The HfP chat thread – Saturday 11th December

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Greg says:

11 Dec11 December 11:30

Going to Mauritius on Sunday. Has anybody had experience of getting a lateral flow or PCR test plus the relevant certificate required for a flight to the UK, while on the island ?
- iamlost says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 12:54
  
  I’m going this week too – I think I’m going to take a LFT test with me, probably from Nationwide Pathology, as I can’t imagine it will be cheaper to get a certificated test at the hotel.
  - patrick says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 19:43
    
    Please will you keep us posted as to how the testing situation is out there?
    - iamlost says:
      
      11 Dec11 December 23:47
      
      👍🏻
  - Robin says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 20:53
    
    If it helps, my hotel (Hilton) last week arranged for a doctor to come in each day and do PCR tests and issue a certificate. I was quoted around 1600 Mauritian rupees per person. Its about £24.
    - iamlost says:
      
      11 Dec11 December 23:48
      
      Thanks. Given the NWP LFT is £14 from memory, may as well take that with me and not have to deal with the hassle.
- Rh says:
  
  12 Dec12 December 18:50
  
  Take a C-19 test with you? Worked for us for Maldives coming back
  - Greg says:
    
    13 Dec13 December 08:51
    
    Thanks. What is a C-19 test and how do you get a certificate ?
JonnyFly says:

11 Dec11 December 11:36

Klarity tests. They offer a few “bring-your-own LFT cassette” options including upload your own video.

Does anyone have an experience of the reliable acceptance of these for:
a) the day-prior test for entry to the USA?
b) pre-return-to-the-UK?

I’ve read in prev posts that the US authorities seemed relaxed (at least prior to Omicron) – so more concerned about pre-validation for BA outbound/VeriFLY checks for return.

I’ve got an unused simplytestme Healgen cassette that appears on Klarity’s ‘suitable’ list. Don’t want to save £10-£15 if it’s a false economy. And if I do use Klarity, unsure which ‘end’ I should use it on…so to speak!
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 12:09
  
  B) as long as it meets the technical requirements of sensitivity and specificity (all U.K. issued LFTs will) then there’s no requirement for it to be supervised via video
  - Frank says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 13:47
    
    But you need a certificate to go along with it. Can you create it yourself provided you have all the information to hand?
    - JonnyFly says:
      
      11 Dec11 December 13:51
      
      My understanding is you use the Klarity app to self-video and also photo the result – upload and they issue the certificate.
      - TGLoyalty says:
        
        11 Dec11 December 14:56
        
        Why can’t sinplytestme just provide the cert?
        
        Every one of the pre and post holiday tests I’ve done have provided a cert which is perfectly suitable for travel.
- Jerry says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 18:19
  
  I’m interested too. Where is the approved test list for Klarity? Looking at their website from the Canaries they offer the cert for €9.50 just upload neg test kit photo. I have some kits with me I pay thousands for every year. This really makes a mockery of the whole testing thing. Any old test, any old person, just give us a tenner.
- J says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 18:27
  
  Can confirm this works as advertised.
  
  Purchased a €5 lateral flow from a local pharmacy in Lanzarote. Ordered the £9.95 basic covid certificate from Klarity. Uploaded photo of negative test (no need to video etc.) and certificate issued very quickly with all the required details for re-entry to UK.
  
  Will find out tomorrow if accepted at airport but looking at the certificate I can’t see why it wouldn’t be.
  - Jerry says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 20:55
    
    @J – Do post after flying to confirm the certificate was OK. I assume its only the airline checking. Easyjet didn’t seem to bother much beyond asking if passengers were double vacced for Spain entry.
meta says:

11 Dec11 December 12:19

Anybody knows how early I can check-in for Etihad’s evening flight at 7:50pm? I’d like arrive early to try the new Centuriun lounge which apprently closes at 6pm.
- Ryanfozzie says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 12:24
  
  Do they have multiple departures around that time? If they do, I wouldn’t see an issue checking in 3 hours in advance, but again, it depends…
- Sarah says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 12:25
  
  I used this lounge last week and was told that entry is only allowed 3 hours before your flight departure.
  - Go197 says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 15:34
    
    I presume the intent is to limit your stay in the lounge to 3 hours and so if you arrive 3 hours before closing they’ll probably let you in, unless it’s busy.
- TGLoyalty says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 12:37
  
  Centurion lounge won’t let you in any earlier than 4:50pm (if they stick to their T&C
  
  If Etihad still has multiple departures you might be able to check in earlier than 3 hours before.
  - meta says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 12:44
    
    There is a flight at 12:20pm, so not sure they’ll be open then check in until much later.
    - meta says:
      
      11 Dec11 December 12:49
      
      Actually just read the rules for Centurion access again:
      
      We will be happy to admit you within 3 hours of the departure time stated on your same-day, confirmed boarding pass; or if your outbound flight departs after the lounge closes for the day, we will admit you as early as 3 hours prior to the lounge closing, subject to available capacity.
      
      So it’s just a question whether Etihad will let me check-in around say 4:30pm as I doubt the lounge will be full.
      - meta says:
        
        11 Dec11 December 12:55
        
        Ok. Managed to dig the info and apparently Etihad check-in opens 3h30 minutes before the flight, so seems good.
- Tarmohamed says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 21:34
  
  2 weeks ago we entered the lounge at 5pm, buffet was gone by then. But the salted caramel muffin was 💯
TM says:

11 Dec11 December 13:08

Does anyone know who is the cheapest provider to get a passenger locator form number for a Day 2 PCR test?
- Paul Pogba says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 13:16
  
  Nationwide Pathology do one for £40: https://nwp-online.co.uk/fully-vaccinated-day-2
  - Frank says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 13:46
    
    Its cheaper to do a pre departure pcr with a fit to fly certificate
    - iamlost says:
      
      11 Dec11 December 14:22
      
      What do you mean?
- Jen T says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 14:21
  
  Randox Click & Collect is £34.99
Paul Pogba says:

11 Dec11 December 13:15

Nectar have a partner promotion, 600 points when you buy an advanced single on GWR. I’m not sure if its enough to trigger the offer but you can get a childs single from Carbis Bay to St Ives for 50p – might be worth a punt.
- Peter says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 14:16
  
  Every time I try it, it never works, last time went for similar Avanti offer and 0 awarded. Don’t bother with customer service at Nectar as they useless, unlike Amazon who’ll give £5 credit, these guys just waste time, they’ll be making up excuses not to award you, like it’s adults only, it has to be over £1, over £5.. whatever so you don’t get it 😀
- Tom says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 16:50
  
  Where do I find out more about this promotion? Can’t see it on the Nectar web site, in the app or on the GWR web site..
  - Paul Pogba says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 19:17
    
    It’s on the Nectar app under partner offers. It sounds like Ive donated a huge 50p to a summer use railway line.
- Alex says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 23:43
  
  Terms state ‘advance’ ticket. The 50p single you mention is an ‘off peak’ ticket valid on any off peak train, not an ‘advance’ which is only valid on a specific time train… unlikely you’ll find many advances less than £5 to make it worthwhile (maybe Reading to Swindon?). I think nectar/ train cos have got wise after people bought very cheap virgin train tickets to trigger bonuses.
  - Rob says:
    
    12 Dec12 December 10:03
    
    Also … a 50p ticket won’t trigger any base Nectar points (as under £1) and so it’s very possible it doesn’t trigger the bonus.
Andrew says:

11 Dec11 December 13:56

Used my Amex twice this morning in Oxford’s covered Market, and immediately got two emails confirming £5 rebates for Shop Small.

Both shops used Barclays Merchant Services machines
- Tom says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 16:51
  
  Worked on an iZettle for me earlier too..which really surprised me!
Sam G says:

11 Dec11 December 14:03

30+ can book boosters on the website now – certainly locally to me plenty of appointments for the next few days
- Mike says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 14:16
  
  As the Welsh govt said yesterday the best gift you can give your family this Christmas is a booster jab
  - TGLoyalty says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 14:57
    
    Line up … line up …
- Darko says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 14:20
  
  not around me… they still state 40+
  - Sam G says:
    
    11 Dec11 December 14:56
    
    all the wording still states it but if you log in you can book
    - Mel TS says:
      
      11 Dec11 December 15:12
      
      Yep this is how I got my first course and the booster booked in last week (over 40) – the booking goes live before they announce it or change the front page. Just keep trying and it’ll suddenly let you in. Happily boostered now and even better I have an excuse for extra chocolate as the lady doing it said ‘drink fluids and have a bit of extra sugar’ 😂
      - Mel TS says:
        
        11 Dec11 December 15:12
        
        *obvs not course and booster all at once – didn’t read that before posting.
- Tom says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 16:51
  
  Booked mine too! Woop !
- Rui N. says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 17:16
  
  Fantastic, now booked. Thanks a lot! The confirmation email asks for proof of being a carer or being immunodepressed, but I’ll assume they simply didn’t change it yet.
- BuildBackBetter says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 17:33
  
  Brilliant! Thanks!
Andrew P says:

11 Dec11 December 14:32

There is business class to St Lucia 31st Dec ref 7 jan if anyone was looking for new year away. I just booked it having been looking for a while
- Tracey says:
  
  11 Dec11 December 18:52
  
  Here now, having booked CS/ CS just 4 days before!