The HfP chat thread – Friday 9th July

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• LessCleverAndrew says:

  9 Jul9 July 11:44

  Apologies to banging on about the same thing about the predeparture test when returning to the UK from an amber list country.

  “The pre departure test to the U.K. can be a rapid lateral flow test as long as it meets the standard. It can also be a LAMP or PCR test if you can’t get hold of a rapid test. But since a rapid test takes 30 mins for a result I really don’t see why you’d bother with anything else. – TGLoyalty”

  Totally respect that

  But the guidance goes on to say

  “Where to take your test

  ***You will need to find a private test provider to take a test.***

  You can choose to take a test:

  in the place where you start your journey
  in another count”

  Which rather contradicts the advice some ppl give about taking their own tests with them because ultimately you need to certify the result somehow, from the guidance:

  “How to provide proof of a negative test result

  Your test result can be provided as:

  a printed document
  an email or text message you can show on your phone – make sure your device is charged
  “

  • Simon says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:23

    You take the test with you, and pre-book a zoom video call with the provider, who watches you do it. Then you email them a photo of the little plastic test cassette alongside your passport. And they email you back the certificate. You dont just spit on it and wave it to the check-in staff on your way home….

  • TGLoyalty says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:23

    Why does it contradict that people can take a test kit with them?

    It’s verified by the provider via video/photo or trust and you’re sent a certificate with the result via email you show on your phone.

    If you are only out there for 2 days you can even take the test in England and fly back with the same test result.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      9 Jul9 July 12:33

      Btw all countries need a pre departure test the the U.K. so being amber makes no difference.

      Currently you can’t take an NHS test with you and use that. Which is pretty stupid of you ask me as we all get 2 free a week.

  • r* says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:28

    It means you cant take a free nhs test and use that as its not validated. Instead you have to pay money for the exact same test but where a private company like qured verifys the result and gives a certificate.

• Michael C says:

  9 Jul9 July 11:47

  Balearic infection numbers have just tripled, nightlife/restaurant restrictions now being brought in.

• MKB says:

  9 Jul9 July 11:51

  Is there any phone number that’s actually getting into a queue with BA right now? Nothing I try works.

  • Louise K says:

    9 Jul9 July 11:54

    I’ve been struggling too. Just keep redialing 😩

  • HH says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:57

    Yesterday the gold line (0800123111) got me through to a person in seconds.

    • ChrisC says:

      9 Jul9 July 14:12

      But if you’re not gold they will then cut you off and people on here have reported having being cut off.

      • HH says:

        9 Jul9 July 14:51

        Indeed, I didn’t mean to imply non-golds should chance it.

• Birdy says:

  9 Jul9 July 12:05

  Qured send you a certificate within around 30 mins of sending a photo of your negative lateral flow test and passport. I had my certificate (on my phone) checked at Heathrow by UKVI three weeks ago and there was no issue. Lots of other people have used Qured or Prenetics without any issue.

  • Birdy says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:10

    That should have been a reply to LessCleverAndrew

• Sukes says:

  9 Jul9 July 12:05

  FCDO has dropped the ‘against all but essential travel’ advice for a raft of countries inc USA, France, Spain. V helpful for insurance purposes.

  • HH says:

    9 Jul9 July 13:04

    Super! I had assumed it wouldn’t change until 19 July. I’m travelling to Switzerland on 17 July, am I right that HSBC Premier travel insurance will now cover claims like baggage theft etc. as the advice was lifted before I travelled (even though the advice was in place when I booked)?

    • Sukes says:

      9 Jul9 July 15:12

      Hi HH that’s a question to ask HSBC Premier. However for info Amex Plat confirmed to me last yr that in the same situation (booked against advice but advice lifted pre travel) they would provide me with full cover on the trip.

• Optimus Prime says:

  9 Jul9 July 12:06

  Has anyone done TTR with Randox? They say they’ll post the kit on your day 4. So if your Day 5 is a Sunday, you’re likely to receive it on Monday? Or Tuesday if they don’t even bother post it over weekends?

  • Mr. AC says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:13

    Aren’t sure about TTR, but their Day 2 / Day 8 test delivery is woefully slow. Ordered them on 1st of July, arrived to the UK 2nd of July, Day 2 of isolation (July 4th) passed and went. Called Randox – 1 hour on the line – claimed they sent the tests on July 3rd (by air from Ireland, as it turns out). They only arrived in the evening of July 6th (day 4), so 2 days late. Dropbox in central London is picked up at 4pm, so we only got our results today – Day 7.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:26

    Really wouldn’t bother by post.

  • Ikaz says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:47

    I received my day 8 test less than 48 hours after ordering it, I would recommend saying that you arrive earlier than you actually do to make sure that you receive it on time. I wouldn’t really bother a postal TTR either though, I prefer the confidence of testing in person and them having the test in the lab ASAP

  • Sam G says:

    9 Jul9 July 15:09

    check out their trust pilot. If you can then I’d go to a Collinson site, otherwise by the time you’ve got a test and returned it and waited for the result it’s hardly worth doing

• Venturelog says:

  9 Jul9 July 12:06

  Can you use Avios to make a booking on BA which includes a Loganair flight?

  • Rob says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:48

    No

• Mr. AC says:

  9 Jul9 July 12:09

  Ended up cancelling the SS DV points booking, after failed attempts to move it or extend the cancellation deadline beyond 10 days (both via IHG call center and the hotel itself). Now what to do with 180k IHG points that would be at least 50% as interesting / exciting…

  • Rob says:

    9 Jul9 July 12:47

    Mine is on – once I’ve got the flights sorted.

    • meta says:

      9 Jul9 July 12:52

      Hopefully you’ll do a review either in article or in the comments. I have a booking in August, so hopefully situation in Portugal will improve by then. Beware you now need covid certificate to enter hotels and restaurants/cafes. Not sure whether it applies to children.

      • Aliks says:

        9 Jul9 July 18:23

        We’ve been in Portugal for 10 days now and have never been asked for a covid certificate in any hotel or restaurant.

    • Mr. AC says:

      9 Jul9 July 18:34

      Great to hear it Rob and looking forward for the review! While you there, ask them to reopen reward availabilities for HfP readers please 😅

  • Toppcat says:

    9 Jul9 July 13:18

    1.8 nights at SS Seychelles…

    My SSDV trip isn’t until Sept, so I am hoping things improve by then. Sorry to hear that you have had to cancel.

    • Mr. AC says:

      9 Jul9 July 19:15

      Isn’t that priced at 200k points per night? Granted, that’s for a villa…

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