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Original poster

Free COVID test invalid for travel?

99 replies

heavenon · 27/05/2021 12:04

Has anyone traveled recently and can let me know? I read that NHS tests aren’t valid for travelling but every council is also offering free COVID tests which aren’t nhs tests. Will these ones be invalid for track or does it depend on the airline?

Has anyone done these free tests from the free COVID testing centres are results emailed to you? How long did they take ?

Are travel certificates (fir for travel certificates) also needed now as I see some private Covid testing centres offering them as well please advise

It’s quiet confusing as things are changing quickly.

I don’t wanna pay £200 for a test when I can get it for free and I also don’t understand how some companies are charging £50 and others charging £300

OP posts:
FourWordsImMuNiTy · 27/05/2021 12:39

I get the reasoning that you shouldn’t use a T&T test designed for symptomatic people for your holiday. But for people like the OP who are asked to take a PCR test for surge testing anyway, or the nurse in the BBC story who has to take a weekly PCR test for work, I see no benefit to anyone in forcing them to pay for a duplicate private test. It must be really annoying.

Original poster
heavenon · 27/05/2021 12:39

@LemonViolet yes they’re offering free PCR test for people without symptoms that’s why I don’t understand the double testing and it’s recommended to get tested twice weekly I believe I’m in a surge area

OP posts:
Grumblesigh · 27/05/2021 12:46

OP. Are you going to a green, amber or red country? If not green, is it essential travel as defined by the government?

Many countries offer free tests at the airports to get you on the flight. The UK does not.

Your friend who returned from the USA (an amber list country) will need to pay for 2 private PCR tests on return to the UK. If she did not, she has either broken the rules or fell into one of the very few exception loopholes.

The rules are available online. Check with your airline. Which has a simple explanation online.

Also be aware that if you travel to an amber or red country, your travel insurance will almost certainly be invalid. Check with your insurer.

Grumblesigh · 27/05/2021 12:50

I see no benefit to anyone in forcing them to pay for a duplicate private test. It must be really annoying.

I suspect the private testing companies charging an outrageous £200 for a PCR test do indeed see a benefit.

FourWordsImMuNiTy · 27/05/2021 12:51

Yes to be fair Grumblesigh they’re probably quite happy about the situation.

TooMuchPaper · 27/05/2021 12:54

A friend's ds was refused permission to board a Ryanair flight from Stansted to Dublin recently. They wouldn't accept his Covid test. Not sure what test is was. He had used the same test earlier this year and no issues with Ryanair.

Original poster
heavenon · 27/05/2021 13:01

The nurse that got refused boarding because she used a free PCR test was refused it at the gate. It’s usually the same checking agents that allow people onto the flight at the gate so I don’t understand how they let her checkin and then refuse her at the gate

OP posts:
trevthecat · 27/05/2021 13:05

I don't understand why you think it should be free. It's nothing to do with paying your taxes. You need one to go on holiday. The free tests are to see who is testing positive in the community, not for your holiday. Other countries may do things differently, but you don't live there. These are our rules.

JustFrustrated · 27/05/2021 13:17

When I flew in March you needed to do a private test with an issues "fit 2 fly" cert

The type of test was dependent on the country you were entering. So Lithuania accepted antigen tests. So £60 at airport jon done..

England also accepted antigen tests for entry. As long as they met a certain specificity.

The reason it needs to be a private test is so
A/. The specificity is deemed in parameters
B/. They know you took it and not someone else
C/. They know the exact minute you took it, so it's definitely within the time frame. Q

Grumblesigh · 27/05/2021 13:18

Just call your airline and ask if they will accept the free test. Is so, great! (Do you even get a certificate with a free test? I mean, if it's surge testing, I don't see why they would give you a piece of paper.)

Original poster
heavenon · 27/05/2021 13:24

@Grumblesigh you don’t get a certificate with a free test but most place only require a negative test not necessarily a certification

OP posts:
Grumblesigh · 27/05/2021 13:31

You are not going 'most places'. You are going to a specific destination with specific requirements on a specific airline. Ask exactly what you must present and where to get it.

Moondust001 · 27/05/2021 13:44

[quote heavenon]@Windyone maybe I’ve paid my taxes and councils taxes as well people are getting it done to stay in the country so why not getting it done to leave ? Doesn’t make sense[/quote]
It doesn't matter whether it makes sense, or what your airline say. The "free" (taxpayer paid) tests are NHS tests administered for the them by the Council. If you wish to take the risk and turn up at the airport with paperwork that is not complaint on the basis of advice by an unnamed call handler rather than the instructions issued by the government to air carriers, that is at your own risk.

SoupDragon · 27/05/2021 13:47

Paying for tests is only in the UK.

That simply isn't true.

Gingerkittykat · 27/05/2021 13:54

I also agree that the NHS shouldn't be paying for tests for people to go on holiday. It's the same with quarantine hotels.

I wanted to go to Turkey for a specific reason and the Covid tests were going to cost £250 in total, a lot of that was because the place I wanted to visit also required you to do private testing.

Unfortunately, it's a cost people now have to stump up to go on holiday.

WeeFae · 27/05/2021 13:54

The test needs to supply a fit-to-fly certificate to be able to board a plane, the free tests do not provide this. They take your passport number & the test result is then attached to your passport. You need to pay for it.

Grumblesigh · 27/05/2021 13:57

@Moondust001 The test for leaving the UK depends on the requirements of the country you are going to.

WeeFae · 27/05/2021 13:58

I flew with Ryaniair, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus during April for essential reasons and they all required a fit-to-fly certificate.

roguetomato · 27/05/2021 14:04

If you are in a surge area, guideline was to avoid unessential travelling anyway? If you must go on a holiday, I think you certainly should pay.

Moondust001 · 27/05/2021 14:08

[quote Grumblesigh]@Moondust001 The test for leaving the UK depends on the requirements of the country you are going to.[/quote]
No, it doesn't. Air carriers leaving the UK are required by law to ensure that the correct entry requirements for the country are met (and that applies whether it is related to Covid or not), and they are also obliged by law to accept only those documents /app's which the government lays down. The government has been exceptionally clear - and how often does that happen? The only PCR tests acceptable for travel from the UK are those provided through a private provider and which meet specific criteria. The NHS (and any related test), even if it is exactly the same test does not qualify. If the country you are entering does not require any certification, then that is one thing. If they do you cannot use the NHS test, and that has been clearly stated. Any airline not in compliance can be fined. And they have every right to turn you away without refund or compensation if you do not have the correct documentation to travel. And this has happened. So if the OP is still happy to take the risk, then that is their choice.

ChairmansReserve · 27/05/2021 14:08

You need a certificate. Not just a test result
The certificate is only available privately.

We went abroad in December and had to pay for private tests for all four of us. Extremely expensive but it was our choice to travel, as it is yours.

strangeshapedpotato · 27/05/2021 14:11

Lol - yeah OP - get a free test, you'll be fine....

GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

Method · 27/05/2021 14:45

This is Tory land, nothing comes for free. You will also need a test before coming back (likely free in the country you are visiting) and book a day 2 (green list country) or day 2 and 8 (amber list) for roughly £200 per person over 5 year old travelling. The tories don't like to annoy rich people though, so if you have money you can get out of quarantine on day 5 if you pay for another test.

amicissimma · 27/05/2021 15:23

"This is Tory land, nothing comes for free."

Nothing comes for free anywhere in the world. In some countries taxpayers pay for holiday-makers' and other travellers' tests. In others, the person choosing to use the service pays for it.

Wanttocryatthecost · 27/05/2021 16:05

You have to use the private testing. My husband has had to come and go a few times due to work. He’s had to produce his ok to fly cert each time. He witnessed others being pulled over, one for producing a fake test, not sure what others were for, possibly not having the correct test 🤷🏼‍♀️