Halo Verify Sofitel T5

[AFKAE]

Would I be right in assuming that on making a booking with Halo Verify, a UK PLF code is issued in the same way as ordering a test by post? Thanks.

[elguiri]

I made a booking for HaloVerify and the codes for PLFs were sent in confirmation email (also displayed on screen on payment complete).

[AFKAE]

Thanks.

[truthbetold]

How does Halo work when you arrive at the Sofitel? Do you all queue so May have long delays? Presume the booking time relates to the expected flight time and not 30mins later when you might (if lucky) get to the test centre

[Ibblybibbly]

I went to Sofitel at 9.30 pm and quickly collected my pre-ordered test from Reception. Somewhat ignominiously I then went to the Gents to complete the test, basically filling the tube with spit. I believe that from 0700 to 1900 there are Halo staff there to help, and presumably some sort of booth to perform the test. I followed the instructions, packaged it up and handed it back to Reception. I received my -ve result at 9.21 am the following morning. Very impressed and would recommend.

[Rui N.]

Oh, the test centre doesn’t need to be “open” for you to be able to use Halo at Sofite? That’s great to hear, as my flight will likely arrive at 7PM.

[Ibblybibbly]

Correct. I was concerned as my flight arrived at 8.45 pm so I rang HALO and they confirmed you just show booking ref. to reception and they will sort you out. Worked far easier than I imagined.

[Rui N.]

That’s awesome to hear. Many thanks.

[modestpointscollector]

Anyone done a Halo recently during normal hours and any expectation on how long the results took please? The wording keeps changing (the window is getting bigger) on the site. We are coming back from NYC on Xmas day morning and were hoping to go straight to my parents near Heathrow after doing an LFT as soon as we jump in the car, but since the changes we have been looking for a 3hr PCR which no one seems to be doing for this new 2 day arrivals test. Halo seems to be the best available option currently, so have paid our money and will have to see.

Current plan is to isolate at a hotel room near parents and wait for Halo result to come through which we realised might not be until the next morning, but better than nothing. Of course we’re hoping it comes through during the day at some point, we land at 8am-ish so might make it in time for Xmas dinner? 🙂

• This reply was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by modestpointscollector.

[Andrew J]

My understanding is that if you’re staying with your parents, you put that as the isolation address and you isolate there, with them. That’s within the rules – you’re not required to isolate on your own. And they are free to come and go as they please during your isolation period.

[Andrew J]

All the guidance is here and makes it clear you’re free to isolate with family you are staying with:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england

[davefl]

modestpointscollector wrote:

Anyone done a Halo recently during normal hours and any expectation on how long the results took please? The wording keeps changing (the window is getting bigger) on the site. We are coming back from NYC on Xmas day morning and were hoping to go straight to my parents near Heathrow after doing an LFT as soon as we jump in the car, but since the changes we have been looking for a 3hr PCR which no one seems to be doing for this new 2 day arrivals test. Halo seems to be the best available option currently, so have paid our money and will have to see.

Took 4 hrs 40 mins to come through after testing at 11am on Sunday. I was still in galleries south waiting for my connection, isolating in the corner with several glasses of red.

No idea if they’ll be as quick in the lab in xmas day.

[modestpointscollector]

davefl wrote:

Took 4 hrs 40 mins to come through after testing at 11am on Sunday. I was still in galleries south waiting for my connection, isolating in the corner with several glasses of red.

No idea if they’ll be as quick in the lab in xmas day.

Thanks for the info. Like you said no clue what Xmas day will be like. Fingers are crossed.

[modestpointscollector]

Andrew J wrote:

My understanding is that if you’re staying with your parents, you put that as the isolation address and you isolate there, with them. That’s within the rules – you’re not required to isolate on your own. And they are free to come and go as they please during your isolation period.

Yeh I probably dumbed it down a bit too much for my post, there’s no real option to stay with my parents as my sister is there with her family and due to fly back home before the New Year – the last thing we want to do is test positive and ruin it for everyone.

Andrew J wrote:

All the guidance is here and makes it clear you’re free to isolate with family you are staying with:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england

Thanks, i’ve read that a number of times and still thing the advice isn’t that clear – While you’re fine to quarantine the home of friends and/or family, I would find it hard to argue that having Xmas huddled around a dining table is “as far as possible, avoid contact with other people in the place where you’re quarantining”

[athruna]

Used Halo at T5 Sofitel on Monday. You have to walk through a lot of corridors from T5, but the testing is well sign-posted and well organised. It was fairly busy, but they had ~25 booths set up for people to conduct their PCR tests (gobbing in a test tube!), so minimal waiting.

While there, we were told that results are usually available within 6 hours. My results arrived at 7pm after taking the test around 2pm.

If you want to speed things up a bit, make sure to download their mobile app and fill in your general details beforehand.

[Tracey]

A word of warning. Some countries don’t accept saliva tests for entry. St Lucia is one, it’s specifically excluded from their list of acceptable PCRs. I don’t know if VeriFLY picks up on this or not.