Covid Testing for UK Travel - London Based Travellers
Oct 6, 2021, 3:53 pm
#166
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SNA
Programs: UA LT Plat, 2.5mm, Hilton LTD, SPG LT Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Whatever
Posts: 161
I am flying from USA to UK on Friday of this week, arriving Saturday. I realise i have to order the day 2 test now. Can the results of the day 2 test be used as proof of negative test for the return to the US? I'm dual citizen and am fully vaccinated.
Oct 6, 2021, 4:54 pm
#167
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
You are not the first to have ordered the wrong Randox kit I seem to recall. When things go right with Randox it can be good, but expect zero customer service when it goes wrong. Unfortunately in your case there is no chargeback route as you got the kit you ordered. Day 2 testing for my family holiday in August ended up free after the chargeback against Randox went through - no results ever received. I just used the contact form on the Randox web site rather than wasting my time calling. A couple of those without response was enough to justify the chargeback to Halifax.
Oct 6, 2021, 6:33 pm
#168
Join Date: May 2008
Location: "the world is my country"
Programs: Alaska 100K (aka OWS)
Posts: 811
You DO need a test to return to the US, but not specifically for the PLF. Your airline will request it to meet US entry requirements (as of now). On my recent flight over the weekend, am finding that Verifly is used at LHR much more readily than it was two months ago.
Oct 6, 2021, 11:42 pm
#169
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
Yes, so long as the test provider gives you the certificate/paperwork needed to show it. Some companies do not give a test certificate as they want to sell you another test.
Oct 7, 2021, 7:49 am
#170
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: outside NYC
Programs: HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 80
Does anyone know a convenient location for the Day 2 test close to the Conrad London St James?
Edit: I went with Randox, they have a drop-off location at the Southbank Center
Edit: I went with Randox, they have a drop-off location at the Southbank Center
Last edited by mrgoodkat; Oct 15, 2021 at 2:39 pm
Oct 7, 2021, 5:45 pm
#171
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SNA
Programs: UA LT Plat, 2.5mm, Hilton LTD, SPG LT Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Whatever
Posts: 161
Thank you. I think I'm pretty much resigned to doing both in case I don't get my results back in time for my return flight on Wednesday.
P.S. this was supposed to be a response to DaveS but it doesn't show up as that.
P.S. this was supposed to be a response to DaveS but it doesn't show up as that.
Oct 14, 2021, 3:47 pm
#172
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 608
Arrived to UK on Saturday, 9th of October. I had unused Expert Medicals kit collecting dust, which I planned to use as my day 2 test. PLF accepted their booking reference, all good so far. I planned to do the test on Monday (11th of Oct) morning and drop it into priority post box on my way to work. But when I tried to activate the kit I got very informative "activation error" and request to email Expert Medicals. Which I did immediately and took test kit with me to work.
There was no answer to my email so tried calling two available numbers several times. Didn't even get busy tone, just rapid beeping, like the lines were disconnected. Around lunchtime I called NHS 119 for advice, as I was supposed to do the test by the end of the day. Their advice was to do the test and post it to Expert Medicals without activation and then wait if I get the result.
Tried calling EM one more time after 4pm and to my amazement call was connected. After about 20-25 minutes on the queue I finally spoke to an agent. He asked for my booking reference and test kit barcode number, after some tapping on the keyboard he said that I have a wrong barcode
He then told me to take a pen, cross out barcode number and write new one on the same label.
Bit sceptical I went to activate the kit and it worked. Performed the test and dropped it into priority post box just after 5pm. Royal Mail showed delivery at 13:38 on 12th of October and the result (negative) was emailed today (14th of October) 22:07.
There was no answer to my email so tried calling two available numbers several times. Didn't even get busy tone, just rapid beeping, like the lines were disconnected. Around lunchtime I called NHS 119 for advice, as I was supposed to do the test by the end of the day. Their advice was to do the test and post it to Expert Medicals without activation and then wait if I get the result.
Tried calling EM one more time after 4pm and to my amazement call was connected. After about 20-25 minutes on the queue I finally spoke to an agent. He asked for my booking reference and test kit barcode number, after some tapping on the keyboard he said that I have a wrong barcode
He then told me to take a pen, cross out barcode number and write new one on the same label.Bit sceptical I went to activate the kit and it worked. Performed the test and dropped it into priority post box just after 5pm. Royal Mail showed delivery at 13:38 on 12th of October and the result (negative) was emailed today (14th of October) 22:07.
Oct 14, 2021, 5:43 pm
#173
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SNA
Programs: UA LT Plat, 2.5mm, Hilton LTD, SPG LT Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Whatever
Posts: 161
Kit was at my brother's house
Took test on Monday but I think I missed the cutoff for outgoing mail
Took rapid result test for 69 pounds at 11:40 am Tuesday
Got rapid test result at 6:30pm Tuesday
No problems flying back to States with negative result documentation
It's Thursday evening in the USA - GMT-8 and I haven't received the results of Day 2 test yet
Oct 16, 2021, 11:57 am
#174
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
So I guess now the search for the cheapest Day 2 lateral flow test begins.
My understanding is the government will release their “approved” list on the 22nd of Oct. Does anyone know if the provider has to be “approved”?
My understanding is the government will release their “approved” list on the 22nd of Oct. Does anyone know if the provider has to be “approved”?
Oct 17, 2021, 5:23 am
#176
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,658
There is a self declaration process that the provider must go through. They declare that they have various procedures in place and so on. The guidance is here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/testing-...ional-arrivals
It was updated a few days ago.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/testing-...ional-arrivals
It was updated a few days ago.
Oct 17, 2021, 5:08 pm
#177
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 398
Does anyone know if PCR tests will still be allowed for day 2 UK return post-24th October? I already have a day 2 PCR test booked & paid for (with the all-important code for the UK passenger form). So would prefer to still use this, rather than have to buy an additional lateral flow test!
Oct 17, 2021, 5:20 pm
#178
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,997
Does anyone know if PCR tests will still be allowed for day 2 UK return post-24th October? I already have a day 2 PCR test booked & paid for (with the all-important code for the UK passenger form). So would prefer to still use this, rather than have to buy an additional lateral flow test!
Oct 17, 2021, 5:43 pm
#179
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 398
Oct 18, 2021, 5:38 am
#180
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CGK
Programs: Starwood PLATINUM, BA GOLD, KrisFlyer Blue, GFF Silver, BATS After Work Club, Emirates Silver
Posts: 391
Does anyone know if you need a PCR to leave the UK? When I travel back to Indonesia from LHR in November I will need a PCR test to show the Indonesian authorities, but I am wondering if there is also a requirement for one to enter LHR (and whether those requirements might be different from the Indonesian requirements), in which case I would need 2 PCRs instead of one. I've never had a PCR test before but I've heard they can have different sensivities etc.