UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Does anyone have any first hand experience of the check-in and arrival process for travelling from Spain to the UK? I need to fly in and out on the same day in July (after 19th) but I'm hearing and reading bloke down the pub comments that the airlines won't allow you to board without the pre-booked tests. I know legally I need the antigen test and I know I don't need to book the PCR for day 2 and 8. I won't be leaving the airport. I need to do the same in August but travelling between airports, hopefully the mess will be clear by then.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

You can’t get on the plane from Spain to UK unless you have the number you get when you book the track and Trace package. It’s about £200 per person.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

As I feared, thanks for sharing. There must be a way around it as it's covered in the government guidelines Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer air travel for passengers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Looks like a chat with the airline is in order, currently number 764 in the queue so may get an answer in time:unsure:

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

I would not relly on this or indeed ANY UK government guidelines. They have no control over what rules & regulations are imposed in Spain.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

they have you over a barrel when your at the airport. You either pay for the package or they don’t let you check in and you miss your flight

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

According to the. Gov website if transiting through England you don't need to book the 2 tests.
If you remain "airside" then you are in no man's land.

See here.

When you transit through England

You do not need to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test on arrival or on day 2 and day 8.

This applies if you are transiting ‘airside’ or ‘landside’.

If you are transiting landside, you must be entering the UK for the sole purposes of continuing a journey to a country outside of the Common Travel Area. The Common Travel Area is the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

You must either:

• remain within your port of entry until your departure from England, or
• travel directly from your port of entry to another port of departure in England

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Ryanair are adamant they will let me board as long as I have completed the passenger locator form and have the antigen test results with me. I've saved the chat so should be OK.

Stingychips hopefully the online check in will negate that one.

missile I hadn't considered that. Can they stop me leaving? The last time I travelled outside of Spain by air the only person who asked for test results was the lady at the check in desk for the internal leg of the journey. I told her it wasn't required for the final destination and the story ended there.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Sorry, I have no idea. I suspect the only people who will be checking are Ryanair. Hopefully you will get a response from them before you travel. You might like to try their facebook page or here Ryanair Discussion (airlines-inform.com).

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Here’s the update. Relatively simple but Ryanair are being over cautious, I’m guessing they get fined if someone arrives without the correct documents.
Leaving Spain I was asked by Ryanair for the EU Covid passport and antigen results. Not sure why they asked for the EU version if the UK don’t accept it but not a problem.
Upon arrival in the UK I wasn’t asked for any paperwork but the e-gate rejected me along with anyone transitting which may indicate the PLF is effective. I had an in person check with no questions about vaccines or tests.
On the return journey Ryanair were very thorough. Upon arrival everyone had their QR code scanned and you receive text confirmation with some medical advice.

All in all very simple as long as you have the correct paperwork. The most time consuming part is the online check-in. You need a seat number for a PLF and you need a PLF to check in.

For the test to enter Spain, I booked my daughter a LAMP test at the airport. It was 65 GBP for a 90 minute turnaround. Much simpler, reliable and cheaper than Boots etc..

As an aside for the stamping debate, the first question I was asked after scanning the passport was to see my residency card, indicating the passport scan showed I am a resident. My daughters passports were stamped without any questions.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

I have a Ryanair flight to England on 12 August. I have just booked a seat at the moment as I got stung twice last year due to changes. First: is a lateral flow test okay for entering UK and for Ryan air? Second: where and when do I get PLF? Third: where do I get the tests for 2nd and 8th day and what is thd procedure if you cant leave your house for posting etc. Also can it be done on a phone as I will have no wi-fi when quarantining
TBH I am hoping they will be accepting EU vaccination passport by beginning of August!

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

No you need the PCR test. Then I had to book a track and trace package and show ryan air the number you get once you have booked it. If you don’t have that number they won’t let you board. Then you get the home testing kits through post at the address you are registered with. It’s a massive head ache really. They ring your phone everyday as well during the ten days to make sure you are isolating and I even had an nhs track and trace person nock on the door one day to check I was there.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Where do you get the track and chase test from? How does phoning verify you are isolating?
Also why are NHS tracing people who arent NHS registered? I am a bit confused Iust say

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

See link and extract of text from the page

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavi...ing-to-england

Type of test

You must make sure that the test provider you choose can meet the standards for pre-departure testing.

The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.

This could include tests such as:

• a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests
• an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device

It’s your responsibility to ensure the test meets the minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details. You must check with your test provider that it meets those standards.

You may not be able to travel if the test does not meet these standards. It’s your responsibility to ensure you get the right test that meets the above requirements.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

So a lateral flow test is okay?

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

if you mean an NHS test, no. Go to your local clinic and ask for an antigen test suitable for travel. It’s should be around €20. You can have PCR, LAMP or antigen. If you were Vader in the UK then that’s acceptable.

For Spain, LAMP or PCR is required if you don’t have a vaccine passport or certificate. Spain accept the NHS version, the UK don’t accept the Euro version.

For day 2 and/or 8 test it’s not a requirement for the airline. The requirement is that you upload the passenger locator form. On that form you must have uploaded the reference number for the tests or explained the reason why you are exempt, in my case because I was staying for less than 2 days.

Isolation rules are as per the government website.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

They wasn’t going to let us on the plane unless we had the nhs home testing kits booked. We did the passenger locator forms and they still wasn’t going to let us board. They have you over a barrel once you have your flight booked. There were plenty of upset people complaining but the check in worker was not letting anyone check in who hadn’t paid the £220 per person home testing package. We flew back with ryan air from Barcelona airport.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Doesnt make sense you are saying that a Spanish person couldn't board the plane if they didnt have an NHS testing kit but had another type recommended by UK government?

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You had to have a reference number which you get once you book the nhs track and trace package. That was the thing the check in worker was checking. You get the number once you have paid for your home testing kits and filled
all your passenger locator details in. It’s a scam. £200+ per person for two measly home testing kits.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Now they are only asking for the locator form and proof of negative test carried out within 72 hours. You can't get the locator form without the without uploading the track and trace reference or the exemption.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Great news and fingers crossed this means we wont need to quarantine come August!!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sed-month.html

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

They'll announce that the same day that they make Spain amber plus, or am I just cynical?

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

yep that’s what it was with us. And if you are not exempt then you have to pay for the track and trace tests. It’s a scam.

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Something like 150,000 Brits arrived in Spain this weekend alone. If the UK government changed Spain to amber plus at the end of this week it would cause absolute total chaos.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

In that and other reports I've read, it says that initially Brits registered with a UK GP but double-jabbed abroad will be able to apply to that GP to get their jabs recognised, and thus avoid tests and quarantine.

Not of any help to the vast majority of us, I wouldn't have thought, since most won't be registered with a UK GP.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Precisely. This isn't helpful at all to anybody like me and makes me wonder where these rule making people live? We have been double jabbed in Europe and have a European Covid certificate as we are registered on the health service in Spain/Italy/France wherever .... so why would we still be on a GP's list back in the UK?
What about people like my kids as well? Dual citizens with British passports but born in Italy so have never ever been on a UK GP list. Unless I'm missing something, it's utter nonsense.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Suddenly I need to return to London asap. This thread has been very helpful, thanks.

I'm off to my GP office to see about a pre-flight test - if they don't do them (or they can't do one for a while) are there other providers I can go to?

Many thanks.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Most of the larger airports have testing facilities onsite now, otherwise if you’re in a large town or city just google antigen testing. I believe the airports are charging around 45. I always get mine at a university clinic as they charge 20 and the proceeds stay in the system. However, with short notice you’re best with the airport. They do quick turnarounds.
good luck

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Thank you.

Re: UK arrival PCR test experiences
 

Update. I made the trip again this weekend with some differences that make it worth posting as the paperwork is slightly different. But the same as normal travel, if you follow the instructions from the airline it's very simple.
I flew to Stansted on Saturday and returned from Gatwick on Sunday meaning I was able to avoid booking the day 2 PCR tax test. All I needed to enter was an antigen test sertificate and the UK locator form specifying we are exempt from testing due to land side transitting. This is the tricky part as you have to state that you're staying in the UK, then select exempt and select the relevant transit option. Technically transitting should be complete within 24 hours but it's not a legal requirement.

We had to use the no EEA and non UK border desk which was a major result as there was no queue. We offered the PLFs and he told us he could already see them as it's linked to the passport and we asked the official if we had completed the forms correctly. He told us it was fine and that as long as you leave before day 2 you can avoid the tax test and go as you please during that period. Arrival day is day 0. He said if you try to beat the system by not taking the outgoing flight you'll get away with it until the next time your passport is scanned, at which point you'll suffer the consequences.

At Gatwick we had to show our vaccination certificates and Spanish locator forms. I'm not sure why they needed both as it's already uploaded on the PLF, possibly to do with UK certificate compatibility. Back in Spain it was the usual simple process of showing residence cards to avoid the passport stamp and scanning the PLF QR on our phones.

I'm not sure what the 3 hour check in is all about. Security was a breeze and then we had to sit in the shopping area pig pen until 1 hour before the flight when they announced the gate number. We tried to access a lounge to avoid the crowds but they all closed at 3pm. For reference, Stansted lounges are closing at 5pm.