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Original poster

If I book an airport PCR test, how long should it be after the flight arrives?

6 replies

mynameisnotkate · 07/12/2021 20:30

Trying to figure out the best thing to do! We'll be flying in after Christmas (as long as the rules don't change ...) and it looks much easier to get the test done there and then in the airport. But I'm not sure how much time we should leave between when the flight is due to land and when we book the test - it looks like you can't move the test. We don't want to spend all day hanging about in the airport - but obviously it would be very expensive and inconvenient to miss the test! We'll have checked luggage to collect and will be coming from the US (UK citizens).

Any advice from frequent flyers would be very helpful! Thanks

OP posts:
LaMadrilena · 07/12/2021 20:34

I've got this dilemma this weekend! I went for 2 hours after landing in the end. It's probably too much margin, but I've got an event I really don't want to miss by being late for the test appointment.

LionPhish · 07/12/2021 20:39

Flew into Heathrow and we were out of the airport within 35 minutes of landing including with special baggage collection.

7.10 pm and zero line in the UK passport section.

Also the lifts are much quicker than the escalators - so we were first through the passport control.

MagicMatilda · 07/12/2021 20:44

I was an hour early to mine and they let me straight in! People in my office had the same experience, turned up and were allowed straight in. I don’t think they are too strict on times.

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Original poster
mynameisnotkate · 07/12/2021 20:45

Hmm. I was thinking of an hour and a half or two hours. I wonder if @LionPhish's experience is typical. We'll be arriving on Jan 4th which might be quite a busy day. Maybe they'd fit you in early if they're not busy ...

OP posts:
Original poster
mynameisnotkate · 07/12/2021 20:49

Thanks @MagicMatilda, that's really useful! Sorry, hadn't seen your post when I posted. I guess we will allow loads of time and hope they'll let us in early if we're not delayed.

OP posts:
LionPhish · 08/12/2021 12:14

@mynameisnotkate I have zero idea... And I actually made a mistake with the timing, we came in at 9.10pm not 7.10pm... it may be a quieter time but also remember there's not a full schedule of flights running yet.

We had one flight per day to where we were travelling to and from, normally there are three...

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