Covid, USA, tests, Baffled, please help

[Lotusgone]

We fly to the US, from the UK next month, for a ten day holiday in Florida. We are both fully vaccinated & boosted.

The guidance has us utterly, utterly confused. The US Embassy guidance says we need tests that are supervised - in person or realtime online. Other test providers suggest you don't need this as long as you can provide a certificate with the three conditions satisfied.

We could dole out hundreds of pounds, but could someone take pity and let us know, with the least jargon necessary, what we need?

With thanks in advance. And apologies if this has been done to death before.

[Scrump]

My parents recently did a pre departure PCR test with project screen prenetics. These are supervised tests, in that identity needs to be shown at the time of taking the test (via passport) in order to prevent somebody else taking the test on behalf of the traveller. I understand this will meet the US requirements.

Cost was £69, they needed it to be within 48 hours of departure and they got the results back within 24 hours.

Seem to be a pop up type company using ‘test pods’ at local hotels etc.
https://www.projectscreen.co.uk/covid-test-locatio...

[dvs_dave]

You have to have a negative COVID at most one day before departure. The test must be supervised, by either video conference or in-person, and a fit to fly certificate issued accordingly. You can do them at the airport in-person, or at home with video supervision.

Some providers I’ve used without issue:

At airport supervised:
https://www.expresstest.co.uk/

At home supervised:
https://www.collinsongroup.com/en/covid-19-testing

[djc206]

Technically you need a supervised test taken no more than one day before departure, people report not having that checked. I just paid Express Test because I’ve used them quite a bit and they’ve never let me down. Someone like Klarity will do it for a lot less ~£30, even less if you supply your own test kit and they just have to type out the certificate.

[GCH]

The path of least hassle is to book an advance slot at expresstest on site at the airport for a rapid antigen test (rapid antigen is acceptable for the US - you do not need a more expensive PCR) an hour earlier than you normally would arrive.
It is the top option here www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test and is usually £35, reduced to 30 if you use a code.

Results emailed to you in 40 mins (mine have never taken more than 30) - grab a coffee or something. Show email to check in, off you go.

[J210]

GCH said:

The path of least hassle is to book an advance slot at expresstest on site at the airport for a rapid antigen test (rapid antigen is acceptable for the US - you do not need a more expensive PCR) an hour earlier than you normally would arrive.
It is the top option here www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test and is usually £35, reduced to 30 if you use a code.

Results emailed to you in 40 mins (mine have never taken more than 30) - grab a coffee or something. Show email to check in, off you go.

Isn't the issue with this. Some airlines use verifly for check in. Without your test you cant online checkin. So cant select seats until you're checked in at the airport.

Obviously this gets less of an issue if your in high classes.

[HotJambalaya]

pop into a a center the day before, get a cheap antigen test. Job done.

Booked mine for £28.

Honestly the person at the check in desk has no clue what you're showing them anyway, as long as they see an email with the word negative you're fine.

[x5tuu]

Even simpler and cheaper ... NHS provided LFT and Klarity for the certificate only ... €9.50 per person.

[djc206]

x5tuu said:

Even simpler and cheaper ... NHS provided LFT and Klarity for the certificate only ... €9.50 per person.

Technically that wouldn’t be the correct Klarity service though, it would have to be the supervised one which is ~£20. But yes very simple and never have to leave the house.

[x5tuu]

djc206 said:

x5tuu said:

Even simpler and cheaper ... NHS provided LFT and Klarity for the certificate only ... €9.50 per person.

Technically that wouldn’t be the correct Klarity service though, it would have to be the supervised one which is ~£20. But yes very simple and never have to leave the house.

Very true but the certificate doesn’t state if the test that the result is for was supervised or otherwise so it remains acceptable.

[r6blacky]

We are travelling to New York in April and I realise that with current rules we need to do a pre departure test here in the UK.

Is there any requirement for another pre departure test whilst in New York for the return flight to the UK?

[djc206]

r6blacky said:

We are travelling to New York in April and I realise that with current rules we need to do a pre departure test here in the UK.

Is there any requirement for another pre departure test whilst in New York for the return flight to the UK?

No

[r6blacky]

Perfect - thanks for the speedy response

[djc206]

r6blacky said:

Perfect - thanks for the speedy response

With any luck they’ll have abandoned passenger locator forms by then as well!

[r6blacky]

djc206 said:

r6blacky said:

Perfect - thanks for the speedy response

With any luck they’ll have abandoned passenger locator forms by then as well!

Yes, seems a bit overkill for a UK passport holder to need to complete a passenger locator form when they already know my address

[Truckosaurus]

Also you can't submit your PLF until 48hrs before you fly back, so you have to faff about on holiday when you know well in advance you are returning to your own address.

[GCH]

r6blacky said:

We are travelling to New York in April and I realise that with current rules we need to do a pre departure test here in the UK.

Is there any requirement for another pre departure test whilst in New York for the return flight to the UK?

Only if unvaccinated....which you won't be if you are currently visiting the US, as you won't be allowed in.

[r6blacky]

GCH said:

r6blacky said:

We are travelling to New York in April and I realise that with current rules we need to do a pre departure test here in the UK.

Is there any requirement for another pre departure test whilst in New York for the return flight to the UK?

Only if unvaccinated....which you won't be if you are currently visiting the US, as you won't be allowed in.

Yes, we will all be fully vaccinated.

[Steve Benson]

I used DocHQ tests which are supervised, £16 each or something like that. The certificate is immediate once the test is done which takes about 15 minutes. Airline and border officials we happy with the tests.

[djc206]

Steve Benson said:

I used DocHQ tests which are supervised, £16 each or something like that. The certificate is immediate once the test is done which takes about 15 minutes. Airline and border officials we happy with the tests.

Your test results were checked at the border? CBP didn’t ask us for anything to do with covid just the usual questions about return flights, itinerary etc.