Still having to do COVID tests despite being vaccinated?

[pinksaint]

I'm not planning on going away abroad this year by the way so I haven't been following what the latest rules when it comes to travelling abroad but i'm very confused I thought if you were fully vaccinated you didn't have to do all the COVID tests to be able to travel abroad? I thought that was the point in the 'COVID travel passport' or whatever however looking online unless i'm just reading it wrong you still have to test 3 days before returning to England and 2 days after returning to England, and I assume before you travel to the country aswell? So really the only difference that having the vaccine makes when it comes to travelling is that you don't have to quarantine on return from amber list countries?

I was hoping to get away next year, but definitely won't be if all this testing is still mandatory despite being fully vaccinated as it's just a crazy amount of added expenses.

Because you can still catch Covid, even if you’re vaccinated, so they don’t want you spreading it.

Vaccination reduces the risk of you getting the virus and passing it on to others, but not completely - especially with the newer variants - so I don’t think the testing requirement is going away any time soon. Other countries and airlines will have their own rules of course.
Also there’s a risk of new variants abroad popping up which are even better at evading the vaccines, so our best bet of spotting them is testing people who return from abroad and doing genetic sequencing of infections affecting vaccinated travellers (though I don’t trust the government is actually doing this much currently).
Best get your UK holiday booked before all the good places are gone for next year!

But in the same vein it makes all these domestic vaccine passports without tests to go into bars etc rather pointless

So you have to take a test 3 days before you arrive in England, so when you are still on holiday. How exactly does this work, do you take the tests with you? If so, who would test them for you when you are abroad, would you test on your holiday and will there be a postal box there to send if off or something?

It depends on the country you're travelling to - some don't need you to have a negative test if you are fully vaccinated (Spain for example). The UK is one that still insists on a negative test regardless.

With regards to how it works while you're on holiday - you can get them done while you're away - most places have loads of clinics etc. where you can go and get a test done a few days before, either in the resort or at the airport - you'd probably want to do some research before you go to make sure you knew what your options were. Or there are companies that provide LFT that you take with you and either do 'supervised' over a video call, or carry out yourself with lots of instructions and submit photos of the completed test in order to get a 'fit to fly' certificate.

It is not just the UK's rules to travel though is it? The airlines might insist on trying to prevent Covid +ve passengers on their planes, vaccinated or not. Destination countries have bespoke requirements for entry, departure and travel.

Who knows what 2022 will bring but yes you can always not travel if you don't want to do the required to do so at the time.

With the EU Covid Passport you don’t need to test, unless coming from a red list area.

The UK has come up with their own set of rules which may I say, it’s only designed to make money. Lots of money, off the average summer traveller.

@EileenGC

With the EU Covid Passport you don’t need to test, unless coming from a red list area.

The UK has come up with their own set of rules which may I say, it’s only designed to make money. Lots of money, off the average summer traveller.

I of course meant within the EU. I still need to test when I come to the UK obviously.

The UK has come up with their own set of rules which may I say, it’s only designed to make money. Lots of money, off the average summer traveller.

Correct

"The UK has come up with their own set of rules which may I say, it’s only designed to make money. Lots of money, off the average summer traveller."

If you're not happy with the rules, don't go on holiday abroad. No compulsory testing for domestic holidays.

It’s also looking increasingly likely that you’ll need to get a booster to ensure your “vaccine pass” is up to date.

@EileenGC

With the EU Covid Passport you don’t need to test, unless coming from a red list area.

The UK has come up with their own set of rules which may I say, it’s only designed to make money. Lots of money, off the average summer traveller.

Yep that's exactly what I thought and why I'm so keen to avoid going abroad even though it would be lovely to get away and relax in the sun.

Thanks everyone, makes more sense now.

I don't think it's going to change anytime soon mainly as they got so much criticism for allowing travel last year.

Some countries need tests prior this is their own rules not all. In Europe the lateral flow tests are actually pretty reasonable about 20-25 euros.
PCR testing on return is a lot more but it seems to be coming down.

@pinksaint

So you have to take a test 3 days before you arrive in England, so when you are still on holiday. How exactly does this work, do you take the tests with you? If so, who would test them for you when you are abroad, would you test on your holiday and will there be a postal box there to send if off or something?

You either get a test in resort, many hotels offer the service or you buy and take LFT with you and take a photo of the result and upload it to the company’s website. Your day 2 PCR has to be ordered in advance of your departure,

We booked our holiday through TUI and for a LFT for in resort and day2 PCR test it cost £20 per person.

Other countries are not requiring it for fully vaccinated travellers. For example, if I go to Germany it's enough that I am fully vaccinated. But not to come back into the UK.

Why? Because the government's test-manufacturing cronies need to make their millions. I hope that the requirement is lifted soon.

@Ridingthegravytrain

But in the same vein it makes all these domestic vaccine passports without tests to go into bars etc rather pointless

Yes indeed, they can't have it both ways. Either the vaccine works or it doesn't.

@GoodnightGrandma

Because you can still catch Covid, even if you’re vaccinated, so they don’t want you spreading it.

That's not the reason.

We did a 4 day cruise along the UK coastline last week with P&O. All passengers had to have proof of double vaccination, and do a LFT on the day off departure. All this despite not leaving the UK. I think travel companies are so terrified of being shut down again, they're trying to mitigate absolutely everything.

@Westchesterarms

"The UK has come up with their own set of rules which may I say, it’s only designed to make money. Lots of money, off the average summer traveller."

If you're not happy with the rules, don't go on holiday abroad. No compulsory testing for domestic holidays.

What about those of us who are British but abroad (UK taxpayers though) and would quite like to see our parent's grave seeing as during Covid we couldn't come? Will you let us in? Or do we come under your fuckwit comments?

If you're not happy with the rules, don't go on holiday abroad. No compulsory testing for domestic holidays.

I’ve just gotten off my 12th flight since the beginning of July and have another 4 booked before the end of the summer, so I’m happy to travel abroad. I’m also happy to comply with the rules and thankfully I have an EU certificate which has reduced the costs greatly, not that I’m taking only holidays anyway.

Doesn’t mean the system isn’t designed to fill a few privileged pockets with even more money than they already have.

In my job we often go abroad for a project that only pays £150. What’s the point of even taking the work if you’re going to spend 2/3 of that on stupidly expensive testing? And no, I’m not employed by a company that pays travel expenses.

It’s not just holidays, although normal families who’ve taken them this year have been the ones most affected.

You pay for the test in the country you’re visiting 3 days before you come home. You can’t take lateral flows with you. Cost will vary. You don’t need to isolate from an amber country if you’re positive, so benefits of being vaccinated. But you can still catch and pass on Covid when vaccinated. I both caught it and passed it on despite being double jabbed. If your test abroad you do 3 days before you come home is positive you need to stay there and isolate as per that countries requirements

If you're not happy with the rules, don't go on holiday abroad. No compulsory testing for domestic holidays

If we create a situation where only the rich can go on holiday you cant complain if it affects vaccine uptake.
And im saying this as someone who hasnt been abroad since 1986

@EileenGC

With the EU Covid Passport you don’t need to test, unless coming from a red list area.

The UK has come up with their own set of rules which may I say, it’s only designed to make money. Lots of money, off the average summer traveller.

Lots of money for Tory party donors who somehow were prescient enough to set up testing businesses just at the right time

I’ve just gotten off my 12th flight since the beginning of July and have another 4 booked before the end of the summer, so I’m happy to travel abroad. On an entirely different matter, I can not wait for this to be as unacceptable as drink driving - 75% of flights are taken by 15% of people and they need to bloody stop it, some of us want a planet left for our kids to live on.