Heathrow Airport is promoting a testing plan that will may limit the number of days in quarantine.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heathrow-results-idUSKCN24U0Y0
Not very good for the average two week for vacation traveler.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2745 posts
As a business traveler, it’s not going to change anything either. Eight days are still too long for a business traveler quarantine. This solution is not going to get them what they want. For example my last business trip to London was 3 days, my clients aren't going to pay for me to spend 8 days in a hotel to spend 3 days working with them... :)
They’re going to have to go with some kind of instant or one day test and live with that or they’ll have to wait on a vaccine
Posted by
Folsom, California
540 posts
Do they want people to start traveling again or not? Can't the airlines at least subsidize the cost of the test? The cost is so prohibitive and I don't see most US companies willing to pay it.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11150 posts
The proposed program is 'better' in the same way that jumping from a 5th floor window is better than jumping from the 7th floor.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
All the U.K. media coverage about this proposal is in relation to inter-European travel, not travellers from the USA coming to the U.K.
The issue is that Spain and its islands were on the free to visit with no quarantine on return to the U.K. list, but due to a rise of virus cases in some parts of the Spanish mainland, the U.K. government have placed Spain on the do not travel list with immediate effect and now require all returning citizens to isolate for 14 days. There are 600,000 Brits currently in Spain and 1.4 million are due there over the next month. Not surprisingly, the travel and airline industries aren’t happy and have suggested Covid testing upon return and again after a few days and if both are negative, then the quarantine period could be reduced. The U.K. can’t handle this number of additional tests, plus they would cost over £200 per person, so who would pay for this?
Many people are still working from home or are furloughed, so the quarantine may not be such a big deal. The travel industry is more upset as it may deter some from travelling abroad, as Spain being on the banned list invalidates any travel insurance.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2745 posts
I understand the travel industries feel. but I do not see how this proposal changes anything So noe instead of 14 days I have to quarantine for 10 days and I have to pay 200 pounds for that privilege.
No businesses are going to pay it because of the same problem, it’s not 200 pounds, that that’s not a problem , we’re just not going to have employees spend eight days in a hotel room. Employees can work from home without us paying for their lodging and meals
I don’t think this is going to encourage anybody to come from Madrid or Brussels anymore than it would encourage anybody to come from Atlanta.