Covid, USA, tests, Baffled, please help

[Alorotom]

Back from another US trip using NHS tests and the Klarity cert option ... with their 3x for £20 deal - bargain and zero issues (again).

Additionally the internal flight from Orlando to Chicago and then Chicago back to the UK was great being maskless

[djc206]

Alorotom said:

Back from another US trip using NHS tests and the Klarity cert option ... with their 3x for £20 deal - bargain and zero issues (again).

Additionally the internal flight from Orlando to Chicago and then Chicago back to the UK was great being maskless

Any top tips for Chicago? We’re going to be there in early June for a few days.

[Percy.]

DJMC said:

I see Tui have dropped mandatory masks yesterday, apart from Italy:

https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/travel-informat...

Just got back from Milan and Lake Como last week and they are very strict on mask wearing everywhere that we went, FFP2 masks being the requirement. Although I have heard that they may be dropping mask requirements from May 1st

[Percy.]

W201_190e said:

Needn’t have worried to be honest, no one checked anything but our passports- parking at long stay to through security in less than 25 minutes. I’m guessing Verifly already tells them we’ve done everything but they didn’t even ask.

Just want to echo this, from dropping the car off at meet and greet to Premium baggage check in (where the lady barely looked at my negative test) and on to duty free in sub-15 minutes.

[Bam89]

Hoping to use the Klarity tests rather than paying the extortionate charges at the local test centre near me

Is it OK to use the £9.95 "Basic Antigen Test Certificate" or do I need to select one of the following

Basic+ Antigen £10.95
Standard Antigen £16.95
Premium Antigen £19.95

First trip to the US in a long time so don't want to get this supervised bit wrong!

[GCH]

Bam89 said:

Hoping to use the Klarity tests rather than paying the extortionate charges at the local test centre near me

Is it OK to use the £9.95 "Basic Antigen Test Certificate" or do I need to select one of the following

Basic+ Antigen £10.95
Standard Antigen £16.95
Premium Antigen £19.95

First trip to the US in a long time so don't want to get this supervised bit wrong!

£9.99 basic antigen certificate, used with an NHS test or any you have to hand.
There is no difference between the supervised and un-supervised certificates - both list a supervisor name at the bottom (strangely always the same name....must be busy )
For the most part, the airlines don't really care now either....as long as you present a negative test within the time stated, thats all they really care about seeing.

[djc206]

GCH said:

£9.99 basic antigen certificate, used with an NHS test or any you have to hand.
There is no difference between the supervised and un-supervised certificates - both list a supervisor name at the bottom (strangely always the same name....must be busy )
For the most part, the airlines don't really care now either....as long as you present a negative test within the time stated, thats all they really care about seeing.

And even the airlines don’t care as they’ve mostly entrusted an app provider to do that for them. I just did the self bag drop at Heathrow when I went last, never spoke to a human, veriFLY did all the leg work.

[Bam89]

Excellent, that sounds ideal! Thanks both

[FastNLoud]

Anyone flown to the US with virgin recently? Do they have an app like veriFly or do you just take paperwork?
Thanks

[Alorotom]

FastNLoud said:

Anyone flown to the US with virgin recently? Do they have an app like veriFly or do you just take paperwork?
Thanks

Yes.

They have their own portal rather than an external app/company. This was the link they shared with me a few weeks ago - I believe it’s still the correct one: https://www.virginatlantic.com/content/vaa/www/us/...

[GCH]

FastNLoud said:

Anyone flown to the US with virgin recently? Do they have an app like veriFly or do you just take paperwork?
Thanks

They do, or you can take it to check in. Either way works.

[DJMC]

...and TUI? They don't seem to be listed on Verifly, so what's their linked app, if they have one?
Many thanks.

[DJMC]

I had stopped over thinking this and intended to use Klarity, Tui's partner for Covid tests. However...

My wife piped up this morning, asking if the Klarity home tests are "real-time" video'd whilst carried out. I'd asked Klarity about the video side in two emails but they ignored the request, referring me to their video of how to carry out the test but not how the videoing is done.

My wife showed me the current US requirements, linked to from the UK Gov site: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry...

The US require "The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection." As under...



Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/traveler...

So... could someone who has done a Klarity test confirm it's video'd in real time by Klarity, as you do it?

Thanks again.

NB. Just before posting the above I emailed Klarity again. They were quick to reply...

"We had customer who flew to the US over the holidays and used standard/premium antigen tests and never had problems.

The online appoinment with a clinician is always live and not pre-recorded.

The video appointment via a video chat while logged into the Klarity app.

Basic and Basic+ antigen tests are not supervised/witnessed hence it is not accepted to USA entry.

Regards,
Klarity"

So I went to their web site again and it looks like they've amended it in the last week to show those tests that ARE valid to the USA, the two on the right below:



So the Home test (no test sent out) the Basic and Basic+ are NOT acceptable for US entry. I understand some of you may have slipped through the net with these, but US immigration is not to be taken lightly. I'd rather be 100% sure I wasn't going to be turned back.

I've further asked Klarity:

"The Standard test, at £26.95, reads:

- Online consultation with clinician (only for test process guidance)

Does this mean the testing itself is NOT video'd by Klarity in real-time? This would not meet the US entry requirements.

The Premium test reads:

- Online consultation with clinician
- Clinician verification of ID and test result

...but this still doesn't clarify if the test is video'd real time?

Please explain how each of the above meet the US requirement for the test itself to be video'd in real-time?


Will update further when Klarity come back to me.

Edited by DJMC on Wednesday 27th April 11:22

Edited by DJMC on Wednesday 27th April 11:23

[djc206]

You can do the Klarity test real time over video link. That’s what I did but it really doesn’t matter. If it gives you peace of mind it’s the £19.95 option (if you’re supplying your own test). They verify the test, your identity documents and watch you do the test, what a glamorous job huh?

[DJMC]

djc206 said:

You can do the Klarity test real time over video link. That’s what I did but it really doesn’t matter. If it gives you peace of mind it’s the £19.95 option (if you’re supplying your own test). They verify the test, your identity documents and watch you do the test, what a glamorous job huh?

According to their website, the £19.95 test is NOT video'd real-time. See my updated post above.

[djc206]

DJMC said:

According to their website, the £19.95 test is NOT video'd real-time. See my updated post above.

Because it’s not the test package I mentioned. You’re looking at the ones where they send you the test, I’m referring to the one where you provide your own test and just go through the app to do the video call. If you need them to provide the test then it’s either of the two which explicitly explain they’re suitable for the US. They are video consultations carried out through the app in real time. Ie the 26.95 or 29.95 options. Seeing as you’re apparently really worried about all this just go with the £29.95 option and it’ll set your mind at ease.

[Alorotom]

DJMC said:

I had stopped over thinking this and intended to use Klarity, Tui's partner for Covid tests. However...

My wife piped up this morning, asking if the Klarity home tests are "real-time" video'd whilst carried out. I'd asked Klarity about the video side in two emails but they ignored the request, referring me to their video of how to carry out the test but not how the videoing is done.

My wife showed me the current US requirements, linked to from the UK Gov site: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry...

The US require "The testing procedure must include a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection." As under...



Link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/traveler...

So... could someone who has done a Klarity test confirm it's video'd in real time by Klarity, as you do it?

Thanks again.

NB. Just before posting the above I emailed Klarity again. They were quick to reply...

"We had customer who flew to the US over the holidays and used standard/premium antigen tests and never had problems.

The online appoinment with a clinician is always live and not pre-recorded.

The video appointment via a video chat while logged into the Klarity app.

Basic and Basic+ antigen tests are not supervised/witnessed hence it is not accepted to USA entry.

Regards,
Klarity"

So I went to their web site again and it looks like they've amended it in the last week to show those tests that ARE valid to the USA, the two on the right below:



So the Home test (no test sent out) the Basic and Basic+ are NOT acceptable for US entry. I understand some of you may have slipped through the net with these, but US immigration is not to be taken lightly. I'd rather be 100% sure I wasn't going to be turned back.

I've further asked Klarity:

"The Standard test, at £26.95, reads:

- Online consultation with clinician (only for test process guidance)

Does this mean the testing itself is NOT video'd by Klarity in real-time? This would not meet the US entry requirements.

The Premium test reads:

- Online consultation with clinician
- Clinician verification of ID and test result

...but this still doesn't clarify if the test is video'd real time?

Please explain how each of the above meet the US requirement for the test itself to be video'd in real-time?


Will update further when Klarity come back to me.

Edited by DJMC on Wednesday 27th April 11:22

Edited by DJMC on Wednesday 27th April 11:23

There is no “slip through the net” the certificate provided by Klarity is identical irrespective of what option you choose from the basic £9.95 certificate only to the top level option.

US Immigration aren’t involved in any of the process for checking details or test results - it’s all conducted precheckin or at checkin if you have to not use an app/portal.

Once the info is shared with the checkin staff you’ll never be asked for it again while travelling - if it’s done precheckin (ie with VeriFLY) not even the checkin staff will ask for anything other than to check your app approval.

By all means waste money on higher level testing processes but do be clear it is a waste.

[DJMC]

@djc206: You said "If it gives you peace of mind it’s the £19.95 option" but thanks for correcting. It is indeed either the £26.95 or £29.95 tests ONLY which are valid for US travel, and for peace of mind.

Klarity just replied to my further email:

"As stated earlier, ALL video appointments are IN REAL TIME and not pre-recorded REGARDLESS even if it is a STANDARD or a PREMIUM test."

STANDARD = £26.95
PREMIUM = £29.95

[Petrus1983]

DJMC - with respect you should go for the one that gives you the peace of mind you want irrespective of cost. A lot of people (including myself) have said they’ve used the £9.95 test to regularly fly to America with zero problems. All this stress seems unnecessary for the sake of £50 or so.

[DJMC]

Alorotom said:

There is no “slip through the net” the certificate provided by Klarity is identical irrespective of what option you choose from the basic £9.95 certificate only to the top level option.

US Immigration aren’t involved in any of the process for checking details or test results - it’s all conducted precheckin or at checkin if you have to not use an app/portal.

Once the info is shared with the checkin staff you’ll never be asked for it again while travelling - if it’s done precheckin (ie with VeriFLY) not even the checkin staff will ask for anything other than to check your app approval.

By all means waste money on higher level testing processes but do be clear it is a waste.

Read my post above.

US require real-time video'd tests.
Klarity confirm it's ONLY their Standard (£26.95) and Premium (£29.95) tests for US travel: https://klarity.health/tuk-about-our-tests/
I'm spending £3,000 before I get to the airport. I'd like peace of mind.

To be clear, paying for the correct US test from Klarity cannot be regarded as a waste. Try to cut corners to save ten quid if you wish, but you could lose your holiday.