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....

So relieved to find this very useful thread.
Son (22) is going on uni ski trip to France via Geneva. Flight 11.30am Saturday.
PCR booked to meet Swiss requirements. Clinic appointment booked for Thursday 12pm for just within the 48 hours of the flight departure.
Does the 48 hrs go from the flight time or the arrival at the French border as this could be mid/late afternoon I assume.
Son doesn't want to risk leaving the test till later in the day on the Thursday.
Any thoughts? Is the 48 hrs based on departure time?

@OhCobblers that comes up when I click for transit to France leaving the airport and even travel from EU. I read it as PCR for everyone and more testing if you stay in Switzerland. I’ve also checked an email for a Swiss air booking from Dublin, which was never on the quarantine list and they too need a PCR. Transit is clarified as not leaving the airport.

Twitter search on Geneva PCR also seems to show people being turned away without A PCR even when going to France. Personally I wouldn’t take the chance!

+++++++++NEW++++++++++

As of 4th December, the following new entry regulations apply for travel to Switzerland:

All travelers, aged 16 or older, must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, issued within 72 hours before departure.
All travelers must register online within 48 hours before departure. Should the online registration not be possible, passengers may exceptionally complete a paper form onboard the aircraft.

Travelers who are just transiting in Switzerland and are not leaving the airport are not required to provide a negative test result, however, they do have to complete the online registration.

Exempt from the test requirement are:
Persons under the age of 16
Persons who provide a medical certificate stating they have to be transported to Switzerland under an important medical emergency
Persons who provide a medical certificate stating they can't take a COVID-19 PCR test due to medical reasons

@Smashedavacado the timing generally runs from time of test to arrival in the country.

While strictly speaking you need 48hrs for France if you are from the UK, the border at the airport is pretty fluid and I don’t even see how they would control it as most people crossing won’t need any testing. I guess a bus load of students could be pulled but I’m not sure the border guards would be that motivated.

www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/0/19820/val-disere-chemist-offers-health-passport-12-15-year-old-brits.page?fbclid=IwAR1ZXzJTg16iw_ErBAFVpcbZoE-vxoO6L6FgF6ggRQZ6vmya9mvv4SPSPkc

@Suretobe I emailed the pharmacy in the article and have this back:
*
Subject:Obtaining the French “Pass Sanitaire” (i.e. Mandatory health pass) for people who have been vaccinated outside the EU (Excluding French Nationals)*

A decree was passed in the official journal on the 27/10/21 authorising pharmacies to deliver QR codes for foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated under an accepted vaccination scheme.
The Solaise Pharmacy is authorised to deliver this PASS to people vaccinated in accordance to the French Vaccination Scheme.

You are 12-17 years old:
IF You’ve only had COVID in the last 6 monthsIT’S NOT POSSIBLE YOU NEED TO BOOK TEST EVERY DAY

IF You’ve had COVID and have been jabbed once in the last 6 months
YOU CAN HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF EQUIVALENCE (the third dose will not be mandatory)

You are 18-65 years old: FROM JANUARY 15th
IF You’ve only had COVID in the last 6 months IT’S NOT POSSIBLE YOU NEED TO BOOK TEST EVERY DAY
OR
You’ve had COVID and have been jabbed once in the last 6 months
OR
You’ve had COVID and 2 doses (last dose in the last 6 months)
OR
You’ve had 3 doses of the vaccine
YOU CAN HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF EQUIVILENCE

You are > 65 years years old: FROM DECEMBER 15th
IF You’ve only had COVID in the last 6 months IT’S NOT POSSIBLE YOU NEED TO BOOK TEST EVERY DAY
OR
You’ve had COVID and have been jabbed once in the last 6 months
OR
You’ve had COVID and 2 doses (last dose in the last 6 months)
OR
You’ve had 3 doses of the vaccine
YOU CAN HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF EQUIVALENCE

In order to generate the QR code, the applicant will have to provide the following documentation:

• ID card or Passport
• The original vaccine certificate with the following mandatory pieces of information: name of vaccine, lot number and place of vaccination
• Copy of the POSITIVE TEST(nhs mail is accepted) and certificate of vaccin if you have been jabbed after covid

With these you will be able to obtain the SANITARY PASS.

You can apply by email, but the certificate will only be delivered in the pharmacy as an original. No digital version will be available as it is illegal.
NAME and SURNAME which you want to appear on the certificate must be clear on your application (many people have more than one name or surname and the pharmacy would like to make sure no mistakes are made). Write the pharmacy an email with all these details, sending one email perperson even if it’s for the whole family.
The cost of the application is 36€, to be paid in person once the certificate is delivered. You can send the application by email to [email protected]m_ with all the information and documentation attached in advance for the certificate of equivalence to be ready in time for arrival in Val d’Isère. Due to high demands allow at least 72 hours to process the information and obtain the pass. One person can come to his own family. But one manager can’t come to take his 20 client’s pass. Every person has to come himself with his ID.

@Suretobe that would be brilliant. Now just need to find a pharmacy in our resort offering the same and hope the documents we’ve got from the GP will be acceptable.

List of pharmacies that do equivalence certs here - it's in French but you can use the map to find one

www.sante.fr/obtenir-un-passe-sanitaire-en-cas-de-vaccination-letranger

Actually, there is an English version if you click on the flag....

@650above Thank you!

@TheElderleyBrothers I’m not saying it’ll 100% work but it may be worth taking proof of your son’s Covid infection and one vaccine dose to a pharmacy in your resort (only certain ones can issue the paperwork) but previous infection and one dose is currently considered fully vaccinated in france so they “may” issue your son a covid passport - pass sanitaire. Would make life a lot easier and cheaper.

So as my teens don't need PCRs for Switzerland (they're under 16) I can get mine done 72 hours prior to departure, however. my teens need to be tested 24 hours prior to departure for France rules?!

We fly to Geneva and transit to France!!

OhCobblers my son is doing the same on Saturday.
The 48 hrs for France as oppose to the 72hrs for Switzerland is certainly a pain.

@OhCobblers

So as my teens don't need PCRs for Switzerland (they're under 16) I can get mine done 72 hours prior to departure, however. my teens need to be tested 24 hours prior to departure for France rules?!

We fly to Geneva and transit to France!!

We also fly to Geneva and transit to France. So...will need PCRs for me and DH. But do we then need an antigen for DD14 as we cross border into France?! (Think nothing required for DS10?)

Have just had an antigen test in Tignes and the set up has a lot to be desired. The booking system was simple but chaos when we got here, and this is a quiet week! Hopefully they streamline the system and up the staff and size of venue before peak weeks!

However got the job done, would definitely recommend booking appointments for Christmas/New Year now.

But how is the snow @Tiggysnow .. how is the snow?!

It’s been snowing for 24 hours straight here so if anything’s there’s too much! Excellent start the season snow wise but chaos for those leaving resort today (which seems to be a lot of people).

We’re not going skiing but are going to Iceland on the 27th at 7am, the test centres near us appears to have the 25th and 26th as bank holiday and you need a test 72 hours or less before you can fly so we are basically up the creek without a paddle! Absolutely no idea what we are supposed to do 🤷‍♀️

@friskybivalves
Your 14 year old will need antigen or PCR done 24 hours before your departure as he's considered "unvaccinated and you're coming from the UK"

Your 10 year old needs nothing until you fly back though please that confirm on Uk gov site that they need fit to fly antigen to fly home and then day 2 post arrival

@Tiggysnow.. fresh powder... sigh. I'm a snowboarder. Very jealous. Hope you have a lovely time despite the chaos.

[quote OhCobblers]@friskybivalves
Your 14 year old will need antigen or PCR done 24 hours before your departure as he's considered "unvaccinated and you're coming from the UK"

Your 10 year old needs nothing until you fly back though please that confirm on Uk gov site that they need fit to fly antigen to fly home and then day 2 post arrival[/quote]
Thank you! The PCR for the teen - is that to cross from Switzerland into France then? There's a proper hard border do we think? I'm going to do it anyway as not going to risk it but I'm sure that when we've done the trip before there were no checks.

@OhCobblers

Children under 12 don't need to take a COVID-19 test in the 2 days before travel to England.

All children from 5 up need to quarantine on arrival and take a get PCR test by day 2, which can end quarantine if negative.

@Dogmum40

We’re not going skiing but are going to Iceland on the 27th at 7am, the test centres near us appears to have the 25th and 26th as bank holiday and you need a test 72 hours or less before you can fly so we are basically up the creek without a paddle! Absolutely no idea what we are supposed to do 🤷‍♀️

Can you get to an airport to be tested? That's what we are doing on Xmas day, in order to go on holiday Boxing Day.

Mmmmm. Which country currently has the simplest rules..... We haven't booked anything but are free after Xmas for a few days and would love to go.

I didn’t realise the airport test centres were open at Xmas, our nearest airport is an hour away but as long as we can get a test I’m happy to go there! I’ll Google it so thank you 😀

@650above The pharmacy in Montgenevre was listed as doing the equivalency certificates, on Sante.Fr, but I contacted them, referencing Pharmasolaise in Val D'Isere, and so far they're not having it.

I haven't quite given up yet, but so far it's just "1 jab, no pass".