scheduling COVID antigen test - Barcelona city center or airport?

Be the first in line the day before.
That is less stressful.
It gives you more freedom to relax the last day if you test negative and more time to make arrangements if you test positive.

No need to schedule anything—just pack along a proctored self test and you can do it in your room the morning before you leave.

We used the BinaxNow proctored test the day before we left Barcelona. No need to schedule or hope to be the first in line. It took each of us less than 30 minutes for the entire process which we did before we set out for our last day's activities. In the event you do test positive you will have time to reschedule your flight and make lodging arrangements. I think you do have to download the app and register before you leave the US.

I agree, the proctored self tests are the easiest and most convenient. I did mine early morning the day before my flight - done before any labs opened and before any sightseeing time. Logged in, did the test, had my coffee, went back to the test after 15 minutes, talked to the proctor again, and got my result emailed to me. Then a full day, next day to the airport as normal with no extra stress.

If you don't want to do the proctored test, it's a matter of your stress level. I'd be way too worried about getting results in time to do it at the airport unless I had a later flight and still went fairly early. One time I had a test (not a travel test, a lab test done at home after an exposure) fail - the lab either did it wrong or the test itself was faulty. I went back a few hours later for a new test, but I wouldn't want that to happen on a tight timeframe! Plus, if it is positive, I'd rather know the day before to start making arrangements. I'd suggest the very first lab appointment of the day before your flight.
Remember to return to the US the test is ONE CALENDAR DAY not 24 hours. So if your flight is 11AM on a Tuesday you can do the test anytime on Monday, you don't need to wait until 11AM. Of course you could also do it Tuesday morning.

I would gladly do the proctored self test but when I search for them I can only find 6 for $150 - I only need two. Are these for sale at local pharmacies? We leave this week so not much time to order any in.

Edited to add this TA forum link in case anyone else finds it helpful; evidently the T1 testing center is located outside the secure area which makes sense. And to expect a bit of a wait even if you have an appointment. Since I don’t think I can get a proctored exam kit in time, I think we may just schedule at the airport but give ourselves some more buffer time.

Julie, ask yourself if the “worst” happens and someone tests positive (this has happened to people), would you want enough lead time to deal with changing arrangements or is standing at the airport ok with you? No right answer here, just the one that seems most comfortable for you.

FYI, you certainly can buy 2 packs on the emed website or the optum store for the proctored tests.

Carol, good question and I’m not 100% sure yet what my answer is. I just dropped the ball on this one, unfortunately. I called the emed company and found out that the test would unfortunately not arrive on time, even with expedited shipping.

I’ve done some more digging and found a 24 hour pharmacy located very close to our hotel. I had been searching for COVID testing sites before in lieu of pharmacies so this is actually a better option than what I found previously. It looks like they sell the proctored antigen tests as well as offer scheduled antigen testing on site. I may end up booking an appointment there in lieu of the airport. Going to do a little more research. Appreciate the help!

Last month, I made an online appointment for one in the city near Sagrada Familia and did it first thing in the morning the day before my flight and had the rest of the day for sightseeing. It was certainly closer than a trip to the airport. https://democratest.com/ and used this one at Avenida diagonal 312. The sign says Axis Centre Mèdic.

I ordered BinaxNOW self-proctor tests via the link on the United Airways site. We could purchase as few or as many as we wanted.

Here’s where I got my 2 pack of test

https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-emed-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/

Natasha, it’s Farmacia Torres. It looks like they have evening appointments available yet.

1) proctored test - 2 pack ordered from Optum store
2) do it in city center - so you know beforehand and can plan. it will only take a few minutes and Spain has tons of testing sites. check out democratest.com for a location near your hotel.

testing positive, even if false, at the airport is enough to give anyone a heartburn. people without symptoms have tested positive - sometimes for weeks on end.

Thanks all - I just lucked out - a good friend purchased extra tests for a trip she took a few months ago and I was able to buy them from her. So we will be able to do the proctored exams in our hotel room after all!

Shaun, thanks for the link as that’s a helpful one as well.