desperately asking for BASIC IDIOT help about Covid testing for travel

[NoviceNewMN]

This is stressing me out so much I feel sick and could really use some help. I have to travel abroad for work to an amber list country from the UK. I don't want to go but need to for work. I'm freelance so don't get any corporate support. Please could someone whose actually done this talk me throught the testing.

OUTWARD TESTING QUESTIONS

So I need a test within 48 hrs of travel. The airline has a page full of companies that offer suitable testing but I have a load of questions that aren't answered on the airline pages or by googling and am DESPERATE FOR HELP!

o How does the testing work physically? What do you actually physically do yourself? Do you mail it in? Attend at an clinic? If so, what is the timing of it? when do you need to post it orgo to the clinic? how do you get your results?

o When you get the results what do you have to do with them to send them to the airline? I've read about a verify app but my destination does not use this so what do you have to do with the results?

o What happens if there is a delay/you don't get the results back in time?

o Is there a table somewhere that shows what testing companies do what? How can you find out which companies do what - in terms of on site testing/ mailing in/ when you have to book etc? [The airline just has a list of links so you have to click through to every single one which is confusing and time wasting.]

o I've read lots of newspaper reports about bad testing companies - results not arriving on time/ not answering the phone/ not responding to email. I don't mind paying more - a lot even - if it is reliable and will cut down on the stress of it. Has anyone got any testing companies they have used for business travel (or even tourism) that they would recommend?

RETURN TESTING QUESTIONS

o I need a test prior to return travel to the UK. The airline talks about ordering a kit before you go and uploading results. How does this work? If you test yourself abroad, how do they 'assess' it? How do you get the "test stuff" to them.

o I need to test twice at home and need to pre-book these tests. Again, anyone got any companies they would recommend. I'm really not worried about the cost - I'd rather 100% reliable company with no agrro stres than paying a low rate.

Has anyone actually travelled to /from UK to amber list country who would be willing to walk me through this for a totally idiot? Please assume no knowledge as I really have none.

Sorry if this sounds utterly clueless but i have googled.

You’re going to have to say which country as they vary widely. As you’re using a new username, saying the country won’t be outing. But there just isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach to amber list countries. They will accept different types of tests. Some will accept rapid antigen and some won’t. Some will not accept you at all unless you are a citizen, resident, or spouse of a resident. And please do NOT use the airline page. I would only trust the .gov.uk page about the country to have the latest info. This is all the countries for travel advice and once you click one, you’ll see they each have sections for coronavirus and entry requirements, that you should specify the exact kind of proof you need, etc. www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Thanks - it's Belize. There are various different routes in but I've been advised I need a a PCR test within 96 hours prior to travel.

On the way back I need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken in the 3 days before I leave for the UK.

Can anyone help me with any of the questions I asked above? In particular any companies you'd recommend as reliable from anyone who's actually had to travel to an amber list country.

Go to boots.com and all the options are listed under services. They may not have appointments in the appropriate time frame though as it books up quickly.

I should have said, I am flying from London so would be aiming to get a test within 48 hours of travel rather than the 96 hours.

I'd rather deal with a specialist testing company than Boots which is a chemist and aren't really adequately set up in store to deal with people waiting for testing from what I've seen - at least my local one.

Can anyone recommend a company that they have been happy wtih? Or ones to avoid (the delayed tests/didn't answer phone sort I've read about)

And any advice about what you ahve to do on the way back? Do you have to take the tests with you and test yourself?

A lot of Airports have drive in test centres . Maybe look up your local one ?

How can you find out which companies do what - in terms of on site testing/ mailing in/ when you have to book etc? [The airline just has a list of links so you have to click through to every single one which is confusing and time wasting.]

You find out by...clicking on the link! They've literally already compiled it for you. It's not confusing, you just want other people to do the work for you and won't help yourself.

Get one from your local airport. Google the info, read the link. Sorted.
Belize is amazing BTW.

Xpresstest is great, guaranteed results in 48 hours. Cheapest private pcr test and issue fit to fly certificate and you can order your return kit from there too. They are located near the airports you drive up and they do the test themselves, you input all your details when booking

They've literally already compiled it for you. It's not confusing, you just want other people to do the work for you and won't help yourself

All there is a list of a ton that has no information about whether they are any good or not or exactly what they do - whether it is PCR or antigen or whether it as home testing or at a centre and so on. It would be helpful if there was some kind of review chart that compared them which for all I know could already exist on line some where that I havent been able to find.

So no I'm not asking for people to do anything for me.

I was also asking whether anyone has any companies they can recommend that they have had good experiences with - as compared with just picking a random one when there are so many reports of people missing flights because of dodgy companies not sending the results back in time and being unable to contact the company.

@Melmanmartygloria thank you for your suggestion.

Misses point but Belize is wonderful, lucky you!

@Sciurus83 working only and don't really want to travel at all for health reasons so not lucky me sadly.

I'm recently back from an amber country.

o How does the testing work physically? What do you actually physically do yourself? Do you mail it in? Attend at an clinic? If so, what is the timing of it? when do you need to post it orgo to the clinic? how do you get your results?

Stick a cotton swab around your tonsils and then up your nostril. It's not pleasant but bearable. I posted mine (Chronomics) but with some companies you take it to their lab. Results were uploaded to the website and a Fit to Fly certificate automatically generated.

o When you get the results what do you have to do with them to send them to the airline? I've read about a verify app but my destination does not use this so what do you have to do with the results?

You show your certificate at check-in. They do check.

o What happens if there is a delay/you don't get the results back in time?

You can't fly.

o Is there a table somewhere that shows what testing companies do what? How can you find out which companies do what - in terms of on site testing/ mailing in/ when you have to book etc? [The airline just has a list of links so you have to click through to every single one which is confusing and time wasting.]

Don't know about this one.

o I've read lots of newspaper reports about bad testing companies - results not arriving on time/ not answering the phone/ not responding to email. I don't mind paying more - a lot even - if it is reliable and will cut down on the stress of it. Has anyone got any testing companies they have used for business travel (or even tourism) that they would recommend?

I used Chronomics. Customer service is non-existent (they don't answer phone or emails) but luckily everything went smoothly so I didn't need to contact them. They were also very cheap, so you get what you pay for.

RETURN TESTING QUESTIONS

o I need a test prior to return travel to the UK. The airline talks about ordering a kit before you go and uploading results. How does this work? If you test yourself abroad, how do they 'assess' it? How do you get the "test stuff" to them.

You take the kit with you in your suitcase. You take the test on holiday and 'prove' the result by uploading a photo with the test barcode and the result. But it isn't really proof as anybody could take the test on your behalf and they'd never know. Bit pointless really.

o I need to test twice at home and need to pre-book these tests. Again, anyone got any companies they would recommend. I'm really not worried about the cost - I'd rather 100% reliable company with no agrro stres than paying a low rate.

Again, Chronomics were fine for me but you'd really be in the shit if your kits didn't turn up or something went wrong. I have no experience of other companies.

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'm so grateful for you taking the time to answer.
That is so helpful.

No worries! I made a thread on here too because I was so confused.

Yes I know. It's suprising to me how hard it is to find a recommendation for reliable testing companies given for most people how much you stand to lose financially (flight costs+ accomodation) if you just don't get a test back in time.

I have had to travel to/from the UK three times in the last 6 months. I can recommend My Healthcare Clinic in London. They are expensive but they are the only ones that provided the test results within the specified time limit. You book and pay online and then you go in for the appointment where they take the swab and then they email you the result. You then show that email at the airport when you check in or board the plane.

In Belize, you will have to arrange for PCR tests. I actually live in the Carribean and where I live they are very well organised with regards to PCR (much more so than the UK) so you may find the same in Belize.

I tried 2 other much cheaper PCR test providers in the UK (Midland Clinic and Randox) and both gave me test results later than what I had paid for leaving me paying for extremely expensive tests last minute.

We used expresstest - longest PCR test took around 16hrs to come back, the others were back in around 12 hrs. Great service, quick and plenty of locations around London
www.expresstest.co.uk/

I have used Randox for all my tests. I have been very happy with them and they have been prompt and efficient. I see that they get some bad reviews, so I guess they have their moments too, but my own experience has only been good.

Making notes.

Following - also confused!

I sincerely hope. PCR tests are in person with ID evidence otherwise every coviditiot in the UK will cheating the system.

How does it work in the UK where there's no ID system? Is it done on trust? I imagine most Covidiot don't have a driving licence or passport so how do you know who is who? Here my ID card is just scanned and I verify by fingerprint whether it's paying a parking fine or getting a PCR test.

@Cavalierqueen In the UK private PCR tests for travel require photo ID I.e. passport (especially if getting fit to fly certificate) however, when I’ve had a regular symptomatic test on the NHS I haven’t been asked for photo ID.