Vaccinated and on Amber list. I will be flying into LHR and taking a train to Edinburgh. (United does not fly directly into EDI right now, and we have a lot of credit with United..,a train isn’t ideal, but it works.)
For the day 0-2 test, England has a number of options while Scotland seems to have one. Conveniently, you can do the day 2 test at Heathrow. Can I take my day 0-2 test in Heathrow upon arrival instead of waiting until I get to Scotland?
Thanks for your help.
rules for travel into Scotland change from time to time, especially when Scotland forbids travel to and from certain regions of England.
The details, and most up to date information is at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-travel-and-transport/
You can take the test on the second day at Heathrow if you are staying in London. It’s a long way to go back on day 2 if you are in Scotland!
The rules for Amber countries say “must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive in England - arrival day is day 0” so I would assume any time after you land is ok, but not sure since in the 0-2 day time I’ll be in Scotland and England. 🤷🏼♀️
www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to- quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england
It is perfectly permissible to take the Day 2 upon arrival at the airport. A number of travel writers advise it for reducing the hassle down the line, tho' I suspect it might be a bit more expensive.
Amber list means nothing. What country are you traveling from? Some countries, like the USA, are exempt from some amber country rules.
If from the USA, then you have to take a test on or before Day 2 of your arrival into the UK. It has to be booked and paid for prior to your arrival in the UK. Yes, you can take a test at Heathrow when you arrive. Here's why:
While Scotland says you have to book on their portal, if you read closely, it says it only applies to arrivals from amber list countries. You are not arriving from an amber list country. You are arriving from England.
If you were flying directly to Scotland from the USA, then you would have to book the test in Scotland.
Use the link Nigel provides to see the rules.
Ok, this makes perfect sense to me. Thank you!
Could you reference the travel writers you mention? Sounds like some good bloggers to follow!
As Nigel’s link shows, you will have been in an amber country within 10 days of arriving in Scotland, therefore the Scottish rules apply and you must therefore take the test in Scotland and not in England.
Apologies for my earlier post - it’s known as a day 2 and day 8 test in the U.K. media, which isn’t accurate. It is day 0-2 in the U.K., but you would have to comply with the Scottish rules.
As Nigel’s link shows, you will have been in an amber country within 10 days of arriving in Scotland, therefore the Scottish rules apply and you must therefore take the test in Scotland and not in England.
That only applies if you are NOT fully vaccinated.
Reading through Nigel’s link again I don’t see any reference to if you’ve been in an amber country in the last 10 days you need to do the Scottish test?
If fully vaccinated, “these rules only apply to arrivals from Amber list countries”, which I won’t be arriving from, I’ll be coming from England. It doesn’t mention 10 days.
I have half a mind to do both. The cost of getting stuck for having the wrong test is much smaller than getting turned away at the airport. I just worry about getting the Scottish test delivered at my VRBO and not having it get lost.
they look at where you have been as well as where you are coming from.
Trust me - if you fly from the US to London, then within 10 days go to Scotland you will have been in the US and England.
Otherwise it is like saying fly from New York to Milwaukee and change planes in Chicago. You are from New York.
So I guess the safest bet is the Scottish test? I’ll have to check to see if it meets 2 day requirements for both…
