italia so it should be easier to enter and eat. I think I still need a test prior to departure. I now have 8 apps just for Covid tests and Green Passes.

Some places (Egypt) require QR codes for tests. The CommonPass app will pull data from LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics (the 2 labs that CVS and Walgreens use here) and generate a QR code. Once an account is setup with those labs the app will pull the data down and create a QR code. It takes a day longer to have the data available on LabCorp and Quest than the Walgreens and CVS sites. The test results on the Walgreens and CVS test will show what lab did the test. The CommonPass app can't pull data from CVS and Walgreens. So you'll need an access to the test facility AND the lab to get the app to pull data. It currently has 11 test providers.

Because of the time lags, I do a test 3 days before the flight and 2 days before the flight so I will have data available.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...0a953e30b8.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...98ed536a9b.jpg

Just FYI Boarding a flight (Delta/AF) that layovers in the EU but landing in a non-EU country the check-in agent said I should have the physical card or a photocopy, no digital. She then said never-mind as I'm only laying over. So I'm unsure on the layover rules but if you are going there they need to see the physical card OR photocopy which is laughable considering digital is the same. To twist it up even more, My friend flying United/Partner digital card was fine no questions asked with an EU layover.

I traveled just at the end of August where my digital copy was fine to use around Paris or a negative test.