Covid Testing for UK Travel - London Based Travellers
Aug 12, 2021, 6:39 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
I just want to add my thoughts on using Qured rapid tests for my pre-departure test back to the UK.
They cost 39 GBP, however, you can get them for 33 GBP with BA discount code - I don't think you need to fly BA to use this.
I've used them 3 times so far, and generally it has been pretty good. The test itself and video chat takes about 10-15 mins max, and then you email them a photo of the result and I've always gotten a certificate back within an hour.
The issues people need to just take into consideration are the following:
- Order at least 5 days before you travel, it can take 3 - 4 working days for the test kit to get to you
- Allow your self an extra 20 - 30 mins "wait time", sometimes there is a delay when waiting for an advisor to do the video call
- Booking a slot: Try and book one soon, even if it is not your most preferred time slot, but keep checking back. I've often seen new slots open up on a daily basis.
For an antigen test, I still think 33 GBP is a little expensive and will look for other options, but this is a service that seems to work well and I've had no issues with the certificate before boarding a flight.
They cost 39 GBP, however, you can get them for 33 GBP with BA discount code - I don't think you need to fly BA to use this.
I've used them 3 times so far, and generally it has been pretty good. The test itself and video chat takes about 10-15 mins max, and then you email them a photo of the result and I've always gotten a certificate back within an hour.
The issues people need to just take into consideration are the following:
- Order at least 5 days before you travel, it can take 3 - 4 working days for the test kit to get to you
- Allow your self an extra 20 - 30 mins "wait time", sometimes there is a delay when waiting for an advisor to do the video call
- Booking a slot: Try and book one soon, even if it is not your most preferred time slot, but keep checking back. I've often seen new slots open up on a daily basis.
For an antigen test, I still think 33 GBP is a little expensive and will look for other options, but this is a service that seems to work well and I've had no issues with the certificate before boarding a flight.
But my default is Chronomics.
Aug 12, 2021, 7:18 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
I'm actually planning to go to GVA soon, and I saw on the GVA website that they do free antigen/rapid tests? Is this correct by any chance?
Aug 12, 2021, 10:49 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,996
Used Qured for the pre-departure to home test. Far from the cheapest, and the appointment booking process was a bit cranky but otherwise was really impressed with them. Results back in a nice certificate within 20mins of emailing a snap of the completed test. Would happily use again for the peace of mind.
Aug 12, 2021, 2:41 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Aug 12, 2021, 3:09 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 608
So could be worse lol. Don't know if anyone is using them and if someone is then why....
Aug 12, 2021, 3:49 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Aug 13, 2021, 3:51 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,850
Finally booked a flight back to the UK from Germany and need to prebook a Day 2 test. Trying to identify a reliable, but not expensive, home test (flying into NCL).
Slight digression: my first impression is wow, this is a needlessly complicated mess. 430 different providers, "prices from" that don't match the actual prices. I can understand the need to draft in private providers for capacity, but does HMG serious expect the vasty most people to (quoting the website) "Do your own research (for example, read reviews) about available providers, the tests they supply and their terms and conditions" with this number of possibilities? It seems ripe for confusion, buck-passing, and profiteering.
Would it be so hard to have mandated a specific set of requirements for each kind fo required test, and invited tenders that match them for a specified price? And (wishful thinking) perhaps even built a centralised ordering website on Gov.UK to avoid confusion and wasted time?
Anyhow, back to topic:
I would appreciate the consensus on what is the best option for travelling in just over a week - I've seen Expert Medicals up-thread, and I remember corporate-wage-slave suggesting a different provider for cheap day 2 at home tests a week or two ago. But these things seem to change rapidly, and with the proliferation of different information across multiple threads I've completely lost track of where we are.
Slight digression: my first impression is wow, this is a needlessly complicated mess. 430 different providers, "prices from" that don't match the actual prices. I can understand the need to draft in private providers for capacity, but does HMG serious expect the vasty most people to (quoting the website) "Do your own research (for example, read reviews) about available providers, the tests they supply and their terms and conditions" with this number of possibilities? It seems ripe for confusion, buck-passing, and profiteering.
Would it be so hard to have mandated a specific set of requirements for each kind fo required test, and invited tenders that match them for a specified price? And (wishful thinking) perhaps even built a centralised ordering website on Gov.UK to avoid confusion and wasted time?
Anyhow, back to topic:
I would appreciate the consensus on what is the best option for travelling in just over a week - I've seen Expert Medicals up-thread, and I remember corporate-wage-slave suggesting a different provider for cheap day 2 at home tests a week or two ago. But these things seem to change rapidly, and with the proliferation of different information across multiple threads I've completely lost track of where we are.
Aug 13, 2021, 4:43 am
#24
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 42
One big caveat however is that you have to return the test using the Randox drop boxes (unless you want to pay extra to the royal mail etc). So I suggest checking if there is one in a somewhat sensible location for you, before ordering: https://covid.randox.com/kit-return/
A smaller caveat is that their reputation for customer service is not great. So don't expect too much help if things go wrong, and definitely don't expect e.g. a refund if your travel plans change!
Aug 13, 2021, 6:53 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,850
Thank you fc0175 - I appreciate the suggestion and the details you've provided. I am flying Lufthansa, so I don't know if that makes me ineligible for the discount (I did see something somewhere about one of the suppliers now requiring a BA PNR to use the discount). There are a couple of drop boxes that would be reasonably convenient so that is not too much of a concern.
Aug 13, 2021, 7:12 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 42
Thank you fc0175 - I appreciate the suggestion and the details you've provided. I am flying Lufthansa, so I don't know if that makes me ineligible for the discount (I did see something somewhere about one of the suppliers now requiring a BA PNR to use the discount). There are a couple of drop boxes that would be reasonably convenient so that is not too much of a concern.
If it makes you more comfortable, it looks like the Randox website lists some discount codes for different airlines here: https://www.randoxhealth.com/coupons . Maybe there is an argument for using the Turkish airlines code given they are in the same alliance as Lufthansa?
Aug 13, 2021, 8:39 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,996
These companies (not specifically referring to any company) are creaming off massive profits with substandard levels of customer service, in an industry set up in mere months, with many fly-by-night companies with websites that'd barely pass a GCSE IT coursework project.
We're not talking about promo codes that defund a charity or the NHS here. Get it for the lowest price you can by any means and wait for this nonsense to be over. Or even better put this after travel testing into the hands of the NHS as a private, paid for service and keep it all in house.
We're not talking about promo codes that defund a charity or the NHS here. Get it for the lowest price you can by any means and wait for this nonsense to be over. Or even better put this after travel testing into the hands of the NHS as a private, paid for service and keep it all in house.
Aug 13, 2021, 9:29 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,850
These companies (not specifically referring to any company) are creaming off massive profits with substandard levels of customer service, in an industry set up in mere months, with many fly-by-night companies with websites that'd barely pass a GCSE IT coursework project.
Agreed - though I understand that there may not be the capacity within the NHS itself, it does already buy in services from private providers and charge for certain things so I think this ought to be feasible.
Aug 13, 2021, 1:32 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,021