Covid Testing for UK Travel - London Based Travellers
Sep 16, 2021, 9:39 am
#121
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The North
Posts: 1,848
As promised:
- Randox day 2 test ordered for fully vaccinated arrival from Germany (green list) late evening on a Sunday, for arriving in the following Saturday.
- Dispatched 2 days later on the Tuesday evening via DPD; arrived on the Weds as promised.
- I completed the test on day 2 (Monday) leaving it at the central Newcastle drop off at lunchtime.
- Email confirming receipt of kit at testing centre arrived Tuesday morning at 9:30
- Email confirming negative result arrived Tues evening at 10pm
Sep 16, 2021, 9:43 am
#123
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Just a review of Randox testing on my end. I have used them about 5 times over the past two months and I have had no issues. I usually order the kit 4 - 5 days before I'm due to come back to the UK. I always get my results back within 36 hours from the time I drop the box off - although timing is of no concern when I have returned to the UK.
Sep 16, 2021, 1:39 pm
#124
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,995
Sep 16, 2021, 3:21 pm
#125
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Let's hope in 24 hours we no longer need to participate in this scam of the UK gov to travel. Speculation that Day 2 PCR tests and predeparture tests will no longer be required which is great.
Sep 16, 2021, 6:11 pm
#126
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,851
Just a review of Randox testing on my end. I have used them about 5 times over the past two months and I have had no issues. I usually order the kit 4 - 5 days before I'm due to come back to the UK. I always get my results back within 36 hours from the time I drop the box off - although timing is of no concern when I have returned to the UK.
Sep 17, 2021, 2:14 am
#127
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850
Same. Very reliable. Order the kit a few days before I get home, then leave the box at a Randox drop box around lunchtime. Results come via email the next day. Have been timing it to use for my pre-departure test for the next trip whenever possible and that has also worked every time
Sep 17, 2021, 4:29 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,851
Yes, you're absolutely right there is a risk the results won't arrive in time. Best to have a backup plan if you take this approach but so far, haven't needed it!
Sep 17, 2021, 4:43 am
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,367
Well, if someone is going to do that, they might as well put in a random code on the PLF that satisfies the format to be accepted by it and not bother buying a test at all. That will cost them exactly £0, which would have to be the cheapest option. But, in both cases, this is deliberately choosing not to comply with legal requirements rather than identifying how to comply at minimal cost.
Sep 17, 2021, 10:42 am
#130
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,995
Well, if someone is going to do that, they might as well put in a random code on the PLF that satisfies the format to be accepted by it and not bother buying a test at all. That will cost them exactly £0, which would have to be the cheapest option. But, in both cases, this is deliberately choosing not to comply with legal requirements rather than identifying how to comply at minimal cost.
If you believe Which..
Expert Medicals still selling tests – and you can still use them for travel Expert Medicals is still able to sell tests despite no longer being on the list, and previously bought tests are still valid for travel. Appearance on gov.uk shows that firms have ‘demonstrated compliance with the applicable minimum standards’ but is not a legal requirement. Oncologica told us that it would honour tests that had already been purchased through Expert Medicals but implied that it would no longer be working with the firm after that. It said it was: ‘committed to supporting providers on the gov.uk list only.’
Sep 17, 2021, 11:09 am
#131
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,266
With today's travel updates on no pre-departure test required from 4am on 4th October, if I have a flight that leaves the U.S. on October 3rd and lands at LHR on October 4th - do I need to take a test or am I exempt?
Pilot37
Pilot37
Sep 17, 2021, 11:23 am
#132
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The KUL city
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, TK Elite+
Posts: 2,663
Bought a £20 Day 2 kit from Arrival Testing based in Putney (next to Putney Bridge tube station). Seems straightforward. PLF was issued within 2 minutes so I am all good for now 
Sep 17, 2021, 2:13 pm
#133
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,997
usually the changes take effect from 0400 on the day, so my expectation is you will enter under the amended rules and not require a pre arrivals test.
Sep 17, 2021, 7:37 pm
#134
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: LAX/SFO
Posts: 395
Just a review of Randox testing on my end. I have used them about 5 times over the past two months and I have had no issues. I usually order the kit 4 - 5 days before I'm due to come back to the UK. I always get my results back within 36 hours from the time I drop the box off - although timing is of no concern when I have returned to the UK.
Sep 18, 2021, 3:35 am
#135
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,850