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Original poster

Travel PCR test/Fit to Fly

32 replies

GobbledyGeek · 05/05/2021 22:13

Hi, I’m going to have to travel to Germany for family reasons and I have just seen that the entry requirement is a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours before arrival on German soil instead of the 72 hours before departure that other countries ask for.
Has anyone done this recently ? I’m in the Leeds area and absolutely panicking that I won’t get my result in time. Has anybody got any recommendations for a quick, efficient company to use? TIA

OP posts:
Nodal · 05/05/2021 22:29

As an aside, does anyone know why we can't just use the normal (free) PCR tests that they offer now in the community as evidence of fit to fly? these smack of the travel industry trying to claw some money back and isn't really fair on travelers imo, especially people who are probably going to visit family they haven't seen for months or years now. I know the lateral flow tests aren't accurate enough but we have free community PCR testing too.

Cookerhood · 05/05/2021 22:32

You can use them, I think, but you risk not getting the results in time. They have testing at some airports but I'm guessing that might not be PCR?

Original poster
GobbledyGeek · 05/05/2021 22:42

@Nodal it’s not the travel industry trying to claw money back, it’s the testing companies making a load of money out of passengers who don’t have any choice but to take the tests if they want to go anywhere. The prices are ridiculous, especially as there are two more tests to pay for on return.
I don’t know why anyone would choose to travel at the moment. The organisation / hoops to be jumped through are a nightmare. I certainly wouldn’t be going anywhere if I didn’t have to.

OP posts:
Original poster
GobbledyGeek · 05/05/2021 22:46

@Aposterhasnoname I checked out Assured Screening on Trustpilot, and noticed a few negative reviews about delayed results in the last few days. The short window for testing for Germany is really stressing me out .

OP posts:
Original poster
GobbledyGeek · 05/05/2021 22:49

@Aposterhasnoname thanks for the links

OP posts:
HermioneWeasley · 05/05/2021 22:51

@Nodal the free kits are lateral flow tests - they’re not as reliable as PCR tests which go to a lab for analysis. I don’t know what’s the stop people going to a test centre for a PCR result though, except they might not get the results in time to travel?

BedknobsNoBroomsticks · 05/05/2021 23:02

My OH got theirs done at a local pharmacy. Very efficient and quick results(within 24 hours of test taken), however at over £150 very expensive.

Kinlocrhum · 05/05/2021 23:06

Boots do them too, book on line. Results in about 24 hours.

Nodal · 05/05/2021 23:46

[quote HermioneWeasley]@Nodal the free kits are lateral flow tests - they’re not as reliable as PCR tests which go to a lab for analysis. I don’t know what’s the stop people going to a test centre for a PCR result though, except they might not get the results in time to travel?[/quote]
As I said, I wasn't talking about lateral flow tests. My local hub does PCR testing, the same as the tests you got when you had symptoms previously, except this time you don't need symptoms. You just have to prove you live locally (and supposed to have school age children but noone checks).

if I did that or booked a test online, would they accept the normal email and text result you get a proof as the airport?

BerryPieandCustard · 06/05/2021 07:18

@Nodal you cannot use NHS tests (and therefore money and resources) to get a PCR test while symptomless just so you can travel. Think how overwhelmed that service would become when everyone wants to go on holiday on the summer.

The majority of airlines will not accept NHS PCR tests. I believe there was talk about making the tests more affordable at some point but I can only envisage this happening further into the year as it currently acts as another deterrent to travel.

Original poster
GobbledyGeek · 06/05/2021 14:17

@BerryPieandCustard it certainly is a deterrent to travel, it makes it so expensive and nerve-wracking. I really don’t know why anyone would put themselves through it simply for a holiday. God knows how long all this palaver is going to continue.

OP posts:
Dowser19 · 06/05/2021 15:43

We used assured screening barnard castle in December
They were the pits
Result came back after midnight on the day due to travel
Dh was negative
Mine..no results
No results isn’t one of their 5 categories

Despite being 24/7 no one answered the phone
We emailed several times and got no answers and no satisfaction
Two weeks later they refunded the test money
Again no answers

We lost a vital holiday and I’m still upset over it

Dowser19 · 06/05/2021 15:45

@gobbledygook
Their service was appalling
We had a 72 hour window and hand delivered them to barnard castle

I would definitely never use again

48 hours is bloody ridiculous

NeitherNowtNorSummat · 06/05/2021 15:57

We used Boots at Christmas (then didn't go away as our holiday was cancelled 😢). Obviously a few months ago now but results were really quick - tested 10am Friday, results 10am Saturday.

Cookerhood · 06/05/2021 16:13

TUI have hopefully started a price war:
www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/06/tui-to-offer-20-covid-tests-for-travellers-to-green-list-countries

Nodal · 06/05/2021 21:23

[quote BerryPieandCustard]@Nodal you cannot use NHS tests (and therefore money and resources) to get a PCR test while symptomless just so you can travel. Think how overwhelmed that service would become when everyone wants to go on holiday on the summer.

The majority of airlines will not accept NHS PCR tests. I believe there was talk about making the tests more affordable at some point but I can only envisage this happening further into the year as it currently acts as another deterrent to travel.[/quote]
You are again missing the point. That service is twice weekly INVITING ME to test with them. Why can't I use the results of those tests if I wanted to fly a few days later, say?

And why would the service be overrun now? Compared to how it was in lockdown? case rates are through the floor comparitively?

Why would I pay hundreds of pounds (large family) for something I could get for free??

toomuchfaster · 06/05/2021 21:30

@Nodal an NHS test does not get you the 'fit to fly' certificate, that is the bit you have to pay for. A negative test is not enough.
Definitely try boots.com the price has come down recently.

Nodal · 06/05/2021 21:31

I know, but WHY NOT. It's stupid that it doesn't count.

Frazzled2207 · 06/05/2021 21:35

Even if prices come down, reliability really needs to improve doesn’t it.

I genuinely don’t understand why we can’t pay to use the nhs test and trace service. It’s clearly pretty reliable and presumably now they have (some) excess capacity. I would use them for a reasonable price over and above some provider who don’t know what they’re doing.

Nodal · 06/05/2021 21:36

Exactly. Me too.

Frazzled2207 · 06/05/2021 21:36

I think it’s fair enough that if you’re not ill you have to pay (a bit). I have no idea how much these things cost but nhs test and trace is a massive operation so surely the cost per test could be fairly low.

Nodal · 06/05/2021 21:40

For a family of 5 it's currently circa £500. does that seem proportionate to you? For something you can also get for free?

VanCleefArpels · 06/05/2021 21:40

One reason why NHS should not be used in these circs is that why should the taxpayer fund someone’s choice to fly abroad?

Nodal · 06/05/2021 21:42

Why should the taxpayer dund someone's elses choice to smoke? It's no different.