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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bloody Borris!

178 replies

NotTheBaby · 27/11/2021 22:12

Due to go on holiday on Monday. Announcements made tonight but travel agents not open tomorrow. No idea when the new rules start, government website still says the old rules. I’ve got Lateral Flow tests already but now they’re a complete waste of money and I have to spend hundreds of pounds (which I don’t have spare!) buying PCR tests to replace them. I know we have to protect the country, and I know it’s my own fault for travelling during a pandemic, but I wish they’d decide what they’re doing and then announce it with all the details rather than this stressful drip feed 😭

OP posts:
Franklin12 · 28/11/2021 09:17

So understand Day 2 test and it being a PCR.

Think I understand having to self isolate until the tests returns but presumably you can leave doing the day 2 to the second day. Some people will be out and about stocking up the fridge, returning their Day 2 etc but is the self isolation only if it relates to omicron? How will you know??

Have I missed something?

Original poster
NotTheBaby · 28/11/2021 09:19

@Franklin12 it’s complete isolation from the day you get home until you get the negative result

OP posts:
Rafting2022 · 28/11/2021 09:20

The UK passenger locator form still hasn’t changed and says either PCR or lateral flow but rule change confirms from Tuesday.

JSL52 · 28/11/2021 09:22

@NewbieAlert

I’ve got Lateral Flow tests already but now they’re a complete waste of money Aren’t they free?
No , you can't use the free ones for travel. You have to order them and put the order reference number on your passenger locator form when returning to the UK.
Peregrina · 28/11/2021 09:23

More generally, I don't think it is good practice to change the meaning of a quotation by omitting significant parts of it.

Perhaps then you would like to comment on whether this expert said something of value?

EasterIssland · 28/11/2021 09:26

@Franklin12

So understand Day 2 test and it being a PCR.

Think I understand having to self isolate until the tests returns but presumably you can leave doing the day 2 to the second day. Some people will be out and about stocking up the fridge, returning their Day 2 etc but is the self isolation only if it relates to omicron? How will you know??

Have I missed something?

Some people will be out and about stocking up the fridge,

You’re not allowed to do this. You’re only allowed to leave to return your test

EileenGC · 28/11/2021 09:27

Unexpected isolation for a few days while you have the test and wait for the result could be a bit of a pain for some though.

It actually makes the trip impossible for some people. I'm having to cancel work projects now because I don't have a spare £200 for a quick turnaround test, or a spare 2-3 days to wait for the normal results. This change is going to cause loss of income for the workers of many industries - yet again...

Franklin12 · 28/11/2021 09:29

No the. So that makes more sense. You then really need to do the Day2 ASAP i.e at the airport on your return.

Having said that some people just won’t do the Day 2 test. Some people on Mumsnet know ‘someone’ who just order a test and don’t actually return it and nothing much happens. No chasing, nothing. I did a Day 2 test and didn’t get my result until Day 8. No one called me. The blooming company didn’t offer another test. They just said inconclusive. Took a LFT and was fine.

Franklin12 · 28/11/2021 09:33

I have done a handful of Day 2 tests. Bar one Randox came back the next day with the result. I would have a few meals in to cover us. Wfh so ok on isolation but understand not all can (my last job I couldn’t do this)

tttigress · 28/11/2021 09:34

While not a fan of Johnson (I hate calling him Boris)

I don't really see why this is his fault. Many have actually called for much stricter rules, so I imagine he is actually trying to give a balanced approach.

uggmum · 28/11/2021 09:38

It is frustrating but you can but pcr tests for around £30 each.

We picked ours up from the airport once we had landed. Did the test at home and dropped them off at a local motorway service station.

This was in October, 3 days before the rules changed to lateral flows. So it shouldn't cost you hundreds of pounds more.

daisychain01 · 28/11/2021 09:38

@NotTheBaby

No, normal LFTs are free but travelling ones you have to pay for. They come with a code and are checked

I know i took a risk travelling during a pandemic but it was rolled over from last year and we seemed to be doing so much better I went for it. It’s not that I have no money, I’ve just carefully budgeted to afford it (single parent, I need to be careful!) and it’s so close to the end of the month now. I’m not saying we should have months of notice, but a week to get sorted would have been nice

It's awful that just as things were stabilising, or so we all thought, your travel plans are likely to be scuppered.

But it's misguided to think "if only the Government had told us with x or y notice". They aren't planning their announcements to specifically coincide with people's individual plans, but so many people seem deluded in thinking that they're doing all this deliberately, or that they are incompetent because they don't announce things quickly enough, or take action too quickly. It's a pandemic, it's unpredictable and travelling is going to at high risk of not happening for a long time to come, or for massive additional expenses to be incurred (eg £2000 for a quarantine hotel stay - that puts me off think about travel!)

Franklin12 · 28/11/2021 09:40

If you wfh then I guess it’s much easier for you. If you don’t then this is a big issue and of course unfair but how else can it work?

edisonbulb · 28/11/2021 09:48

Has it been announced what age children require the PCR?

Benjispruce5 · 28/11/2021 10:16

Not sure but Spain has apparently said only those double jabbed can enter.

lljkk · 28/11/2021 15:20

@uggmum

It is frustrating but you can but pcr tests for around £30 each.

We picked ours up from the airport once we had landed. Did the test at home and dropped them off at a local motorway service station.

This was in October, 3 days before the rules changed to lateral flows. So it shouldn't cost you hundreds of pounds more.

@uggmum, Can you please link to the PCR tests that only cost £30? That's so much cheaper than I found. Don't the tests have to be done under supervision (someone watching)?
Kitkat151 · 28/11/2021 15:35

😁 no one needs to see you do them.....no one cares if you do do them...it’s only that you need proof of buying them for the passenger locater form before you return into the U.K. ...shop around....there’s a massive difference in price

Kitkat151 · 28/11/2021 15:37

@lljkk sorry last post was for you.
Hope you get sorted with some cheap ones

WeAreTheHeroes · 28/11/2021 15:39

Holiday companies and airlines are subsidising the cost of PCR tests because they need customers. Many have links on their websites and have published discount codes.

uggmum · 28/11/2021 15:48

@lljkk
I am rubbish at linking. But I've added a photo. I did click and collect at Manchester airport.

They are currently £34.99. I had a code and only paid £30. But still good value at current price.

Hope that helps

Bloody Borris!
amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 28/11/2021 15:59

I cannot believe I'm saying this. But... for once, this isn't Boris's fault. He is taking some steps to try and buy time whilst we figure out how bad this new variant is.

I'm sorry your holiday plans are changing, but YABVU.

rrhuth · 28/11/2021 16:08

Before we all hail Johnson as the new messiah, I see that whilst the NL were testing people off planes, we let everyone toddle off home any way they liked including public transport, and only asked them to test afterwards Hmm

lljkk · 28/11/2021 16:11

Thanks for the info.
That company, Randox, seems quite popular.
I wonder how much the rules will change in next 5 weeks (I'm supposed to arrive back in 5 weeks time).

LakieLady · 28/11/2021 16:22

@EdenFlower

*Why book a holiday in a pandemic?*

So when should the OP book a holiday? Holiday companies are taking bookings and there's no travel restrictions to many places, but yet you all seem to deem it's wrong to book a holiday? Can you determine when the pandemic will be over and can you tell us when we can book holidays?

I don't think it's wrong for people to book holidays, but if they do, they should appreciate that a pandemic means restrictions may be imposed that might bugger up their plans.

And no, no-one can tell you when the pandemic will be over, because none of us can see the future. Omicron could be Covid's last gasp, or there could be dozens more mutations yet.

uggmum · 28/11/2021 16:34

@lljkk
The rules might change.

I booked my return tests whilst I was on holiday as the rules were due to change (in October)

As long as you book your tests 2 days before you come back so you have the details for your passenger locator form you will be fine.

We came out of the airport, drove to the randox drive thru and picked up our tests.