Are you still skiiing in France before Christmas?

[ncski]

More specifically, as a family with double vaccinated adults and at least one single-vaccinated teen that's going to need to test every day, are you still going for it?

We're due to depart at the weekend. Whole family recently recovered, not that we can evidence that for the teen in Europe. I think I've got my head around all the testing, but it's the (tiny?) prospect of one of us testing positive whilst we're over there, having to quarantine, vast extra expense, missing Christmas back home etc, that's giving me the vapours.

Please tell me you're gung ho, it'll all be fine, and you'll have a great time....

And I know the uk fco website still says: "either a PCR or antigen test" but that is what happened to him on Sunday.

No one seems to know if it's correct/ongoing

twitter.com/GardsinFrance/status/1467812781365813248

twitter.com/k161013c/status/1467472728055631876

lots of confusion but it seems like France have now said PCR only fo entry from the UK

twitter.com/chris_e_larkin/status/1467434810763354115

More people on twitter turned away from France without PCR pre-departure - anyone got any more recent info?

@Sonex, crossing posts on multiple threads. thanks for all the links, I'll check it out.

Sorry, I'll reply just on this one going forward as I need to decide whether we're going for it by tommorrow (hotel stops being refundable):

I know the websites all still say that but he had done a certified antigen test from Express Test at the drive through place at Gatwick where they do it for you and email you a certificate and QR code
www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test/?utm_source=affiliate_marketing&utm_medium=cnctia&utm_campaign=02.2021&reqid=37081293&affid=1014 - Antigen Lateral Flow Fit to Fly - because it was cheaper than the PCR ones. We've used these multiple times this year - bit the antigen and the PCR one.

But him, all his party and most of the plane were refused entry onto the flight by Easyjet to Toulouse this Sunday AM. Only people allowed on were French people with antigen tests (I think, he is still there so not sure if this is accurate) and UK people with PCR fit to fly tests only.

@Sonex, no apology needed, it was me too!

I'm actually flying into Turin to go to France with Ryanair. What are the chances I'll get a straight answer out of them?!

What a shambles.

absolute shambles, keep me posted!

I've sent DH ahead to do a reccy (visiting family in France this week) so I'll post how he gets on on the way back on Thursday. So far they've had an absolute shocker. Lost the outgoing flight cost, paid over 100 quid on top of the antigen test for a new 3 hr PCR test. Hours on a coach to Paris. A new flight from Paris to Toulouse. A wasted day on the Air BnB. A lost day of the trip. Lost deposit on a car-hire. Now he says 2 of his travelling companions are feeling unwell!

I'll see what mood he's in on Thursday but I think my chance of persuading him to try and go back to France (via Geneva) for skiing the week after are probably pretty slim! We have a 13y old who has only 1 vaccine as well so I think we'd have to do antigen tests every day for him too? Or is it every second day?

Nobody seems to know - thats what worries me.

nightmare indeed, and that's without his family. I'm looking at taking 5 of us. The costs are crazy but the cost of mistakes is really gut wrenching.

in the same boat, 1 x single jabbed teen, and as I understand it it's a certified antigen test daily for the pass sanitaire, for lifts and restaurants etc.

Following, meant to be going to France in January. My confidence in it us being sapped.

I wish we knew one way or other.

yep. if any of the governments banned travel out right, I'd breathe a huge sigh of relief and start claiming on insurance etc. As it is, I can't recover costs, and have to keep piling on more costs the closer we get, and all with this huge uncertainty and small chance of nightmare scenarios.

I've aged 5 years in the last 5 days, and I looked like shit to start with!

. if any of the governments banned travel out right, I'd breathe a huge sigh of relief and start claiming on insurance etc.

Oh me too! And also on your last line

Yip it would be easier if they said no travel. And I think it might still come to that.
But then the resorts will be desperate for turnover. The missed last season and a chunk from the year before.

Argh, another confused traveller here!

For those of you worried about testing positive and not being able to get back - if you’re a double jabbed adult, do you have to test whilst there in France? I don’t get how you would know you’ve got it and not just get back on the plane to England and do the day 2 PCR? Or do you mean once of your single jabbed kids gets it and you have to isolate, missing the flight home?

Thanks for the heads up @Sonex what a nightmare for you and your DH! As much as I can't wait to ski again I'm leaning towards hoping it all gets cancelled now.

@GonePenguin

Argh, another confused traveller here!

For those of you worried about testing positive and not being able to get back - if you’re a double jabbed adult, do you have to test whilst there in France? I don’t get how you would know you’ve got it and not just get back on the plane to England and do the day 2 PCR? Or do you mean once of your single jabbed kids gets it and you have to isolate, missing the flight home?

@GonePenguin

All travellers over 12 have to do an antigen test in France (or anywhere else) up to 48 hours prior to departure so that they can enter the UK

@Sonex I wanted to just ask exactly what kind of antigen (LFT) was refused boarding the Easyjet flight on Sunday? Was it a private fit-to-fly certificate LFT? Obviously it wasn't an NHS one? I am trying to find information about this incident online as am concerned about what we need to get the Eurotunnel to France - have done extensive research and spoken to Eurotunnel on the phone who have clearly confirmed that private fit-to-fly certificated antigen tests are sufficient for fully vaccinated travelers form the UK to France - no PCR required

@Sonex

Sorry, I'll reply just on this one going forward as I need to decide whether we're going for it by tommorrow (hotel stops being refundable):

I know the websites all still say that but he had done a certified antigen test from Express Test at the drive through place at Gatwick where they do it for you and email you a certificate and QR code
www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test/?utm_source=affiliate_marketing&utm_medium=cnctia&utm_campaign=02.2021&reqid=37081293&affid=1014 - Antigen Lateral Flow Fit to Fly - because it was cheaper than the PCR ones. We've used these multiple times this year - bit the antigen and the PCR one.

But him, all his party and most of the plane were refused entry onto the flight by Easyjet to Toulouse this Sunday AM. Only people allowed on were French people with antigen tests (I think, he is still there so not sure if this is accurate) and UK people with PCR fit to fly tests only.

@Sonex Thanks for the heads up. We have antigen tests x 4 booked and paid for but switching to PCR now.

The only problem is receiving results by midnight - I won't sleep !! we need to leave at 3.30am for the first flight!!

all his party and most of the plane were refused entry onto the flight by Easyjet to Toulouse this Sunday AM. Only people allowed on were French people with antigen tests (I think, he is still there so not sure if this is accurate) and UK people with PCR fit to fly tests only.

FWIW looking at reports/comments elsewhere a few airlines (and not all of then British) didn’t seem to have a clue, initially at least, of the new French entry requirements. Yes they are a bit complex, discriminate between vaccinated and un-vaccinated and flights originating UK in the UK are a special case but the rules really aren’t that complex.

I’m not a fan of the compensation culture but I’d seriously recommend your DH holds in to any relevant paperwork (test results, etc), checks the French rules again, and considers whether or not the airline was really justified in denying him boarding.

myflyright.com/services/denied-boarding/

@OhCobblers - thank you for explaining. Yikes, ok, that’s quite a ballache. Would you happen to have a weblink that details this further, please? ‘Bout to go break the news to DH…

I live in France and appreciate this is all an utter nightmare. I have checked the french government website just now and this is the exact translation regarding testing to enter france (updated 4th Dec);

“Please note that self-administered tests, whose results are not certified by a laboratory (e.g. tests provided free of charge by the NHS), are not authorized for travel. The NHS indicates that it will not perform any test for travel. It is therefore necessary to resort to private structures offering a similar service. There is no specific test for the new variant that has been identified”.

I’d argue that privately bought lateral flow tests that you photograph and receive a certificate for will be accepted because they won’t have the NHS text on them. Also the government website still states that pcr or antigenic tests are both acceptable for entry 48hrs before entry if vaccinated. BUT - watch out because non fully vaccinated over 12’s will need a test 24hrs before entry.

Meanwhile, the testing is an absolute pain since they made it only valid for 24hrs. They are easily available in most pharmacies and quite a lot of larger towns have “labs” which do them as well and they take 15 minutes max. They cost €25 per test though so potentially a large extra cost to the holiday.

As the season has only just started I haven’t yet heard how it’s all going regarding the pass. You might find once you arrive that you only need to show it to collect the lift passes, it seems each resort is going to figure out the best way to do it. You also might find that some restaurants are happy just to see the adult’s vaccine passes but again this will vary and I haven’t yet seen enough about how strictly it’s being enforced everywhere. If the police have been instructed to check passes then they will be strict. You don’t need a pass to get a takeaway!

Angry is an understatement, the whole thing is ridiculous. We shouldn’t need a vaccine to go skiing for goodness sake.

[quote GonePenguin]@OhCobblers - thank you for explaining. Yikes, ok, that’s quite a ballache. Would you happen to have a weblink that details this further, please? ‘Bout to go break the news to DH…[/quote]
@GonePenguin

Gov website details up to date info on pre departure tests plus PCR day 2 tests

www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19#if-you-are-fully-vaccinated

uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-between-France-and-the-UK-28918

@Lostinacloud - when you say ‘only valid for 24 hours’ is this: fully vaccinated adults have to test every day so they have a valid passe sanitaire?

I have just been reading the specific text of the French rules and PCR tests are not required - private certified antigen tests are accepted. I still don't understand what happened with the Easyjet flight!

@GonePenguin no, fully vaccinated adults will have a valid vaccine passport (called pass sanitaire) if they’ve had 2 doses and so have a completed schedule. If you download the french app - tousanticovid you can scan your nhs QR code (the 2nd dose one) and this will scan into the wallet and create an EU recognised EU covid passport. That is an easy way to show anyone who asks for it as their scanners all should work with the tousanticovid app.

The tests will potentially be required for anyone not considered fully vaccinated so including over 12’s. Recently the french government reduced the validity of test results to 24hrs.