Emirates COVID test and other questions
#841
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The Indo Jungle
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,319
Ive flown EK to the US several times with an Antigen test. There are a few originating countries where Dubai transit requires PCR but Indonesia is not one. That said, I’d confirm that Indonesian airports don’t require PCR. I know Iraq isn’t in the same league, but that’s an example where you need PCR just to enter the airport, but once you’re in you can use antigen with your airline. But EK won’t be a problem, based on both their rules and past precedent.
#842
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,014
If flying SFO-FRA-DXB do I need a PCR test within 72 hours of departure from my FRA-DXB LH flight or is within 72 hours of the SFO-FRA UA flight enough?
The UA Travel Documentation Center seems to want a test result within 72 hours of departure from the FRA-DXB flight, which means about a day less to get test results in SFO.
Is it 72 hours from FRA-DXB or from when starting the whole journey? EK website is not very clear.
The UA Travel Documentation Center seems to want a test result within 72 hours of departure from the FRA-DXB flight, which means about a day less to get test results in SFO.
Is it 72 hours from FRA-DXB or from when starting the whole journey? EK website is not very clear.
#843
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,471
It must be within 72 hours of your last direct flight to DXB.
I had booked a colleague on QR, LHR-DOH-DXB and they were refused boarding at the airport because the pcr would be outside the 72 hours for the DOH-DXB departure.
#844
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,014
I learned this the hard way, it is 72 hours from your FRA-DXB flight.
It must be within 72 hours of your last direct flight to DXB.
I had booked a colleague on QR, LHR-DOH-DXB and they were refused boarding at the airport because the pcr would be outside the 72 hours for the DOH-DXB departure.
It must be within 72 hours of your last direct flight to DXB.
I had booked a colleague on QR, LHR-DOH-DXB and they were refused boarding at the airport because the pcr would be outside the 72 hours for the DOH-DXB departure.
#846
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,471
Rules for travel from France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland
Effective 31 October 2021 and until further notice, all passengers travelling to Dubai from France, Germany, Spain, or Switzerland will be accepted for travel if they meet the following conditions:- Present a negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure
- Present a vaccination certificate for vaccination administered in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland or the United Arab Emirates
#847
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 848
Anyone travel from India to Canada via Emirates/Dubai recently? When booking online it won't let you book straight through with a few hours transit in Dubai, presumably due to the Canadian rule that you need a test outside India, and Dubai presumably does not have a facility to provide a pcr test in time to allow transit, unlike Etihad with its six hour transit time. I don't mind stopping over one day in Dubai as a result. Is the PCR test taken on arrival in Dubai sufficient for presenting the next day to board the flight to Toronto? Or do we need to take another test at a facility in Dubai? Thanks.
#848
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 866
Anyone travel from India to Canada via Emirates/Dubai recently? When booking online it won't let you book straight through with a few hours transit in Dubai, presumably due to the Canadian rule that you need a test outside India, and Dubai presumably does not have a facility to provide a pcr test in time to allow transit, unlike Etihad with its six hour transit time. I don't mind stopping over one day in Dubai as a result. Is the PCR test taken on arrival in Dubai sufficient for presenting the next day to board the flight to Toronto? Or do we need to take another test at a facility in Dubai? Thanks.
In regards to arrival test, yes, it can be used for onwards travel as long as its valid in time (in your case yes as you fly the next day). Its a PCR test, download the Purehealth app and it lets you generate the certificate for a negative test, the QR code linked website did not work well for me when I tried to get a certificate for checkin. They say results are in 6-8 hours, at present there is also a stand closer to the immigration counter for PCR testing for Expo where results will be within 4 hours, just be aware its supposed to be for the unvacinated as if you are vacinated you dont need a PCR test.
#849
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7
Seems for unknown reasons emirates are no longer allowing antigen tests for flights to the US anymore. Makes no sense as latest CDC policy still allows for antigen tests and Emirates is requiring PCR tests done within a day (downright impossible in many corners of the world). Anyone managed to get aboard a emirates flight to the US these few days with just an antigen test?
#850
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,517
Seems for unknown reasons emirates are no longer allowing antigen tests for flights to the US anymore. Makes no sense as latest CDC policy still allows for antigen tests and Emirates is requiring PCR tests done within a day (downright impossible in many corners of the world). Anyone managed to get aboard a emirates flight to the US these few days with just an antigen test?
#851
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 7
thanks, it makes more sense now. Not sure what was driving the self concocted 1 day PCR requirement in the first place, which still remain in force for direct departures out of Dxb
#852
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The Indo Jungle
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,319
This is what Emirates Jakarta sent me when I had asked last Friday 10 Dec about requirements. I assume this is the guideline that agents have re: travel to the USA. No issue showing Antigen to board.
#853
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 110
usa test requirements
i got some conflicting info - got this email and it says antigen not accepted and i confirmed at that time with the emirates.com website but a few hours later they updated website to the following
which states antigen is accepted if transiting through dubai. i called emirates and the person that answered read it together with me and tried to say only if connecting in athens or milo an but i pointed our “or transiting through dubai”. then she said says “rapid testing not valid if in transit to dubai” but i pointed out it says in line before just means needs to be done at point of departure eg can’t do it on the plane or in dubai. anyone have any comments eg denied boarding because i took some emed binaxnow tests with me before i left for the maldives and resort charges $200 per person for pcr which is a waste if not necessary
which states antigen is accepted if transiting through dubai. i called emirates and the person that answered read it together with me and tried to say only if connecting in athens or milo an but i pointed our “or transiting through dubai”. then she said says “rapid testing not valid if in transit to dubai” but i pointed out it says in line before just means needs to be done at point of departure eg can’t do it on the plane or in dubai. anyone have any comments eg denied boarding because i took some emed binaxnow tests with me before i left for the maldives and resort charges $200 per person for pcr which is a waste if not necessary
#854
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 157
i got some conflicting info - got this email and it says antigen not accepted and i confirmed at that time with the emirates.com website but a few hours later they updated website to the following
which states antigen is accepted if transiting through dubai. i called emirates and the person that answered read it together with me and tried to say only if connecting in athens or milo an but i pointed our “or transiting through dubai”. then she said says “rapid testing not valid if in transit to dubai” but i pointed out it says in line before just means needs to be done at point of departure eg can’t do it on the plane or in dubai. anyone have any comments eg denied boarding because i took some emed binaxnow tests with me before i left for the maldives and resort charges $200 per person for pcr which is a waste if not necessary
which states antigen is accepted if transiting through dubai. i called emirates and the person that answered read it together with me and tried to say only if connecting in athens or milo an but i pointed our “or transiting through dubai”. then she said says “rapid testing not valid if in transit to dubai” but i pointed out it says in line before just means needs to be done at point of departure eg can’t do it on the plane or in dubai. anyone have any comments eg denied boarding because i took some emed binaxnow tests with me before i left for the maldives and resort charges $200 per person for pcr which is a waste if not necessary
#855
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 8
How strictly is Emirates enforcing the RT-PCR vs standard PCR testing requirement on DXB bound flights (from USA)? We missed the note that a RT-PCR is required and got PCR tests and are now scrambling to find options for RT-PCR in NYC (which seems like everything is booked up).
EDIT: It's worth noting that most places do RT-PCR at this point, but sometimes it's not included in the results, which is what I'm worried about. We'll be getting our results fairly last second due to overstrained testing facilities in NYC.
EDIT: It's worth noting that most places do RT-PCR at this point, but sometimes it's not included in the results, which is what I'm worried about. We'll be getting our results fairly last second due to overstrained testing facilities in NYC.
Last edited by dangeruss; Dec 22, 2021 at 1:09 pm