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Original poster

So confused

16 replies

SrahJane · 05/08/2021 23:05

Hi everyone

I am so confused regarding the testing situation, the more I read the more confused I get. myself and husband are both double jabbed. If we go to a country on the green list, does this mean we need a test 3 days before we return and to have a test on day 2 back in England. Is it the same requirements for amber also.

I was also wondering if you have to have a day 2 test on your return to England, does this have to be pre booked before you travel. I saw somewhere that you need a code for this to put on your passenger location form!

I just don't feel the stress is worth it, If I were to get it wrong and we lose all that money, or get sick!

Thank you for your help

OP posts:
churchroad · 05/08/2021 23:28

You are correct in your assumptions! Green and Amber are the same if you are fully vaccinated. The day 2 test needs to be booked before you return so that you have the code to input on your locator form 48 hours before you depart your holiday location to come back to the UK.

mrsrobin · 06/08/2021 13:08

It does seem a bit of a rigmarole but I recently went abroad and did exactly as you are talking about - not so bad really. It can't be that bad - I am planning another trip!

Nootkah · 06/08/2021 13:13

Yes to everythinf youve said. You've got it right.

IsabellesMissingSock · 06/08/2021 13:56

@mrsrobin

It does seem a bit of a rigmarole but I recently went abroad and did exactly as you are talking about - not so bad really. It can't be that bad - I am planning another trip!
Same here! Figuring out where I will be Abel to go early Oct given that I recently had covid and may test positive on a PCR for up to 90 days so anywhere that requires a pre-U.K.-departure negative PCR is off the list for me.

Don't even know why I am planing so ahead of time as the rules change so often anyway, but it gives me something to think about looking forward to!

Pissinthepottyplease · 06/08/2021 15:02

Yep. There are different rules for babies and young children. I’ve just bought our tests through the company TUI suggests and because I’ve booked with them it’s only £20 per person for a preflight LFT and 2 day PCR.

Original poster
SrahJane · 06/08/2021 17:17

thank you so much everyone. really appreciate the help. I've a 16 year old so I have to figure out what the rules are there too xx

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 07/08/2021 14:01

Your 16 year old will need the pre flight test, the pre return Test and the Day 2 test. You can put them on your UK passenger locator form rather than filling one out for them.

I travelled to a green country and booked:

  1. a Fit to Fly PCR test for less than 72 hours before our departure (check your flight time!)
  2. a Day 2 PCR test to take on our return (this can be booked to be done at the airport when you land as it has to be "on or before" day 2. Some U.K. airports have this available)
  3. the resort I stayed in did the LFT For to Fly test required to return to the U.K.

This was needed for everyone over 12. I could include DD on my U.K. passenger locator form though.

Once I had it all straight in my head, it was only the stress of someone maybe testing positive that remained!

Remmy123 · 07/08/2021 14:12

@SoupDragon isn't it 72 hours before landing not departing?

V confusing

SoupDragon · 07/08/2021 14:27

I don't think it can be. Ours wasn't (by about an hour)

SoupDragon · 07/08/2021 14:33

The U.K. return test specifically mentions that it is the departure of the service.

You need to check the requirements specific to the country you're going to plus the departure requirements of your airline I think. Turns out the country I went to needed to be a test within 7 days for the flight but the airline wanted 72 hours.

It is a minefield. I had to write it all down as a list to get it straight in my head before I went.

myrtilles · 07/08/2021 14:34

the outward PCR for non vaccinated teenagers needs to be done within 72 hours of arrival time in the destination country not departure time.
The antigen tests to return to the UK need to be done within 72 hours of the time your plane/ferry departs not the arrival time in the uk.
The difference between green and amber as I see it is that if you are a non vaccinated adult you can travel back from a green country without having to isolate whereas you would if travelling back from an amber country. For vaccinated adults there seems little difference between green and amber.
I would definitely check foreign office advice for the country you are visiting as at one stage some amber countries had foreign office restrictions and others didn't and that can affect insurance validity.
If anyone is taking Eurotunnel or ferry and self driving don't forget to check your car insurance as we had to pay a supplement for driving abroad (a few years ago our insurance said uk and europe but we found out the european cover is only third party unless you pay for the green card).

MajesticWhine · 07/08/2021 14:36

Yes it's a big faff but worth it if your desperate for some sun.
You don't have to book your day 2 test until you are due to return to the uk. You need to put the booking number on your passenger locator form for your return - so you don't actually need to book it until a couple of days before you fly back.
Also you can take lateral flow tests with you in your suitcase ready for your return to the uk. So no need to find a test site while abroad. You take a photo of the lateral flow test and send it off and get a certificate by email. (Nb these are specific lateral flow tests you buy not the nhs ones.)

MajesticWhine · 07/08/2021 14:38

You're not your

SoupDragon · 07/08/2021 14:40

the outward PCR for non vaccinated teenagers needs to be done within 72 hours of arrival time in the destination country not departure time.

This depends on the destination country.

MrsFezziwig · 07/08/2021 14:44

I thought the relevant section on the gov uk website told you exactly what the rules were and what you have to do? I certainly wouldn’t rely on what some randomer told me on an internet forum.

Obviously there is always the possibility of getting sick and not being able to return as planned, which is the reason I’m not bothering with abroad at the moment. Whether you are comfortable with that risk is an entirely personal matter.

myrtilles · 07/08/2021 18:03

Yes definitely check the gov uk website and the website of the airline or ferry company you are travelling with. However one can find useful info from other travellers too. Eg. on covid tests that can be done abroad by photo or videocall. The gov website is also not that informative if one is driving across country borders as it is all based on travelling into and out of the UK. The UK passenger locator forms are not well worded in places as they do not appear to have been properly adjusted for vaccinated people returning from amber countries. There is also nowhere to put the day 2 test number for a child being listed on an adult's form.

We ordered our day 2 tests before departure as they were delivered by courier so we needed to be at home to receive them.

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