PCR test required for return to US?

The current testing requirement allows antigen tests as well as PCR tests. Antigen tests are usually much faster and much cheaper. Based on what others have said, 36 hours should be plenty of time, but it would be smart to figure out ahead of time a few convenient places to get the test. In addition, you should obviously keep up with the requirements, because they could change.

I'll bet someone else will have some specific suggestions for you. It might be helpful if we knew where you are staying in Lisbon.

Agree with antigen test which is cheaper and faster and usually the result is under an hour.

Here is the current CDC order, worth reviewing carefully. An antigen test is acceptable. Here's what it says about acceptable tests:

What types of SARS-CoV-2 test are acceptable under the Order?
Passengers must be tested with a viral test that could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Examples of available NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 include but are not restricted to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), nicking enzyme amplification reaction (NEAR), and helicase-dependent amplification (HDA). The test used must be authorized for use by the relevant national authority for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the country where the test is administered. A viral test conducted for U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel, including DOD contractors, dependents, and other U.S. government employees, and tested by a DOD laboratory located in a foreign country also meets the requirements of the Order.

This what UA is stating that they will accept on our return from Reykjavik in a few weeks:

“Test type
Any negative Antigen or Molecular test”

Remember your airline controls everything as they are the gate keeper. I would shoot for an Antigen test at least 60 hours prior to departure, just to make sure you get and that there are no issues.

I don't even know there was an antigen test. It's near the Principe Real (never been to Lisbon before).

Rua Santo Amaro 25, 27, 29
Estrela
1200-801 Lisbon

I wonder if I should try adding an extra day on. I will have nearly two full days (Thursday, Friday) but leave at 3:30 a.m. the third day.

I had a PCR test test here in Seattle. There was a line but I got the results back in 21 hours.

Doesn’t your cruise line provide this for you? Ours did, but we were tested daily on the ship.

I don't know. I haven't heard or read about it. It's a small sailing vessel, though (200 passengers), so probably not.

There is a lab at the airport in Lisbon where you can get the antigen test. That’s what I did when I returned from the states in June. I had the test at O’hare prior to boarding the plane back to Lisbon. It worked great. The antigen is all you need within 48 hours of departure. If you are by chance flying TAP, you qualify for a discount.

There are many other places where you can test in Lisbon, if you don’t want to use the airport. Google antigen tests Lisbon and many labs will pop up.

Hi Denny, here is another idea for you. Why don't you pre-order your test kit and schedule the test online with Ellume?

https://www.azova.com/testing/ellume/delta/

We just did this for our return from Portugal and had a good experience. You can order the test online, and it comes to your home in a few days. You pack it in your suitcase. Preschedule the test too for a specific time and download a couple apps on your phone before you go to administer the test while there.

You will just need a wifi connection and your smartphone. You get the results on the spot in 15 minutes, and then download a PDF to your phone that you use when you check in with the airline. This could be a nice option for you to eliminate the uncertainty of dealing with lines and where to test.

This also means you get a little more time in Lisbon! ;o) Happy travels.

Thanks very much for your suggestion and the link.

After 6 days in Nice and 11-12 days on the cruise, I thought I could only deal with 2 days in Lisbon and really want to come home. Your suggestion makes me less anxious about the 2-day stay at the end of my trip. I am only vaguely aware of PCR tests (valid ones) that can be done at home or outside of a medical setting.

Since we just returned on TAP from Lisbon to IAD last night (which is why I’m awake at 3 am), I thought it might be helpful to share our experience, although be aware that things could change at any time. Also keep in mind the kinks are still being worked out at every step of the way and we had the help of wheelchair attendants throughout. First off, I’d arrive about 2-3 hours before flight time if you’re connecting on a domestic flight. We flew from OPO to connect in Lisbon and barely made the flight in OPO because of understaffing at check-in, poor signage, and COVID test results recorded. 2.5 hours from arrival, my husband’s wheelchair attendant and a late departure helped us actually make it to the gate in time. We had a two hour layover in LIS and barely made that, again with the help of a wheelchair attendant who was well-trained in the drill and fleet of foot. (I like to think eye smiling, good manners and speaking adequate Portuguese as well helped but maybe not. Being addressed as a 65 year old “menina” could be interpreted in several ways. Take the time to learn those phrases in the book. It does help.) Anyway, our paperwork was checked 4 times in all—twice in OPO and twice in LIS. At OPO check-in, I had the pharmacy-performed as required test accompanied by their certificate validating the results to provide the agent. Checking in her system, presumably to verify the pharmacy report, required time in addition to the normal check-in and luggage check drill. It took about 2 hours to complete the entire process. Our docs were checked again at the gate. Arriving at Lisbon, our paperwork was checked twice more, once by TAP staff and once by police at the gate which is where we presented our test certificate again. For some unknown reason, we had also to complete a second carry-on inspection; everyone did. Chaos. Some people had forms, some did not. People were crouched on the floor completing forms (not enough chairs due to social distancing). It was that kind of operation. If you are originating in LIS for your US return, the lines will likely be longer. All of the above will have to be duplicated. We were about 50 of us coming from Porto, 200+ in Lisbon. Imagine the time involved for 4 times the number we dealt with at check-in at a smaller airport. Everyone, domestic and international travellers, had to complete the tracing forms, and wait for them to be registered. And, believe it or not, people in front of us actually showed up with no test results. Their living under a rock slowed everything down even more. Honestly with the scads of people flying, lines, and additional paperwork, a bathroom stop and snarfing one last pastel da nata, I would think 4 hours would be more appropriate. Again, our wheelchair attendant was very helpful and our experience was with only one airline. Keep that in mind. TAP’s system was slow. Maybe other airlines are better at it, but somehow I doubt it. It was like everyone had forgotten how to travel. And kudos to the Portuguese for trying. Their low infection rates are undoubtedly liked to their vaccination, masking, distancing and tracing policies.

Arriving at Dulles was a similar scene. Dozens of arriving flights. Chaos. Piles of unclaimed luggage everywhere (maybe the owners were hung up in immigration?). We were again blessed with a savvy wheelchair attendant who helped move us along more quickly. Without him, we probably would have spent an additional 30+ minutes navigating the system. INS asked for no COVID results, just passports. Another 45 minutes of luggage hunting and we were on our way.

Yes, it was an adventure. But, all of this has to be kept in perspective. In Washington, we saw 2 groups of expressionless parents with silent children sitting in circles on the floor waiting for their COVID tests. They had nothing with them. They were from Afghanistan.

Wanderlust- seems like we could not have had more different experiences! May I ask what time of day you were flying out from Porto and then Lisbon? When we flew 5 am from Porto to AMS, there were long lines, but only for our flight because there were only two people to check people in. But I was flying KLM/Delta. Sounds like the experience on TAP was very different than mine.

Ha! Sounds like it. I made some mistakes in planning this trip (badly out of practice and aiming to correct that pdq!), one of which was choosing flights. I should have remembered that airports are always busier in the afternoon. Our flight was at 2 pm. Our other choice was 8 am, I didn't relish the thought of spending our last day on vacation in transit. Gone are the days of pre-COVID are hourly shuttles to Lisbon, which would have made our day more palatable. In hindsight, we would have been better off on the 8 am flight and sitting in Lisbon, or going to lunch, or something. Our only choice out of LIS was the TAP flight at 5 pm. No other airline flies direct to IAD, and transfers are a pain.

It wasn't all my fault though. TAP does not have a good record with me. I'm still trying to extract my refund from them from our cancelled trip 10 months ago. I booked with them solely for the fact that they fly the only non-stop from Dulles to Lisbon. Yesterday's delays stemmed largely from the fact that only 1 person, then finally 2 people were working at check-in and there was a flight to Rio checking in at the desk immediately next to ours, which was unnecessary (with about 20 being unused at the time) and infuriating, as the lines seemed merge when actually there were two lines, albeit ours was repeatedly blocked by Rio passengers with about 5 bags each. A sign or two, an agent working the lines, or even some ropes would have helped greatly. The wheelchair attendant was more helpful that the TAP staff. It was chaos.

Not to be a total Debbie Downer, I will say that the onboard service on TAP was very good. Food was not bad, in-seat entertainment was varied and interesting, and the cabin crew members were responsive. Nevertheless, I've flown my last trip on TAP.

Wanderlust58 - plus 100 for that last paragraph. Thank you.

We used this...https://www.cityhealthuc.com/rapidreturn

Ordered them in the US ahead of time and brought them with us to Portugal. The test took 10 minutes in our hotel room. No running around trying to find a place to get tested. We were negative!

Stephanie

Wanderlust58- appreciate hearing about the TAP experiences. I wondered how that was. Food for thought for the future- I chose to go through Amsterdam (I avoid Paris like the plague), and then that gets me direct back to Minneapolis. But then you have to see what gets you to IAD. Maybe in the future that might be something to consider. But then again, that lets me stop and get my stroopwafel cookies and Belgian chocolates. Priorities, right?

Appreciate the context!

I just returned Thursday August 26 from a Lisbon to Barcelona cruise. I had to arrange and pay for my test in the US in order to board my flight and enter Portugal. The cruise company then arranged and paid for our tests to board the ship. All guests were tested at the ship terminal in Lisbon just prior to boarding. At the end of the cruise our last port of call was Barcelona. Again the cruise company arranged and paid for testing at the ship terminal in order to enter Barcelona. Two days later the tour company arranged and paid the doctor's fee to come to our hotel to test us however each guest paid 35 Euros (only accepted credit card - no cash) for the lab results.
The test should be done as close to your return flight as possible, allowing time for the results. If there are unexpected flight delays, changes or cancellations, too much advanced test time can potentially cause your test to be timed outside the allotted 72 hours. (as someone earlier posted to allow at least 60 hours!!!) My advice is to test no more than 48 hours in advance of your flight. Our results in Barcelona were sent to us from the lab in 3 hours.