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Original poster

Please help: friend visiting UK from Amber country

43 replies

Lapequenalulu · 15/06/2021 22:28

I would really really (really) like (need) to have my friend visit me on my birthday in a couple of weeks. I am willing and able to quarantine at home with him but realistically he is only available for 5 days, 6 at an absolute stretch. Can anyone give advice on how this could work out with current restrictions?

I'm in London he is in Vienna

OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 15/06/2021 22:29

You can’t. He has to quarantine.

Horizons83 · 15/06/2021 22:31

He has to quarantine for a minimum of 5 days if he uses the test to release scheme. Obviously If you are happy for him to be in your house with him for that time that would work, but he could not leave the house.

Sirzy · 15/06/2021 22:35

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/austria/entry-requirements He would have to quarantine for 5 days on arrival back in Austria too

Gonegrey31 · 15/06/2021 22:35

And keep in mind the day 5 test result is unlikely to reach him until day 6 (lab will text the result but it can take 24 hrs).

Original poster
Lapequenalulu · 15/06/2021 22:53

I am willing to quarantine with him.

Does that mean that he would need minimum 6 days to test on day 5 for release and results next day to fly?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lapequenalulu · 15/06/2021 22:59

Yes, so I'm willing to quarantine at home with him and as far as I understand he must get a test on day 5 before going back to airport 24hrs later? So he needs a 6 or 7 day trip?

OP posts:
lalafafa · 15/06/2021 23:02

Really? for a birthday, you're having a laugh.

Sirzy · 15/06/2021 23:12

Yes and then he would need to quarantine again when he got home.

Overthebow · 16/06/2021 02:04

He would need a test before flying to UK, test on day 2 and day 8 in UK, test on day 5 if wanting to release from quarantine. He would need to book all the tests before flying. He would need to quarantine for 5 days if doing test to release.

Torvean · 16/06/2021 03:12

Sounds like he'd have a lousy time. 5 days minimum inside your house. To fly home to quarantine at his own house.

daretodenim · 16/06/2021 04:29

Sounds like he'd have a total (minimum) of 10 days quarantine: 5 in U.K. + 5 in Vienna upon return.

Bionicname · 16/06/2021 05:18

Have you checked if he could even travel get a flight to the UK and back?
From the .gov.uk website linked above:
“ Entry to Austria
Entry to Austria from the United Kingdom is currently prohibited by Austrian law. Austria has issued a landing ban for direct flights from the UK to Austria from 1 June to 20 June 2021.”

PracticingPerson · 16/06/2021 05:25

How is it quarantine if he is with you potentially passing something on Confused?

I thought the quarantine would be done before meeting people?

Bionicname · 16/06/2021 05:29

I know you said your birthday is in a couple of weeks so the ban could be lifted by then but since case numbers are rising it’s not looking promising. There aren’t many flights going between the UK and continental Europe at the moment at all Sad
Eurostar might work but it’s a long way from Vienna by train and probably extortionate.
It’s shit, I know many people who’ve been cut off from family and friends for such a long time now

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 16/06/2021 05:39

@Bionicname

Have you checked if he could even travel get a flight to the UK and back? From the .gov.uk website linked above: “ Entry to Austria Entry to Austria from the United Kingdom is currently prohibited by Austrian law. Austria has issued a landing ban for direct flights from the UK to Austria from 1 June to 20 June 2021.”
Read the next para for exceptions eg residents of AustriaHmm

OP it seems a bit unfair to expect your friend to quarantine for so long here and back in Austria plus all the hassle and expense of tests just to spend your birthday with you. Unless there is another reason you've not mentioned.

sundaysurfer · 16/06/2021 05:43

The actual rules: before he leaves Vienna, he has to test negative and to book two tests in the UK (one for day 2 and one for day 8). In the UK, he has to quarantine until day 10, unless he does an additional test to release on day 5. Even if he is only staying in the Uk for a few days, he has to book the day 2 and day 8 tests before leaving.

You do not need to quarantine, even though he is staying with you (that is explicit on the government website). He can leave the UK at any time (and use public transport to get to the airport, if he absolutely has to). He doesn't need to wait until day 6 to leave.

He may want to time his departure with the results of his day 2 test (so, say, fly back out on day 4), if he needs a negative test to enter Austria. I don't know what the Austrian Rules are for reentering from UK, but if they are not already 10 day quarantine with some kind of test to release around day 7, I think they may well be soon Sad

I hope you get to see your friend!

Bionicname · 16/06/2021 05:45

…and traveling by train from Austria would mean crossing through Germany and Belgium which would probably cause further problems with local restrictions

Bionicname · 16/06/2021 05:52

@RockingMyFiftiesNot I’ve read the next paragraph and know that technically as an Austrian citizen he’ll be allowed back in. Problem is - how will he physically get back if there are no flights?

sundaysurfer · 16/06/2021 05:52
  • sorry, I know some of the previous posters already said most of that - I just wanted to give you the complete picture.

I'm sorry about how difficult it is. Many of us who really need to see our families (I have not seen my daughter since November or my (old) parents for 18 months) or close friends are really struggling now ...

sundaysurfer · 16/06/2021 05:55

Travelling through Germany, Belgium ans France will be fine from Austria. All those countries allow you to pass through. Going back from UK, he would be allowed to pass through to at the moment.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 16/06/2021 05:57

[quote Bionicname]@RockingMyFiftiesNot I’ve read the next paragraph and know that technically as an Austrian citizen he’ll be allowed back in. Problem is - how will he physically get back if there are no flights?[/quote]
Ah ok sorry. I just assumed he would take connecting flights, if direct flights are banned. Still, more hassle & expense for the poor guy.

sundaysurfer · 16/06/2021 06:01

In other words - if he's going to drive and take Eurotunnel, it should be fine, but going back to Austria, he would probably need to do it in one go (no nighttime stop over). He won't need to fill in any online forms for German and Belgium on way to UK, but might need to do so on way back - that's not such a big deal though.

Bionicname · 16/06/2021 06:14

You’re right Rocking it looks like flights via Switzerland might be an option. Takes about 6h each way but faster than the train at least! Not sure about Swiss rules for transiting travellers from the UK.

I don’t want to sound defeatist and I hope OP gets to see her friend. It’s really hard at the moment when everyone in the UK is finally allowed to see friends and family again but you can’t see yours because of travel restrictions if they live abroad.

feesh · 16/06/2021 06:16

Direct flights are not banned - where have people got that from? Ryanair for example is still flying daily between London and Vienna.

Sundaysurfer’s post is absolutely spot on re the rules. He can quarantine with you and you can go outside but he can’t. He can also leave the U.K. before his quarantine period is up.

ChangingStates · 16/06/2021 06:19

@sundaysurfer is correct, you won't need to quarantine, just him