I don't understand the timing of the tests need to return to the UK

[candymad]

I might be being a bit dim but I need to check whether the timing of the test I did this morning is correct for my return to the UK from Spain on Friday.
I read the following bit of guidance:
"You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs.

For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you can take the test on or after Tuesday and will need to have the negative result available before boarding on Friday."

I took the test Tuesday morning but return Friday afternoon. Is this going to be a problem and do you think I need to redo the test?

[dementedpixie]

Tuesday is 3 days before Friday so what's the problem?

[IsabellesMissingSock]

Your test timing is exactly the same (including the referenced days) as the government guidance so I don't understand the concern?

[mumofthree22]

Having travelled yesterday, it's 72 hours and not 3 Calendar days the border control is concerned with. So as long as you took the test within the 72 hours of your flight scheduled departure time you should be fine. However I took the test 48 hours prior to departure just in case flight got delayed / cancelled so I wouldn't have to do another test.

[IsabellesMissingSock]

@mumofthree22

Having travelled yesterday, it's 72 hours and not 3 Calendar days the border control is concerned with. So as long as you took the test within the 72 hours of your flight scheduled departure time you should be fine. However I took the test 48 hours prior to departure just in case flight got delayed / cancelled so I wouldn't have to do another test.

Yes I think I did mine about 48 hours before returning too. Good to factor in some potential plans delay time!

[2306IRW]

Hi ladies I hope you don't mind me jumping on this post! I'm going to Menorca in August, can you tell me if on the passenger locator form, can you put that you'll be staying in more than 1 place in the 10 days after your arrival? Does it still ask for an address seeing as you don't have to isolate if fully vaccinated?
Its stressing me out already! X

[candymad]

@mumofthree22

Having travelled yesterday, it's 72 hours and not 3 Calendar days the border control is concerned with. So as long as you took the test within the 72 hours of your flight scheduled departure time you should be fine. However I took the test 48 hours prior to departure just in case flight got delayed / cancelled so I wouldn't have to do another test.

But that’s my question. The gov.uk says three days not 72 hours to return to the uk. My test would be three days before but more than 72 hours.
This differs from, say, entry to Spain which does say 72 hours, hence my question

[mumofthree22]

@candymad
Government Website says 72 hours for Spain

[candymad]

[quote mumofthree22]@candymad
Government Website says 72 hours for Spain [/quote]
I’m returning to the UK from Spain. Where the policy is three days rather than 72 hours. I was hugely confused because Vueling, who I’m flying with, are saying 72hrs but I’m not sure that’s correct. It’s a huge pain but the I took the test when I had some free time thinking it would be okay, and then later for the email from vueling

[mumofthree22]

@candymad ignore above information as that was for arrival to Spain not back to UK!
I spoke to a friend who has just returned from mainland Spain and she said that the holiday rep told them that 3 days means the day you travel back is counted as day 3 and so in your case day 1 would be tomorrow. Not sure if this is what the airport means? Hope you are able to travel back on Friday

[sergeantmajormum]

That screenshot refers to entry to Spain test within 72 hours not returning to uk from Spain - amber list is within 3 days prior to departure day as in the quote in OP

[Theredjellybean]

In Greece last week passenger refused boarding of our return flight because her test was done 78 hrs before.
She had thought three days ahead and done it in the morning when infact I flight left late evening.
The plf for UK does asl if you are going anywhere else apart from your main residence.
I have had to move from. One home to our flat and that was ok

[mumofthree22]

@2306IRW yes you still need to put an address down which is usually home address in England

[candymad]

@Theredjellybean

In Greece last week passenger refused boarding of our return flight because her test was done 78 hrs before.
She had thought three days ahead and done it in the morning when infact I flight left late evening.
The plf for UK does asl if you are going anywhere else apart from your main residence.
I have had to move from. One home to our flat and that was ok

I do think the airline was wrong to do that,especially as the certificate does not need to have a time (just a date) according to the gov.uk website. Obviously though tests would have a time as all other countries (apart from the US which specifies three days and clarifies that this means the whole of the first day even though it’s outside of the 72hrs) specify 72 or 48hrs.
But I do worry about being denied boarding by someone who is thinking about 72hrs not three days

[2306IRW]

Great thank you! There is a chance I'll be in one place for 5 days then back to my normal place x

[Pootle40]

We got antigen tests in Majorca the day before we flew back. Easy to arrange and no need to do them so far in advance

[sergeantmajormum]

@theredjellybean
That is contrary to gov.uk website where they even specify an example of a return flight on a Friday means test can be done on Tues/Wed/Thursday? No time is listed in requirements for the test report either? They can’t interpret rules to get back into Uk in a different way to the uk government website advice, surely? Do you know which airline it was?

[ArabellaPilkington]

I came back from Majorca last week and we walked into a medical Center the day before we flew home and got an LFT whilst we waited. Very easy over there. Standard €30 fee.

Not one single person - airline or border staff in UK - checked it.....

[cptartapp]

I thought the 72 window (or 48 in some cases) referred to UK arrival time, not departure from wherever.
My friend saw a couple refused on a flight to Ibiza last week as their tests would have been at 50 hours and not 48 when they landed.

[Theredjellybean]

It was tui.
It is worth noting that the responsibility to check all documents, tests etc seems to fall to the departure ground staff.
So to go to Greece all our paperwork was checked at Gatwick by ground staff at check in.
Not looked at by Greek authorities.
In return all test certificates, plf for UK was checked by Greek ground staff.
There was definitely problems with language and understanding.
The couple refused were trying to show the Greek check in staff the UK gov website... But they where not really understanding it, and had been told 72hrs...

[Theredjellybean]

When we got to UK we swanned straight through, no one looked at any paperwork

[2306IRW]

@Theredjellybean

When we got to UK we swanned straight through, no one looked at any paperwork

Which airport was that? x

[2306IRW]

Whoops sorry I should read better!

[candymad]

@IsabellesMissingSock

Your test timing is exactly the same (including the referenced days) as the government guidance so I don't understand the concern?

I've just done the passenger location form and have a receipt email which says " the test must be have been taken in the 3 days before you ARRIVE IN THE UK"
Honestly how are people supposed to understand all of this??
on the uk website it says depart, it's all insane