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Old Apr 21, 2021, 12:42 pm
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Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United Customers Can Now Schedule COVID Tests and be Automatically Cleared for Travel Directly through the Travel-Ready Center

United's industry-leading digital platform gets even more useful with the ability to schedule tests and have results directly verified through United's Travel-Ready Center on web and mobile[
Testing sites located in United's hub cities of Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, Los Angeles, and San Francisco with expansion to Denver, Washington D.C., and international cities in the coming weeks

Photos(1)

CHICAGO, April 21, 2021
-- Since the Travel-Ready Center launched in January, United customers have been able to easily access testing or vaccine requirements needed for travel destinations, upload completed testing results and vaccine records as well as have them verified, all within the United App. Today, the industry-leading digital platform gets even better as customers can now choose from more than 200 COVID-19 testing providers across the country, book appointments and receive confirmation whether their test results meet their destination's requirements. Once the test is validated, customers will see a status indicator informing them that they are "travel-ready" and receive their mobile boarding pass. United is the only airline that offers its customers these services as part of an integrated experience within its app and website and since launch, the airline has processed more than 275,000 COVID-19 tests through the Travel-Ready Center.



"We continue to look for innovative solutions that make travel easier and safer for our customers and employees," said United's Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist. "This new feature enables customers to travel with confidence knowing they can quickly locate a testing provider if they need one, schedule an appointment and get the results they need – all within the United Travel-Ready Center experience."

United customers will have access to more than 200 testing sites in the TrustAssure network, including testing sites within United's hubs of Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as those located at many drug store and pharmacy chains. In the weeks and months ahead, the airline plans to expand availability to more U.S. cities, and add access to international testing sites for customers flying to the U.S. This process was designed with privacy in mind so that limited personal data is involved.

This new and updated ability to schedule a COVID-19 test and upload results directly within the Travel-Ready Center is just one of the many industry-first solutions United has introduced to make travel easier and safer during the pandemic. United was the first airline to offer COVID-19 tests to customers traveling from San Francisco to Hawaii, and the first to launch a free transatlantic COVID-19 testing pilot program for customers traveling from Newark to London. United also was the first domestic airline to require customers to perform a self-health assessment prior to flying.
United Launches Industry-Exclusive Technology to Ease the Burden of COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

United's "Travel-Ready Center" will allow customers to upload and validate test results, review local entry requirements, find testing providers, and store vaccination records - all in the United app and United.com

CHICAGO, Jan. 25, 2021
United Airlines today launched the "Travel-Ready Center" - a new, digital solution where customers can review COVID-19 entry requirements, find local testing options and upload any required testing and vaccination records for domestic and international travel, all in one place. United is the first airline to integrate all these features into its mobile app and website.

"While pre-travel testing and documentation are key to safely reopening global travel, we know it can be confusing for customers when they're preparing for a flight," said Linda Jojo, Executive Vice President for Technology and Chief Digital Officer, United. "Starting today, our 'Travel-Ready Center' gives customers a personalized, step-by-step guide of what is needed for their trip, a simple way to upload required documents and quickly get their boarding pass, fully integrated within our app and website."




In the weeks and months ahead, United will add more innovative, industry-first features to the Travel-Ready Center platform to make navigating evolving entry requirements even easier. United customers will soon be able to:
  • Schedule a COVID-19 test at one of more than 15,000 testing sites around the world, right from the app or website.
  • Access the recently launched "Agent on Demand", a United-exclusive feature that gives customers the ability to video chat live with a customer service agent to answer any questions about pre-travel requirements or documentation.
  • View details about visa requirements for the countries they plan to visit.
Customers with an active reservation can access the Travel-Ready Center through the "My Trips" section of the United App and on united.com. The Travel-Ready Center will provide tailored details on requirements for all travelers 18 and older on a customer's itinerary, with status indicators noting if they are travel-ready based on specific requirements each individual needs to meet in order to board their flight, including any additional requirements for connecting flights. Documents uploaded by a passenger will be reviewed by designated personnel for verification. The individual status indicators for each passenger will then note whether they are "travel ready" and they will be allowed to complete the check-in process. Customers should still plan to bring the physical documents to the airport in case further inspection is needed along their journey.
United Customers Can Now Access 3,000 COVID Testing Locations at Albertson Companies and Walmart Through Airline's Mobile App and Website
Airline's digital channels now offer customers easy access to more than 3,000 testing locations via Accenture and CLX Health's TrustAssure™ Platform integration
Customers can book appointments and have test results directly validated on United's mobile app and website to be cleared for travel
Photos(1)

CHICAGO, Aug. 19, 2021
Starting today, United customers can access even more COVID testing locations, including more than 3,000 new Walmart and Albertson Companies locations across the U.S., through the airline's website and mobile app in the Travel Ready Center. Customers can now easily book COVID-19 testing appointments at more than 3,800 total testing providers powered by Accenture technology and the CLX Health's TrustAssure™ network and have their results delivered within 4 to 48 hours of their test and directly submitted to United's website and mobile app to be reviewed for their flight.



United remains the only airline that gives customers destination-specific travel requirements and the ability to upload country-specific required forms, testing results and vaccination records, all within the United App and on United.com. To date, nearly 3.3 million vaccination records, test results and destination entry forms have been submitted through United's online platforms.

"United continues to deliver solutions that make it simple for customers to understand and meet all testing and vaccination requirements directly through our award-winning digital channels," said Linda Jojo, United's executive vice president for technology and Chief Digital Officer. "As more Americans resume international travel, this enhancement to our mobile app and website will give our customers confidence and peace-of mind knowing they have access to all of the information and services they need right in the palm of their hand or on their laptop."

Through United's Travel Ready Center, customers can view a list of localized, eligible COVID testing locations, now including select Albertsons Companies and Walmart locations, as well as additional popular drug store, pharmacy chains, and local healthcare providers across the country. Customers can then select their preferred location and schedule an appointment directly through United's website and mobile app. Once the test is reviewed, customers will see a status indicator informing them that they are "travel-ready" and can receive their mobile boarding pass. The airline plans to continue to expand its offering, including adding international testing sites for customers flying to the U.S. This process was designed with privacy in mind so that limited personal data is involved.

"At Albertsons Companies, we are always seeking convenient solutions for our customers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our partnership with United Airlines, to provide access to pre-travel COVID testing, is just another example of this intent," said Omer Gajial, Albertsons Companies SVP of Pharmacy and Health. "With our integrated testing solution, our customers can easily schedule their COVID-19 test at one of our convenient store locations, and results are seamlessly and confidentially delivered to United Airlines."

"Our TrustAssure™ platform was engineered to deliver a compliant, clinically sound, state of the art solution that leverages interoperability to thousands of COVID testing locations around the world," said Joseph Gonzalez, Chief Strategy Officer for CLX Health. "The domestic expansion of our TrustAssure network of premier national retail partners supporting COVID-19 testing, including Albertsons and Walmart locations in the United States, will provide travelers a multitude of choices virtually anywhere in the country to help them meet their travel requirements."

"Together with United, Albertsons and Walmart, we innovated at speed and scale to help implement a solution for United's customers, creating a system designed to give them greater support and confidence to navigate the new complexities introduced as a result of COVID-19," said Emily Weiss, global lead of Accenture's Travel industry group. "We are proud to help with this effort and provide a solution to make meeting travel requirements easier for customers as they continue to resume flying domestically and internationally."

Today's news is the latest initiative the airline has introduced in recent months to make travel easier for customers who need proof of a negative COVID-19 test. United was the first to set up an easy way for international travelers to bring a CDC-approved test with them, self-administer while abroad, and return home through an innovative collaboration with Abbott. United was also the first airline to offer COVID-19 tests to customers traveling from San Francisco to Hawaii, and the first to launch a free transatlantic COVID-19 testing pilot program for customers traveling from Newark to London.
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UA's "Travel Ready Center" - Q&A, issues,....

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Old Jan 25, 2021, 9:05 am
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UA's "Travel Ready Center" - Q&A, issues,....

https://apple.news/AWETurX_PQI-G2rx4PqomsQ


Note: When posting a link to external source a snippet or summary is required by FT Rules, since the above site has limited access, the following is from United Hub
United Launches Industry-Exclusive Technology to Ease the Burden of COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

United's "Travel-Ready Center" will allow customers to upload and validate test results, review local entry requirements, find testing providers, and store vaccination records - all in the United app and United.com

CHICAGO, Jan. 25, 2021
United Airlines today launched the "Travel-Ready Center" - a new, digital solution where customers can review COVID-19 entry requirements, find local testing options and upload any required testing and vaccination records for domestic and international travel, all in one place. United is the first airline to integrate all these features into its mobile app and website.

"While pre-travel testing and documentation are key to safely reopening global travel, we know it can be confusing for customers when they're preparing for a flight," said Linda Jojo, Executive Vice President for Technology and Chief Digital Officer, United. "Starting today, our 'Travel-Ready Center' gives customers a personalized, step-by-step guide of what is needed for their trip, a simple way to upload required documents and quickly get their boarding pass, fully integrated within our app and website."




In the weeks and months ahead, United will add more innovative, industry-first features to the Travel-Ready Center platform to make navigating evolving entry requirements even easier. United customers will soon be able to:
  • Schedule a COVID-19 test at one of more than 15,000 testing sites around the world, right from the app or website.
  • Access the recently launched "Agent on Demand", a United-exclusive feature that gives customers the ability to video chat live with a customer service agent to answer any questions about pre-travel requirements or documentation.
  • View details about visa requirements for the countries they plan to visit.
Customers with an active reservation can access the Travel-Ready Center through the "My Trips" section of the United App and on united.com. The Travel-Ready Center will provide tailored details on requirements for all travelers 18 and older on a customer's itinerary, with status indicators noting if they are travel-ready based on specific requirements each individual needs to meet in order to board their flight, including any additional requirements for connecting flights. Documents uploaded by a passenger will be reviewed by designated personnel for verification. The individual status indicators for each passenger will then note whether they are "travel ready" and they will be allowed to complete the check-in process. Customers should still plan to bring the physical documents to the airport in case further inspection is needed along their journey.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; Apr 21, 2021 at 12:41 pm Reason: content included per FT Rules
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Old Jan 25, 2021, 9:31 am
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Here's a link to the United Hub page instead: https://hub.united.com/2021-01-25-un...650128983.html

Basically, it looks like they're trying to redesign their TIMATIC integration so that fewer people will have to post the threads that we've seen about having to do last-minute reroutes due to not being allowed to fly.
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Old Jan 25, 2021, 10:06 am
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I think this is a great service... if they offered it before booking. I need to travel a ton, and have been holding off. Looking at it, it looks like I need to make a booking first before seeing what are the requirements. Not sure why they wouldnt open it up.
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Old Jan 25, 2021, 10:28 am
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Originally Posted by nyr2299
I think this is a great service... if they offered it before booking. I need to travel a ton, and have been holding off. Looking at it, it looks like I need to make a booking first before seeing what are the requirements. Not sure why they wouldn't open it up.
Suspect the need for a complete itin to provide accurate guidance. Many don't use TIMATIC (correctly) due to extensive information required to use, so using a booking makes this tool easier to use. Perhaps UA will add an alternative TIMATIC-like front end as an option in the future.
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Old Jan 25, 2021, 10:38 am
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Originally Posted by nyr2299
I think this is a great service... if they offered it before booking. I need to travel a ton, and have been holding off. Looking at it, it looks like I need to make a booking first before seeing what are the requirements. Not sure why they wouldnt open it up.
UA maintains a "See what's open for travel" page with COVID-specific entry requirements, for both within the US and global travel. https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...tions-map.html
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Old Jan 25, 2021, 10:41 am
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An e-ticket not only means that the UA interface with TIMATIC has routing (and timing where that matters for transit), but it also likely has other data which can be used to fill in or at least request citizenship & residency.

One thing that UA could do is to offer a "logged in" version of the TIMATIC UI and to offer the customer the ability to store the personal data required to obtain an accurate TIMATIC readout.

Nonetheless, given the COC provision making the passenger exclusively responsible for meeting documentation requirements, I would still not travel without checking the full TIMATIC, although I do recognize as a US national, residing in the US and generally departing from the US, that this is an easier task than for many.
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Old Jan 26, 2021, 8:16 pm
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This has been loaded on the latest version of the app, but still has some bugs to work out, it seems. Have an overnight trip out to Vegas, back the next day, but the tool is telling me my origin and destination are one in the same. Ok...may be a flight to nowhere #jinx but I am going to ask for ORC...haha
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Old Jan 27, 2021, 11:10 am
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I tried it. Uploaded test results and I was impressed that an agent reviewed and approved it within 15min and said 'travel ready'. Then this morning, it reverted back to 'requirements pending' asking me to upload again. Guess there are still a few bugs to work out. They claim doing it will save time at the airport checking in. I guess I should upload mine shortly before heading to the airport.

Travel center also has an option for uploading tests for the return flight even though it begins on a different carrier. I assume it doesn't forward the test to the carrier.
I'm not sure if this is related but I also have been getting reminder emails from UA.
It got one for the outbound worded like, 'test required X days/hours prior to XXX-YYY flight' 'test needed no earlier than DATE'
But then I got an email for my return layover airport listing it as a 'destination' even though there is no testing requirement and it gave a date as if I were going there on my outbound.
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Last edited by eng3; Jan 27, 2021 at 11:31 am
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Old Jan 28, 2021, 7:52 am
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For those wondering how to access this, go to an existing travel itinerary >> View Details and then scroll down. Shows for domestic reservations as well as international
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Old Jan 28, 2021, 10:35 am
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Yay, more red tape in order to fly.
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Old Jan 28, 2021, 11:05 am
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Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan
Yay, more red tape in order to fly.
I think it is intended to speed things up at the airport by allow you to get things checked prior.
It is completely optional so there is no MORE red tape.
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Old Feb 4, 2021, 8:13 am
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So I just used this both going to LHR and returning from FRA. In both cases, I uploaded the documents, they were "approved" within 15min. A few times, the status disappeared and I had to re-upload.
At EWR, I still couldn't get a BP until an agent reviewed my paperwork.
For the return, my first carrier was a different airline and I was able to check-in, but before arriving at the gate, I still had to get the documents reviewed again.
Also, after it said I was "travel ready", I still got a txt asking me to signup for a video appt with an agent to go over my paperwork. I just ignored it.

So from what I can tell, the 'travel ready' center doesn't do anything to save time at the airport.
Perhaps, it's just an early EXTRA check to try to catch issues so you don't run into a problem at the airport when it's too late to change anything.
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Old Feb 4, 2021, 8:27 am
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Correct.

There is close to zero chance that any carrier transporting passengers internationally will board a passenger without having reviewed all required docs. Whether paper or electronic. Passport, visa, test results, affirmations. Whatever it is.
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Old Feb 4, 2021, 1:43 pm
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Originally Posted by Often1
Correct.

There is close to zero chance that any carrier transporting passengers internationally will board a passenger without having reviewed all required docs. Whether paper or electronic. Passport, visa, test results, affirmations. Whatever it is.
Correct, I don't think anyone is suggesting that the "Travel Ready Center" means that UA will skip reviewing required docs. In fact, that is the whole point of this new product. The difference is that UA advertises that it is supposed to let you complete check-in and get your BP faster, but thus far it has no effect. It should work the same as the passport check they have had for years where you upload your passport info and then you are able to get your BP and skip the check-in counter. Right now it pretty much serves no purpose. Your documents could get "approved' through the "travel ready center" but in the end its up to the Check-in and Gate agent's individual opinion.
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Old Feb 12, 2021, 3:19 am
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Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Suspect the need for a complete itin to provide accurate guidance. Many don't use TIMATIC (correctly) due to extensive information required to use, so using a booking makes this tool easier to use. Perhaps UA will add an alternative TIMATIC-like front end as an option in the future.
It isn't reflecting accurate data for my upcoming flight. It indicates I need relevant docs dated 72 hours from departure of my NRT->BKK flight. Everything I have seen indicates needs to be within 72 hours of first originating flight, CVG->EWR.
I called United and they concur that the first originating flight is what starts the clock. Something still isn't correct on their back-end that systematically looks at these things.

Originally Posted by eng3
Correct, I don't think anyone is suggesting that the "Travel Ready Center" means that UA will skip reviewing required docs. In fact, that is the whole point of this new product. The difference is that UA advertises that it is supposed to let you complete check-in and get your BP faster, but thus far it has no effect. It should work the same as the passport check they have had for years where you upload your passport info and then you are able to get your BP and skip the check-in counter. Right now it pretty much serves no purpose. Your documents could get "approved' through the "travel ready center" but in the end its up to the Check-in and Gate agent's individual opinion.
Thanks for this. I was wondering if it was worth uploading everything to United. Sounds like it is not.


Anyone know on connecting itins where the major document check happens? When I first check in (at CVG), or when I board first international fight (EWR-NRT). Or likely both....? Haha
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