Andriyko

Thank you very much for your reply!

I am really confused though. I just checked the 'Visa, Health & Passport' section on Expertflyer and it says:

Important: Passengers and airline crew transiting through Poland must have
negative COVID-19 test in English or Polish taken at most 24 hours
before departure.

Iatatravelcentre has the same information :-(

I really don't want to find out at check in that we need tests.

megaloman

Yes, it's very confusing and I expect many angry travellers refused for travel without test, even though it's not required.

As I understand there's no requirement to test if you're in non-Schengen to non-Schengen transit - according to law update written in Polish test is not required to fly, it's only required to cross the border. That's the reason for a mobile testing unit in non-Schengen zone. gov.pl pages in English have incorrect information that test is required 24h before departure. Since rapid antigen test is accepted, I'd do one before travel. I'll definitely do one for my flight to Poland next week.

Here's the information timatic has for pax flying UK to PL:

So if you don't have a negative test, you need to quarantine for 14 days (8 days if you a PCR on day 8).

Andriyko

From what I can understand in Polish, the Decree does talk about those entering Poland, which we won't be doing.

megaloman

Yes, exactly. My point and worry is - some airlines may refuse to check-in pax without the negative test result...

Andriyko

I don't know who wrote these rules for TIMATIC. If I check the rules for entering Poland from the USA it says that the passenger will be subject to a 14 days quarantine without a negative test, and nothing about a test being mandatory to enter. But transit requirements talk about the mandatory test.

megaloman

The rules on gov.pl site are correct in Polish, but incorrect in English. I guess whoever updated timatic, based them on English version. The decree is written in the way that update to one paragraph says tests are required to cross the border, but in another it says that if you don't have one - you have to quarantine.

To me the whole requirement of test to cross the border is a silly idea. Negative test result should be required prior to travel - to rule out pax that may be spreading the virus. With current rules, you can be sick, fly for 24h to Poland and test positive on arrival - you've probably infected dozen or more around you who tested negative and would've tested negative at that point, but will be come infectious later and spread the virus. Whoever wrote this update has no clue what they're doing.

hugolover

I agree, it would make sense to have the rule of no test to fly for Polish nationals and those with residence, to ensure the destitute can return home.

However they’re probably just following their own science; as the science differs from country to country on the subject of Coronavirus.

Andriyko

NOTAM says that only those who enter Poland must either have a test or quarantine. I don't understand why TIMATIC says otherwise.

https://www.ulc.gov.pl/_download/2021/notam_15_12.pdf

megaloman

hugolover

You won’t cross the border, you won’t need a test. When I’ve done NS to NS, I’ve had no contact with the Straz Graniczna.

Andriyko

I agree that this is what the rules say, what concerns me is that Timatic says otherwise and airlines rely upon Timatic.

hugolover

Not every station uses Timatic. Many use traveldoc.aero

Even with these changes, Poland has some of the most generous entry requirements of any European country for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers. Considering they will accept *any* test, you could easily do a cheap home LFT while you're in NYC using any number of providers, including many mentioned here on Flyertalk. Put a few in your bag. No need to visit a clinic. A few dollars for peace of mind?

If you get a positive result it would be irresponsible to travel anyway, and I am sure while you're in the US you'e inclined to do regular testing, to ensure you're not spreading the deadly variant to others. At this time of year, many people are taking tests to ensure they don't infect vulnerable loved ones as recommended by public health bodies.

Andriyko

Which also contains incorrect information.

'All passengers must hold a negative Covid-19 test result obtained within 24 hours prior to departure.' The regulation says 24 hours prior to crossing the border.

hugolover

Not surprising for something that has been pointed out is even wrong on the Polish governments own EN site .

Hopefully you’ve got plenty of notice and can be prepared for anything thanks to the replies you’ve received here.

fifty_two

True , especially if you come from non schengen ....

Really ?? i wasnt aware of it

Yeah , the boarder agents in charge of controling covid docs are based upstairs after passport control , right before the stairs to go to departure or luggage delivery

Yeap , on one hand if not the rules of the airline (which can superseed the laws) , then it might be because of checkin agent not aware of the laws of every country where people go or pass through , or timatic/traveldoc not yet updated