Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Return to UK covid tests
Lolalime · 14/12/2021 07:06
My question is do you use the covid tests in the country you are returning from or have to take a test yourself kit from here?
oreosoreosoreos · 14/12/2021 07:17
Bought kits from C19 testing (think they were £22 each). Do it whilst over there, send them the results and then they generate a cert for you to show at the airport and to put on your passenger locator form.
Remember if you’re only taking hand luggage to separate out the little vial of liquid into your clear bag.
SagittariusDwarf · 14/12/2021 08:59
@Lolalime
Either is fine.
Cornucopia55 · 14/12/2021 21:43
I have taken lateral flow test kits & done it there. Felt very smug having it all arranged for under £20 and took minutes, while others at the hotel were wasting hours going out to test centres or waiting for testers to visit, and all paying far more.
You do the test and upload a photo of the result & they send you a digital certificate.
Your airline may well have a discount codes page for test suppliers, eg here's the BA Covid tests discount page
The Moneysavingexpert page on Covid tests for travel is great for explaining what you need & how to get it cheaply.
Lolalime · 14/12/2021 22:08
Thank you, the country we are leaving requires pre departure tests also 2 days before, could I use these??
Seems a shame to have to pay twice
DoryisinCuba · 14/12/2021 22:46
@Cornucopia55 who did you use for your tests please. There are so many options on the BA Covid page it’s difficult to pick.
Thank you!
DivorcedAndDelighted · 14/12/2021 23:03
@Lolalime
Seems a shame to have to pay twice
You should be able to use those, yes. You can check the UK pre-departure requirements but it's most likely that the test your host country is asking for will be fine. AFAIK it will be the airline's responsibility to check you have the pre-departure test result, so they'll just be expecting one test. The airline should be able to confirm what's required for you.
Cornucopia55 · 14/12/2021 23:07
[quote DoryisinCuba]@Cornucopia55 who did you use for your tests please. There are so many options on the BA Covid page it’s difficult to pick.
Thank you![/quote]
I have used Chronomics, Cerulean Health, and Excalibur Healthcare for myself & family members I've had to get tests for. I think they're much of a muchness really. Just pick one that's affordable!
abricotine · 19/12/2021 18:34
Has anyone used self-test lateral flows (chronomics, c19 etc) flying with Emirates back to U.K.? There is a huge ongoing thread on the tripadvisor Dubai forum where one of the experts keeps encouraging people to do a PCR locally because that’s “standard for Dubai”. So (while Emirates site says LTF is ok) am yet to find someone who’s actually used them. Would love to hear of any experience 
Franklin12 · 20/12/2021 09:50
Its a minefield isnt it. I am taking two LFT's to Spain with us using Randox. Also using Randox for Day 2 test but they use Dropboxes so you need to ensure that you check where your nearest one is.
I have also used supervised video calls earlier this year. Bit more complex and Qured were running behind on their appointments so we ended up waiting about 20 mins for an adviser to supervise us but all of this is the way of the world if you want to travel abroad now.
REMEMBER - DONT USE THE NHS TESTS. THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY CAN..
olivo · 23/12/2021 09:39
We have Uk lfts for flying back from Dubai ( not Emirates) . They don't do LFts here, only pcr tests.
abricotine · 23/12/2021 10:14
Thanks @olivo, there were rumours Emirates were not accepting U.K. LFTs brought from home but it seems to be resolving with experience as the pre-Xmas crowd leave Dubai. I feel more confident now about using mine too.
Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 25/12/2021 00:25
We are flying back next Saturday. Absolutely bricking it. so paranoid I'll have covid that it's ruined my holiday. xx
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