Entry to Portugal requires a negative COVID Test within 72 hours prior to boarding. We have a 3:50pm flight leaving Los Angeles for Lisbon with a connection through Paris. This is an overnight flight arriving the next day. Does anyone know or have firsthand experience on when the 72 hour clock starts or should start? Is it on departure from Los Angeles or departure from Paris? Entry to France is with proof of vaccine, which we have, entry to Portugal is via negative PCR test. We are flying Air France if that makes a difference with anyone’s experience.
Posted by
Arcadia, CA
583 posts
Okay, so here's a twist. If I test on Sunday at 10am Pacific time, that's actually 7pm on Sunday in Zagreb. So I should be "getting" more than 72 hours on my test. (my concern is my flight ends in Zagreb, but I have to continue the next day into Slovenia). Just making myself crazy trying to count the hours, ha ha ha.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11773 posts
I cannot speak to Portugal, but from my research on the UK, which also has a pre-arrival test requirement, it is based on your departure. Here is the government's wording.
You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs. For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you can take the test on or after Tuesday and will need to have the negative result available before boarding on Friday.
We depart on a Monday at 19:45 PM. We are having our PCR test on Saturday at 11AM. That give us a small cushion (about 15 hours) if someone insists on 72 hours versus 3 days or the flight is delayed.
Posted by
Folsom, California
542 posts
All I can add is that it is so nerve wracking trying to figure it out. We are trying to determine the same thing for a trip in August.
Posted by
Chicago
8163 posts
I just took my test today August 1 at the airport for a flight August 3. I could have taken as early as July 31 if that helps. Take as early as you can so you can relax the last 2 days of your vacation as I was having dreams and weird feelings (that was from dehydration) that I had caught Covid. It is a big responsibility.
Posted by
Paris
10186 posts
Since you are going to Portugal, it only matters what Portugal’s rules are. Each country is treating this differently, so what anybody experienced going anywhere but Portugal doesn’t matter. You need to look up Portugal’s official rules.
Posted by
california
30 posts
Just an FYI... a family member went to check in at Emirates today at SFO and was told that her negative PCR text was not acceptable for boarding because it was a rapid test. So she went down the hall where they were testing at the airport and got another PCR test (also rapid) for $275 but this was acceptable because "rapid" was not written on the paper.