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Original poster

Elderly and fit to fly LFT advice

16 replies

RubbishDay · 19/04/2022 07:47

Need to get MIL to do a fit to fly LFT for a cruise.

She has a smart phone but despite our best efforts cannot do things like take pictures and send them anywhere.

I have never done a fit to fly LFT and there doesn't appear to be much information online about the validation procedure.

It doesn't have to be medically supervised and she has done an LFT before so I am fairly confident that part will be managed but how do you validate the results with the company? Trying to work out whether we need to go and help her with it.

OP posts:
zafferana · 19/04/2022 07:48

Can she go to the airport early and get her test done there before the flight OP? That's what Simon Calder always recommends.

Original poster
RubbishDay · 19/04/2022 07:51

@zafferana

Can she go to the airport early and get her test done there before the flight OP? That's what Simon Calder always recommends.
It's a cruise and we are going with her but it has to be done day before and we aren't picking her up until a few hours before the cruise.

She won't drive far beyond a few miles so getting her to go in person to somewhere that does it for her won't help either.

Thinking we might have to change plans and pick her up one day early which will be a pain.

OP posts:
AllFreeOwls · 19/04/2022 07:55

My local Lloyd pharmacy is offering travel tests (they do the test and email you the certificate). Might be a bit more expensive as it counts as a supervised test, but might be worth is to avoid the hassle of her having to take the photograph correctly. Some Boots stores also offer this.

ifonly4 · 19/04/2022 08:01

We flew last week and the airline wanted us to upload proof of vaccination or negative LFT before we flew. It took 31 hours for them to confirm approval, a stressful time! If I were you, I'd get MIL (or yourself if she'd struggle to understand what was required) to phone cruise company and see if there's a way around it. We have friends who went on a cruise and they had to do a LFT while waiting to board and show a negative test before boarding - it could be as easy as that. If not, I'd look at getting it done professionally and getting the results sent to you or DP. If you go down this route, book now as it might be hard to get a test at the last minute.

LetitiaLeghorn · 19/04/2022 08:05

Ring the cruise company. Their clientele are much older on average than other travel customers so they will have come across this problem before. Many companies are testing at the cruise terminal just before boarding.

Original poster
RubbishDay · 19/04/2022 08:35

This all sounds stressful. Maybe the easiest is to take annual leave and get her day before and do the test before we leave her house.

OP posts:
CuddlyCactus · 19/04/2022 10:29

I would either do it with her @RubbishDay or book her into a pharmacy for them to do it.

We do LFTs regularly in our house but I did one recently before flying to another country and found it quite stressful.
The instructions were all easy to follow but I was terrified of getting something wrong, test being ruined or not uploading and not being able to fly the next morning!

For an older person not necessarily that tech savvy I would be worried about them doing it them self.

CuddlyCactus · 19/04/2022 10:31

Iirc I had to hover my camera over the QR code to register my test snd start the process so she may fail at the first hurdle!

porridgecake · 19/04/2022 10:35

I think a pharmacy might be the best option. Or does she have a helpful friend or neighbour? I would do this for my elderly neighbour if needed, but then I do quite a lot of small things for her as she has no family nearby. Is it just a question of photographing the test?

IDontHaveAnOutingHobby · 19/04/2022 10:45

Boots are good
Results back within an hour

lljkk · 19/04/2022 11:06

You're kind if you take a day off to do this, OP !

My parents are on a cruise right now in Caribbean & certainly didn't (have to) do an LFT (American embarked). Or any domestic flights. They are probably mask-paranoid on board, though.

My dad is complaining about no live shows and no card games on board. And posh group dinners still happening. The zip wire is open, too. I'll be curious what entertainment you find.

WeAreTheHeroes · 19/04/2022 11:13

There's a community volunteer service in our local town - is there something like that near your MIL? They would probably be able to help her and she could make a donation to them if she wanted.

Original poster
RubbishDay · 19/04/2022 12:03

I might have to Google where the nearest boots is but she lives in the middle of nowhere.

MIL has had a horrid time recently and despite sometimes being hard work I don't want anything to jeopardise this holiday (unless she tests positive) for her as I do wonder how many more she might have health wise.

OP posts:
lljkk · 19/04/2022 13:26

Would Boots upload a picture for the results to flying service? I don't think so.

Original poster
RubbishDay · 19/04/2022 14:24

@lljkk

Would Boots upload a picture for the results to flying service? I don't think so.
It was whether they would do an in person fit to fly/travel test. As long as it is registered correctly and of the correct test type so that we have certified documentation we are good to go.
OP posts:
Original poster
RubbishDay · 19/04/2022 14:30

But having looked at all the options I think taking a day off and making sure it is done correctly would be the least stressful.

I will be very happy when covid testing is a thing of the past.

OP posts:
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