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Leaving Oct 3 for England

Posted by ukmarks123 on 09/27/21 03:34 PM

I have travelled from LAX to LHR 7 times during this pandemic to visit my terminally ill parents.

I am going again next week. I depart LAX the evening if the 3rd and arrive in LHR the afternoon of the 4th (nonstop flight).

Seeing as the entry requirements for England change on the 4th, do I need to follow the current requirements or the new ones? From 4am Oct 4 (GMT), visitors from USA don’t need a pre-travel test or a day 2 test if they have proof of being fully vaccinated.

So far, no one has been able to give me a definitive answer. I have to pay personally for these tests so if I don’t have to get them done it would be a big help. Of course if I have to, I will.

Thank you for your help.

Posted by ramblin' on

Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus

09/27/21 03:43 PM

2507 posts

Seems clear to me. If you arrive in England before 4 am on 4 Oct you have to follow current rules. You arrive in the afternoon on the 4th and therefore will follow the new rules.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#new-rules

Posted by ukmarks123 OP

09/27/21 03:50 PM

3 posts

Thank you @Ramblin’ On for your reply. That is exactly what I thought until I spoke to BA (long, long hold) the other day who at first said they’re not sure and then said yes you might have to as they might not let you board the flight without the paperwork.

Hence my confusion.

Thank you.

Posted by Frank II

Freedonia

09/27/21 06:04 PM

14994 posts

As you noted, it is up to the gate agent whether or not you get on the flight. If is was me, I'd get it. Much cheaper than having to rebook the flight.

You still need a Day 2 test. That's not changing. However, sometime at the end of October you will be able to use the less costly antigen test rather than the PCR test for the Day 2 test.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#new-rules

Posted by MaryPat

Irving

09/28/21 01:42 AM

2948 posts

It also doesn’t hurt to enroll in the travel.state.gov’s step program that will keep you informed: https://step.state.gov/step/.

Posted by Peter

Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada

09/29/21 02:16 AM

532 posts

You are boarding the flight on Oct 3 under the rules existing at the time. My opinion is that yes, you actually are required to show proof of a negative test when checking in.

But as Frank said, it depends on the gate agent. Do you want to put the trip in jeopardy for the cost of the tests?

We depart Canada Oct 5, transiting through LHR Oct 6 and I considered getting the tests anyway, but decided against it in favour of grabbing screen shots of the relevant wording from the LHR website for overzealous gate agents. Our destination country on that same day requires just proof of vaccination.

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

09/29/21 02:26 AM

8375 posts

Not travel advice, but hopefully a word of encouragement. I know it is hard to see parents ill and failing. I hope for a special time together for both of you. Safe travels.

Posted by ukmarks123 OP

09/29/21 02:30 AM

3 posts

Thank you @Carol now retired, for your kind words. It’s a tough time for sure. Life is never kind.

Posted by andrewwells179

10/13/21 01:53 PM

7 posts

As above, not travel advice but sorry to hear about the reason for your trip, I hope everything works out for you.

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