Need to work day after arrival - think I have to cancel

[NotJustACigar]

We are due to go to Spain in late January, arriving back on a Saturday at 11pm. DH needs to work (in person, can't work from home) on Sunday evening starting at 5pm. We have booked via Jet2.
We booked before the day 2 PCR requirements came in, and given how quickly we would need the results back, it's looking like we can't go.
I think we will have to amend our booking - don't think we will get a refund. But DH almost always has to work in person on a Sunday so it will have to be after the PCR test requirement goes away.
Any advice welcome if there's anything I'm not thinking of please? Gutted to be missing our holiday (I know we aren't the only ones and things could be obviously much worse but it's disappointing). At least I've heard Jet2 are being good and helpful.

I think you can get PCR tests done at the airport now - that would speed things up a bit and they aim to get results back to people within 12 hours.

Having said that - can't your dh just swop a shift? Or tel his employer he can't do it because new legislation was brought in after he booked his holiday?

Can you fly back Friday instead? Book an express test for Sunday morning that guarantees results by lunchtime, if you can afford the huge extra cost?

FIL flew in Boxing Day, had the airport test and it took 48 hrs to come back, was supposed to be 4. I'm guessing the Christmas influx didn't help but you'd think LHR would have predicted it.

Surely though if he is positive then work have to accept that

You can book expedited pcr tests. My nephews fly in for school and they have tests booked on arriving with results next morning. They are more expensive though

I’m in this situation if things continue. Booked in October when day 2 was LFT only.
We arrive back Tuesday night and I have to work Thursday morning.
I’m going to amend to Sunday flight if things don’t change, as no Monday flight. It will make our holiday 8 nights rather than 10.

Oh but not going until April

You understand that it is on or BEFORE day 2 right. There are plenty of places you can book locally that do fast turn around tests they just cost more. I would say amend your flight to an early morning sat so you are back before lunch and still have 24 hours to get test returned. Really shouldn't be an issue.

How often do Jet2 fly the route? Can you cone back on the plane before?
OR, does the airport have a fast turnaround centre on site. Get the test done at midnight, and chances are it will get turned around Sunday daytime.

You can book 4 hour turnaround tests. Costs a bit more

If you can make changes or get a refund I would leave it as late as possible to make a decision. The rules may well change again as they don’t seem to be making any difference.

cant

Get a PCR at the airport on arrival. I landed home in the afternoon, PCR in the airport, result guaranteed by 6am the next morning. All good.

Unfortunately because we arrive at 11pm the airport testing centres seem to be closed. Flying into Manchester. I did think maybe we could stay at an airport hotel on arrival and test at the airport the next morning but that seems to break self isolation rules? But that's a good idea to try to come back earlier - even arriving Saturday early afternoon should be OK. I will ring Jet2.

Unfortunately there are no earlier flights - what a nuisance.

Remember the isolation rule was introduced to try to curb the introduction of omicron - it’s pointless now. Wait until the next travel review in the first week of Jan if you can, as it may be dropped with any luck!

I would wait until closer to the date in case requirements change again. Use the time to investigate if your DH can get a rapid turn round test anywhere. Availability depends very much on your location. They are more expensive but only your DH would need it. We did Randox, dropped off at 10am and had our results back by the time we got up the next day which would be fine for the rest of the family.

Has anyone every been checked re not waiting for the Day 2 result before going out? Seeing as you will have had a LFT to come back into the country and Omicrom is everywhere it seems over the top.

Wonder if they will change the rules at the beginning of Jan or whether it will stay as is(I think it will stay as is)

Do you have a Randox drop box/lab close to you? If so, order the tests before you go and bring them in the car to the airport, then do them in your car as soon as you land, drop off on your way home. We’ve done this a couple of times and the results have always come through v quickly, within 12 hours. **Caveat - we’re in N Ireland so are dropping old at Randox labs in Antrim, knowing they’ll be picked up and tested within hours. I would assume there are similar labs all over England though.

We are landing late on our return and the Drop boxes don’t seem to be open. So will do very first thing the next day.

A lot of the drop boxes aren't available after 5 and even if you can drop off late won't be collected until the next day. I checked every drop box between home and the airport for our return.

So at Heathrow the box closes at 1700 but I take that it means no more collections after that time - not that the boxes are completely closed for drop offs, they just won’t be collected until the next day but at least its out of the way.

No idea about Heathrow but in some places the drop boxes are inside places like pharmacies etc so inaccessible outside open hours. The nearest 2 to us were closed ghd entire Christmas period.

If you book in for 7am with Randox at the airport on Sunday you're very likely to have them back quickly (they did mine within 1.5 hours).

Also hasn't it been said the testing will be removed in Jan? So if you're at the end of Jan may not even need to test