Germany travel restrictions?

[EatYourFive]

Seen a couple of headlines today about potential travel restrictions for UK residents. One was in the Daily Fail but also elsewhere like this one below (sorry about the huge Link!), nothing on BBC yet.

Anyone heard anything?

inews-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/inews.co.uk/news/world/germany-travel-restrictions-uk-travellers-quarantine-two-weeks-health-ministry-1357855/amp?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16397780296497&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Finews.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fgermany-travel-restrictions-uk-travellers-quarantine-two-weeks-health-ministry-1357855

This is the latest travel risk list from the Robert Koch Institute, updated at 7pm:

www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html/

UK is still high risk but not gone up to variant risk, so I think this means no new restrictions (this week at least. Still time for another update on 24th..).

Thanks @AppleDaily! I hope you are right, supposed to fly on Monday...

@EatYourFive so Germany has now officially put the UK on the Virus Variant list. This means that all people, regardless of whether they are vaccinated, must complete a mandatory 14 day complete quarantine on arrival. They must also present proof of a negative test before arrival. I live in Germany and was supposed to spend Christmas with my family in the UK this year, since last year wasn't possible. But I can't do 2 weeks quarantine when I return, so that's another Christmas buggered.
If you've got a holiday booked I'd inquire immediately about cancellation.

@Kaw10 do you know whether transiting through Germany is still permitted without quarantine? We are due to visit family in Austria on Xmas eve but we're flying to Munich and driving down...

Hi @steelseries I'm not sure. Austria has also just tightened their restrictions for entry for everyone. Basically there's a ban on entering Germany from the UK without a very good reason, which makes your arrival in Munich tricky. You would all need negative PCR Tests before entering Germany, and then to enter Austria everyone needs to be triple jabbed or double jabbed plus PCR test (yes another one) on arrival in Austria, and quarantine until a negative result. It's so complicated and since you're not changing flights in Munich (e.g. onward flight to another country, staying airside) I'm not sure how what the regulations are.

@steelseries you'd be better changing flights to land in Austria to be honest then at least it would be a bit simpler. Whether Austria will follow Germany and place a ban on entry from the UK no one knows.

Unless the rules have recently changed, there is a ban on travel from the UK with this latest move - you can only board the flight if you’re a German national or resident. Unless you’re transitting through the airport - not continuing by road or train.

If you are transiting do you still need a PCR?

I would assume you need a PCR to even board the flight to Germany

Thanks @Kaw10 . To be honest I'm not keen on going but I know DH will be so disappointed not to see his family yet again. Hoping Austria will also ban us just so it will be clear cut.

@EatYourFive is your final destination not in Germany? I just found another website where it says that if you are connecting to another flight then you don't need to provide a negative test. But then on another site they plan to close this loophole, so that everyone needs a PCR. Honestly, with so much confusion, I'd look at cancelling.

I will be trasbiting in frankfurt so no Germany is nor the final destination. Flight tomorrow so don't think you can even get a PCR test sp quickly

@EatYourFive it may still be possible for you then. But one can't guarantee anything....we've all heard stories about gate agents who demand proof of test or whatever and refuse entry to the flight even though their info is incorrect. So much uncertainty

You have to be a German National or a resident to travel there from Sundar

Sunday

This page says that transit through Germany is permitted, including by car:
uk.diplo.de/uk-de/coronavirus

Sorry, forgot to say that it's in German. It also says that either a PCR or LFT is acceptable.

[quote steelseries]@Kaw10 do you know whether transiting through Germany is still permitted without quarantine? We are due to visit family in Austria on Xmas eve but we're flying to Munich and driving down...[/quote]
I think it is, but you need to check they'd definitely let you fly in the first place. That wasn't 100% clear when I read it last night.

I got an email from Lufthansa saying I would need a PCR even for transit so I rebooked my flights for a later date and booked a direct flight to my destination for tomorrow. I booked months ago so direct flights were now available at the time because of reduced operations.

English language version of changes

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/germany/entry-requirements#entry-rules-in-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19

@EatYourFive I'm glad you could sort it! Have a fab trip!

Thank you @Kaw10! I just thought that the way things are going I would probably get a Lufthansa clerk who'd tell me I need a PCR as that's what their email said. Not worth the stress, I'd rather pay for new flights and use the Lufthansa ones on a later date. Thankfully I chose flexible flights when booking!

@EatYourFive yep, and now I'm cursing booking with Ryanair because they were a bit cheaper. Their lovely policy of "no refunds, no vouchers, no free changes, not our fault"! Ah well, it really isn't their fault that I can't do two weeks of home office when I return

@Kaw10 that's such a shame. A two week quarantine and PCR on such a short notice is pretty harsh. I had bought an antigen test to take today before the flight as an extra measure but an instant requirement for a PCR is pretty mental, no way I could have found a testing place on Sunday!