Gran Alacant Forum
Gran Alacant Forum => General Discussions => Topic started by: BeachLife on July 08, 2021, 12:45.
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From 19th July you will no longer need to quarantine on arrival from Spain - If double vaccinated
You will still need a negative PCR test before coming home and a day 2 test when you are back. But best of all no quarantine.
Progress at last
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Apparently it only applies to people who have been vaccinated in the uk and does not include people who are vaccinated abroad.
Graham
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That's great news because it wasn't the tests before or after which were the pain it was the 10 day's quarantine.
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From 19th July you will no longer need to quarantine on arrival from Spain - If double vaccinated
You will still need a negative PCR test before coming home and a day 2 test when you are back. But best of all no quarantine.
Progress at last
Doesn't it just say negative test before flight home? doesn't state PCR. You can buy fit to fly lat flow tests to take with you and email photo of results to the company upon use. Then the supply you (if negative) with a certificate to show at the airport 🤷♂️
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I'm bringing out these for flight back to UK
£29 each seemed super reasonable, and trusted reviews etc seem legitimate
https://www.c19testing.co.uk/rapidtravel
Not sure if I can post links?
Company Is called C19testing rapid travel option
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Apparently it only applies to people who have been vaccinated in the uk and does not include people who are vaccinated abroad.
Graham
Correct.
Obviously Boris and his blunderers feel the U.K. nhs vaccine is special. The EU obviously secured their vaccines and certification from a market stall.
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It applies to UK residents only......if you are British, but have Spanish residency, you will be treated as a third country entry....
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Apparently it only applies to people who have been vaccinated in the uk and does not include people who are vaccinated abroad.
Graham
Correct.
Obviously Boris and his blunderers feel the U.K. nhs vaccine is special. The EU obviously secured their vaccines and certification from a market stall.
I don’t think anyone was suggesting that, the nhs are just administering the jabs the vaccine belongs to multi national pharmaceuticals. One thing the nhs are providing is a very detailed vaccine certificate that I think is available in several languages, speaking with EU friends whilst there has been much talk no one has anything similar so far, probably because very few countries have a national health system but a private mix which in these times must be problematic. That said I’ve seen much knock off items at SP market and the Gabe over the years so Tizer jabs might be on the way.
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'Tizer jabs' :) :) :) :) :)
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Apparently it only applies to people who have been vaccinated in the uk and does not include people who are vaccinated abroad.
Graham
Correct.
Obviously Boris and his blunderers feel the U.K. nhs vaccine is special. The EU obviously secured their vaccines and certification from a market stall.
I don’t think anyone was suggesting that, the nhs are just administering the jabs the vaccine belongs to multi national pharmaceuticals. One thing the nhs are providing is a very detailed vaccine certificate that I think is available in several languages, speaking with EU friends whilst there has been much talk no one has anything similar so far, probably because very few countries have a national health system but a private mix which in these times must be problematic. That said I’ve seen much knock off items at SP market and the Gabe over the years so Tizer jabs might be on the way.
I can only assume you’re talking to the unlucky EU friends then.
Personally I, and all of those who’ve had both jabs locally, have been in possession of our EU digital covid certificates for some time.
People were struggling to download them off the mobile app, but they are easily accessed off a pc. The local Kwik save is now helping those without a pc access them.
I think you’ll find the reasoning behind making it NHS only is more ‘petty minded brexit thinking’ than anything to do with efficiency of the NHS certification over its EU counterpart.
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Could it not be that the UK Government cannot check the authenticity of vaccination certificates purchased in Benidorm market?
Derek
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Could it not be that the UK Government cannot check the authenticity of vaccination certificates purchased in Benidorm market?
Derek
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I reckon that's right Derek.
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Could it not be that the UK Government cannot check the authenticity of vaccination certificates purchased in Benidorm market?
Derek
It says it all about EU bureaucracy if you can print off an official document that states your vaccinated and no longer a danger to other people at the Kwik save in GA.
As for my friends all would say they are Catalonian or Spanish even my French friends I don’t know one that would consider themselves an EU friend.
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Hi coming to GA.on the 16th sorry to be a pain can someone that has just arrived to Alicante give me please steps by step what to do ie.inoculation paper form etc etc..Step one I have already done (got the returns ticket) thank you in advance..
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Could it not be that the UK Government cannot check the authenticity of vaccination certificates purchased in Benidorm market?
Derek
It says it all about EU bureaucracy if you can print off an official document that states your vaccinated and no longer a danger to other people at the Kwik save in GA.
As for my friends all would say they are Catalonian or Spanish even my French friends I don’t know one that would consider themselves an EU friend.
You can print off an official document from the U.K. in your local corner shop in the U.K. , if the shop keeper has a laptop for you to access and a printer, it’s called technology. So don’t make out it’s something unique to Spain.
As for your friends, you christened them ‘EU friends’ in your original post, not me.
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No you are wrong there I think.
You can either present it from your phone or a hard copy obtained from the NHS not from your local Morrisons who may have printed it off.
A printed off copy from your phone is not accepted even if it was done in Benidorm market.
Derek
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No you are wrong there I think.
You can either present it from your phone or a hard copy obtained from the NHS not from your local Morrisons who may have printed it off.
A printed off copy from your phone is not accepted even if it was done in Benidorm market.
Derek
And I think you’re wrong.
The security of any official document is through its encryption, hence the need for the person to whom it is relevant to provide sign in information. Where it is accessed from or printed at, is irrelevant.
As for the official NHS hard copy, it’s basically printed on plain white paper. I’m sorry to inform you the NHS budget does not run to watermarked paper. As somebody who has had the misfortune to require multiple official documentation from the NHS, it is always available as an encrypted e-mail. The acceptance of the hard copy is generally aimed at the percentage of the U.K. population without the ability (or practicality) to access their copy on the app.
As for the E.U. version, of which those residing in Spain are part, the certificate is available through app or printable encrypted e-mail, just as the U.K.
As for the availability of certification at either Peckham or Benidorm markets, having been to neither, I’m unable to comment.
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Now I can say with 100% confidence that you are wrong having the Coronavirus (COVID19) vaccination confirmation in front of me.
It is not printed on plain white paper. It has a blue shaded area and also contains a bar code which when scanned checks its legality.
Derek
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Ryanair accepted a printed copy off the NHS app when I flew out Wednesday.
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Ryanair accepted a printed copy off the NHS app when I flew out Wednesday.
With all due respect BW that little oleeery fella would accept a document written with crayon on the back of a soggy napkin if it meant getting more bums on seats.
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Doesn't bother me Wilson - you can only tick the boxes they put in front of you.
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Doesn't bother me Wilson - you can only tick the boxes they put in front of you.
Please refrain, do you not realise by now, if there are two people on any thread on these boards who are always correct, it’s Derek and Wilson.
You providing evidence to the contrary goes beyond conversation and is totally unjustified.
See you next season in the championship ;)
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Doesn't bother me Wilson - you can only tick the boxes they put in front of you.
Please refrain, do you not realise by now, if there are two people on any thread on these boards who are always correct, it’s Derek and Wilson.
You providing evidence to the contrary goes beyond conversation and is totally unjustified.
See you next season in the championship ;)
Not quite sure how this comment contributes to the debate surely if a member posts something that is not correct or misleading the point can be raised within the Forum rules by others providing it is with respect to other members. It is certainly not Derek always being correct and Derek cannot be held responsible for others always being wrong. (Joking)
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Could it not be that the UK Government cannot check the authenticity of vaccination certificates purchased in Benidorm market?
Derek
It says it all about EU bureaucracy if you can print off an official document that states your vaccinated and no longer a danger to other people at the Kwik save in GA.
As for my friends all would say they are Catalonian or Spanish even my French friends I don’t know one that would consider themselves an EU friend.
Derek its nothing to do with EU bureaucracy, the Quicksave are simply offering a service (one of the services they offer) to help people print off their own covid certificate details, not everyone is fully tech savvy and not everyone (more importantly) has a printer, it can be done at the library too.
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Unusually I agree with Derek a forum is about expressing ones opinion, so if you quote a government release whether that be UK or Spanish that’s great, doesn’t mean I like or agree with it, if your peddling information from your Auntie Doris’s face book page then that is something entirely different, all this does is sends the unwary down a rabbit hole where confusion reigns. Fortunately most top contributors to this forum deal with factual reality with a smattering of personal opinion thrown in which makes this forum such an invaluable source of fact, opinion and humour.
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Hi coming to GA.on the 16th sorry to be a pain can someone that has just arrived to Alicante give me please steps by step what to do ie.inoculation paper form etc etc..Step one I have already done (got the returns ticket) thank you in advance..
Well unless it’s changed it’s
Boarding pass needed most airlines make you upload your vaccination data which you get from NHS app to their website. Or proof of negative pcr test and you entry into Spain doc
Passport needs at least 6 months on it and no more than 10 years in advance
At airport I would go early and go to check in desk even if you have everything. They will check it all
Security is same as always . Mask on whole time in airport
At Alicante you go through a passport auto booth then to a passport booth where they stamp it . Down escalator then show to a desk in arrivals hall your entry into Spain doc. Then past a temp camera . Then you out and can get rid of mask
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I also upload my Spanish locator form onto the boarding pass.
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Hi Angelo.
You will need to have been double jabbed (no later than 2 weeks before the date of travel. OR bring a recent (within 48 hours) negative PCR test result.
You will also have to fill in the Spanish travel locator form - https://www.spth.gob.es/
I that form IF you have been jabbed there is space for you to fill in the batch numbers that are on your NHS Letter.
Whilst there are apps for all of these things - my tip and as said by many others - take the paper copies its so much faster, It was truly painful watching people cycle through multiple apps for themselves and family - thats what adds to the delays.
On another subject - never thought I would say it - Its TOO HOT here today
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Thank you,do you need to book the two test on return to the UK before you leave for Spain?
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No you can book it when you're in Spain but it has to be booked before you return to the UK.
This is who I use
https://www.testingforall.org/product/day-2/
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Hi
I am double jabbed and have my nhs docs printed off but I am also a bit confused about the return test. Could we not just go to an nhs test centre on the 2nd day home?
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Hi
I am double jabbed and have my nhs docs printed off but I am also a bit confused about the return test. Could we not just go to an nhs test centre on the 2nd day home?
Hi no they will not accept an NHS test it has to be privately booked and paid for in advance you need proof of booking and proof of payment for it at uk border I used testing for all don’t turn up without it you will get an immediate £500 fine and possible enforced quarantine at a hotel at your expense
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Thank you. i’ll use the same. Wonder why the NHS one is good enough to have you isolating for 10 days if positive but not good enough when you arrive back in the country 🤔
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Thank you. i’ll use the same. Wonder why the NHS one is good enough to have you isolating for 10 days if positive but not good enough when you arrive back in the country 🤔
It is good enough it’s the same test but Boris decreed that it has to be paid for . I guess to get some revenue into uk and to punish us for not holidaying in the uk
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Thank you. i’ll use the same. Wonder why the NHS one is good enough to have you isolating for 10 days if positive but not good enough when you arrive back in the country 🤔
Don't forget you also need a negative antigen or lateral flow 48hrs before boarding back to UK, double jabbed or not, again private and authenticated, so you can't use a free one from chemist in UK . See 1st page for company I used but sure many others looking to cash in on us desperate to resume travel.
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Oh ok thanks. I thought you had to get that done at a local place in Gran Alacant. My £48.98 return flights dont feel such a bargain now 😂😂
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We've had two return trips recently, flights £60 each return, tests €50 each in GA and £99 each on return.
Tips, book your lateral flow test in GA (Clinic or Salvum) as soon as you arrive as they get booked up, Martha at the clinic is really helpful. If using Testingforall for pcr on return again book early, they have a limited number and popular days sell out.
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Just a heads up.
Randox health using code FLYRYANAIR or easyjet2021 gets a Day 2 test for £43
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/how-to-find-the-cheapest-private-coronavirus-tests-for-travel/
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Thanks to everyone who responded I think I have it all now - so to clarify, or for anyone else - You have to fill in the locator form www.spth.gob.es before you fly out. If you have been double jabbed there is a space on your form for your batch numbers. While you are out there you need a negative test done no more than 72 hrs before your flight back home. Cheapest is Clinica near Dialprix 50 euros-results in 20 mins (my friend just paid €98 next to new hotel where results took 12 hours and she had to go back next day to get them printed off). Cheapest home kit found is £29 https://www.c19testing.co.uk/rapidtravel. If you do home kit you need to order so you can take it with you and I guess results will be on your phone? You also need a DAY 2 covid test (which you do in the UK) booked before you fly back to UK. You have to have proof that you’ve booked it. I just ordered ours from https://www.randoxhealth.com/. As mentioned if you use coupon code FLYRYANAIR you get money off - came to £86 for 2 people. You also have to do a locator form to get back into the UK. You can show that on your phone https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk. If you can it would be useful to have hard copies of everything.
Please correct me if any of this is wrong. Oh and dont forget your passport 😂😂
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The cheapest is actually at Salvum (€40) 8)
For anyone wanting info, prices etc at the 3 different clinics in GA you can find it here https://www.alicanteholidayvillas.com/corona-virus-information
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👍
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Thanks to everyone who responded I think I have it all now - so to clarify, or for anyone else - You have to fill in the locator form www.spth.gob.es before you fly out. If you have been double jabbed there is a space on your form for your batch numbers. While you are out there you need a negative test done no more than 72 hrs before your flight back home. Cheapest is Clinica near Dialprix 50 euros-results in 20 mins (my friend just paid €98 next to new hotel where results took 12 hours and she had to go back next day to get them printed off). Cheapest home kit found is £29 https://www.c19testing.co.uk/rapidtravel. If you do home kit you need to order so you can take it with you and I guess results will be on your phone? You also need a DAY 2 covid test (which you do in the UK) booked before you fly back to UK. You have to have proof that you’ve booked it. I just ordered ours from https://www.randoxhealth.com/. As mentioned if you use coupon code FLYRYANAIR you get money off - came to £86 for 2 people. You also have to do a locator form to get back into the UK. You can show that on your phone https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk. If you can it would be useful to have hard copies of everything.
Please correct me if any of this is wrong. Oh and dont forget your passport 😂😂
Think you got most of it but Salvum is cheapest at €40 for the one before you return home . Makes sure it has you name dob and passport number on the certificate they give you.
Also for your prebooked day 2 test make sure you have proof of payment for it they are randomly checking it’s paid for as some people I guess unsurprisingly have booked them got the paperwork and then cancelled them to get a refund
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Thanks to everyone who responded I think I have it all now - so to clarify, or for anyone else - You have to fill in the locator form www.spth.gob.es before you fly out. If you have been double jabbed there is a space on your form for your batch numbers. While you are out there you need a negative test done no more than 72 hrs before your flight back home. Cheapest is Clinica near Dialprix 50 euros-results in 20 mins (my friend just paid €98 next to new hotel where results took 12 hours and she had to go back next day to get them printed off). Cheapest home kit found is £29 https://www.c19testing.co.uk/rapidtravel. If you do home kit you need to order so you can take it with you and I guess results will be on your phone? You also need a DAY 2 covid test (which you do in the UK) booked before you fly back to UK. You have to have proof that you’ve booked it. I just ordered ours from https://www.randoxhealth.com/. As mentioned if you use coupon code FLYRYANAIR you get money off - came to £86 for 2 people. You also have to do a locator form to get back into the UK. You can show that on your phone https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk. If you can it would be useful to have hard copies of everything.
Please correct me if any of this is wrong. Oh and dont forget your passport 😂😂
Think you got most of it but Salvum is cheapest at €40 for the one before you return home . Makes sure it has you name dob and passport number on the certificate they give you.
Also for your prebooked day 2 test make sure you have proof of payment for it they are randomly checking it’s paid for as some people I guess unsurprisingly have booked them got the paperwork and then cancelled them to get a refund
I’ve noticed on recent purchases of day 2/8 tests that they are NON refundable now, clearly been an issue with people booking then getting unique ref for document then cancelling but still using number to get through immigration.
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May be worth checking here on the government site of test providers. I’ve seen some as low as £6 for a day 2 test.
https://www.find-travel-test-provider.service.gov.uk/test-type
The select location is a bit hit and miss unless Newcastle is now in the South West of England ???
I’ve stil to book our day 2 test but have booked Salvum for the pre flight test.
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"The select location is a bit hit and miss unless Newcastle is now in the South West of England ???"
What a thought outside toilets having to be built in all new homes and an influx of Whippets and racing pigeons. Just joking like this is sufficient to cause widespread panic down here.
Derek
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We've had two return trips recently, flights £60 each return, tests €50 each in GA and £99 each on return.
Tips, book your lateral flow test in GA (Clinic or Salvum) as soon as you arrive as they get booked up, Martha at the clinic is really helpful. If using Testingforall for pcr on return again book early, they have a limited number and popular days sell out.
If using testingforall be prepared to wait longer than the quarantine time. Got my 8 day test results on day 12 ! And day 2 test on day 6. I didn’t stay in after ten days but makes a mockery having to wait two extra days to get your results.
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Hi all, newbie here! Flying out next Saturday with the family, we have been to Gran alacant many times and love the area!
We have got our PCR test booked to fly out to Spain (as I’m on day 14 of being double jabbed when arrived and have been advised I would not be clear so as back up in having a test done and also my daughter who is 15) we’ve got the pre departure tests to take out there with us to do 72 hours before flying home and we’ve booked our day 2 test for when we are back! Just got to do the health forms for Spain and U.K. 48 hours before flying into each destination. But I think that’s it isn’t it??
My mum and dad are travelling out with my brother rand family and my mum and dad being old fashion want a print out copy of their pre departure test home so they are wanting to book into a clinic there, however as far as I am aware most companies are just sending results via phone/email to be shown on phones or will the clinics print out a certificate for then there? Any help anyone can give I would much appreciate it as it’s been quite stressful organising it all (falls down to me as I’m the most organised in the family) so I want to make sure I have everything correct for us all! Thanks all, enjoy your weekend 😄
Nikki x
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Book salvum they do the test in clinic and print out a letter/ certificate with all your details on it
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I’m no technophobe but the various forms that require completing this time have been hair pulling at times, most issues probably down to group, old people, children of various ages, 1 jab or 2. My advice is get every scrap of information ready before committing to online forms as pages time out. We noticed people still being refused boarding as got wrong paperwork, wrong type of test as in got LFT when pcr required, one family turned up with nhs pcr tests taken day before which they must have lied to obtain, whilst test is great rules say no entry. They trudged off not happy.
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I came back recently and i can tell you the best thing by far is a printed piece of paper as those with phones either could not find the correct bit or were not sure where they had put it. This caused a big queue at the boarding gate while they found it or someone from the airline found it for them. Paper in Hand takes no looking for
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The Ryanair boarding pass on the phone is actually quite good you load all of you paperwork onto it and at the gate and other end it’s all in one place just swipe sideways on boarding pass and it’s there .
I grudgingly say well done Ryanair
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Tips, book your lateral flow test in GA (Clinic or Salvum) as soon as you arrive as they get booked up, Martha at the clinic is really helpful. If using Testingforall for pcr on return again book early, they have a limited number and popular days sell out.
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If using testingforall be prepared to wait longer than the quarantine time. Got my 8 day test results on day 12 ! And day 2 test on day 6. I didn’t stay in after ten days but makes a mockery having to wait two extra days to get your results.
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A friend of mine used them and is still waiting for her day 2 test result. I will tell her how long you waited. I will definitely give them a miss.
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I've only used TestingforAll once on recommendations on here - my Day 2 results came mid afternoon on day 4 and Day 8 the same time on day 10.
On day 6 I was contacted by NHS T&T (email and text)and told to isolate and book an NHS test as I had been near someone who had Covid.
I've not got the NHS T&T app on my phone, I hadn't been out so can only assume someone on my flight tested positive on Day2 and my Locator Form details were used to inform me.
In reply to Spurs the GA Clinic do the same re the certificate; they send you away for 20 minutes whilst the test finishes then you go back to pay and get the certificate. You pay your money and make your choice.
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I upload all the info onto the Ryanair boarding pass (as Spurs says) and it's all in one place and easily accessible.
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Book salvum they do the test in clinic and print out a letter/ certificate with all your details on it
Oh that’s good to know as will make them happier! Thank you all for the info! I am printing out as much as possible at home, it will only be the 72hours before leaving test and forms for entering U.K. I will need on phone so fingers crossed all goes smoothly!
Just trying now not to worry and look forward to a lovely week away in the sunshine 🌞
Nikki x
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Agree with previous posts upload all documents onto Ryanair. The boarding pass turns green when uploaded.Also get documents verified at check in desk, at Bhx and Ltn they then give you a slip of paper which confirms boarding for gate staff.
Puddywoo I would be lying if I said it’s a breeze plenty of posterior twitching until you walk out through those doors at ALC but check and double check, hard copies in a folder a lesson learnt by a distraught gentleman sat by us on the plane who realised as we were taxing down runway that he had left his phone isn’t the gate.
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Book salvum they do the test in clinic and print out a letter/ certificate with all your details on it
Oh that’s good to know as will make them happier! Thank you all for the info! I am printing out as much as possible at home, it will only be the 72hours before leaving test and forms for entering U.K. I will need on phone so fingers crossed all goes smoothly!
Just trying now not to worry and look forward to a lovely week away in the sunshine 🌞
Nikki x
I don't want to rain on your parade and I can't find the specific wording on the Gov.UK website but if the test you do before leaving Spain is the lateral flow (antigen) at either the Clinic or Salvum then I'm sure it is within 48 hours of UK arrival not the 72 hours that is the norm for pcr test; I think the reason is the difference in accuracy.
If you have time (late flight) book it for the same morning or late the day before. Remember neither clinic opens Saturday or Sunday and the clinic closes at 1pm every day.
We have a late flight Sunday so have agreed with the clinic to have the test, lateral flow, on the Friday and they will email us the certificate on Saturday with Saturdays date. Not sure this is quite within the rules so don't broadcast it.
I'm sure other posters will correct me if I'm wrong.
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Book salvum they do the test in clinic and print out a letter/ certificate with all your details on it
Oh that’s good to know as will make them happier! Thank you all for the info! I am printing out as much as possible at home, it will only be the 72hours before leaving test and forms for entering U.K. I will need on phone so fingers crossed all goes smoothly!
Just trying now not to worry and look forward to a lovely week away in the sunshine 🌞
Nikki x
I don't want to rain on your parade and I can't find the specific wording on the Gov.UK website but if the test you do before leaving Spain is the lateral flow (antigen) at either the Clinic or Salvum then I'm sure it is within 48 hours of UK arrival not the 72 hours that is the norm for pcr test; I think the reason is the difference in accuracy.
If you have time (late flight) book it for the same morning or late the day before. Remember neither clinic opens Saturday or Sunday and the clinic closes at 1pm every day.
We have a late flight Sunday so have agreed with the clinic to have the test, lateral flow, on the Friday and they will email us the certificate on Saturday with Saturdays date. Not sure this is quite within the rules so don't broadcast it.
I'm sure other posters will correct me if I'm wrong.
I have just checked the Foreign travel advice and gov website and they are still stating test must be taken within 3 days of arriving into the U.K.
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Book salvum they do the test in clinic and print out a letter/ certificate with all your details on it
Oh that’s good to know as will make them happier! Thank you all for the info! I am printing out as much as possible at home, it will only be the 72hours before leaving test and forms for entering U.K. I will need on phone so fingers crossed all goes smoothly!
Just trying now not to worry and look forward to a lovely week away in the sunshine 🌞
Nikki x
I don't want to rain on your parade and I can't find the specific wording on the Gov.UK website but if the test you do before leaving Spain is the lateral flow (antigen) at either the Clinic or Salvum then I'm sure it is within 48 hours of UK arrival not the 72 hours that is the norm for pcr test; I think the reason is the difference in accuracy.
If you have time (late flight) book it for the same morning or late the day before. Remember neither clinic opens Saturday or Sunday and the clinic closes at 1pm every day.
We have a late flight Sunday so have agreed with the clinic to have the test, lateral flow, on the Friday and they will email us the certificate on Saturday with Saturdays date. Not sure this is quite within the rules so don't broadcast it.
I'm sure other posters will correct me if I'm wrong.
I have just checked the Foreign travel advice and gov website and they are still stating test must be taken within 3 days of arriving into the U.K.
I think you will find it’s a PCR test but Antigen lateral flow should be taken 24 hours before the flight. When I booked at Salvum the lady said when is your flight and I said Saturday 26th and she said you need tour test on Friday 25th
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Type of test
You must make sure that the test provider you choose can meet the standards for pre-departure testing.
You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs.
For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you can take the test on or after Tuesday and will need to have the negative result available before boarding on Friday.
The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.
This could include tests such as:
a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests
an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device
It’s your responsibility to ensure the test meets the minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details. You must check with your test provider that it meets those standards.
Off Gov UK.
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Type of test
You must make sure that the test provider you choose can meet the standards for pre-departure testing.
You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs.
For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you can take the test on or after Tuesday and will need to have the negative result available before boarding on Friday.
The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.
This could include tests such as:
a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests
an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device
It’s your responsibility to ensure the test meets the minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details. You must check with your test provider that it meets those standards.
Off Gov UK.
That’s exactly as I understand it too. My mum and dad have booked at the Clinica gran alacant and they’ve been booked in more than 30 hours before arriving back in U.K. Maybe each clinic has different rules to when they test?
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Yes you can only follow the rules that apply at the time. I think the detail is in the last sentence
"It’s your responsibility to ensure the test meets the minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details. You must check with your test provider that it meets those standards"
I suppose this is where different clinics put their own interpretation into the mix. The reasoning to me was that as the LFT wasn't as accurate as the PCR it was best done as close to flight time as possible. Others may take a different view, but so long as you follow the rules you can't go wrong.
Have a good trip
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Monday flights.
We were ok yesterday flying home later at night so getting a test done (Family Clinic next to old Rogers) was OK. But some friends were cutting it a bit fine for a Monday am flight to get that done, wait for the result and get off to the airport.
It really pays to book well in advance for your return test. I reserved mine 5 days before flying and the early slots had all gone.
They don't open at weekends (any of the clinics) - and it was all made worse this weekend with there being a very local (GA and SP) bank holiday on Friday
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Monday flights.
We were ok yesterday flying home later at night so getting a test done (Family Clinic next to old Rogers) was OK. But some friends were cutting it a bit fine for a Monday am flight to get that done, wait for the result and get off to the airport.
It really pays to book well in advance for your return test. I reserved mine 5 days before flying and the early slots had all gone.
They don't open at weekends (any of the clinics) - and it was all made worse this weekend with there being a very local (GA and SP) bank holiday on Friday
Did you fly from Alicante back to U.K. yesterday? How were the airports/queues/checking of tests done etc? Did it all run smoothly for you? Will be nice to hear some positive experiences this week of travelling there and back!
Nikki x
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Looking for advise. I'm filling in my details on the spth app for flying into Spain. First line on box is headed form alias. Not sure what this means so can't really proceed with filling in. Thanks in advance
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Alias meaning is a name that is not your birth (family) name but one that you are known by. For example my name is Derek but I might use another name like Joe which would be an Alias.
Derek
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Thanks Derek. That seems logical
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For anyone concerned about visiting GA this year I have to say the Spanish unlike many in the UK are taking the pandemic very seriously still. Despite regulations changing many are still wearing masks on the street and giving others space. In the supermarkets the only people wearing there mask on the chin or hanging on one ear are the stupid brits. All restaurants and bars I’ve been to are well run with plenty of cleaning between customers. We definitely feel safer here than back in the uk.
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Yes it went very smoothly.
We flew into BHX. We used bag -drop and there was plenty of staff in the queue to check over your Spanish PCR test, your UK track and trace. They then give you a piece of paper to prove your document check so that when you go to the gate you sail straight through (handing over that piece of paper)
If you don't bag-drop you can have your docs checked at the gate but takes a bit of time.
Arrival at BHX was also easy we just went straight through and had no further checks - although there was a person prior to the security queue doing random checks on Track and trace QR codes
Monday flights.
We were ok yesterday flying home later at night so getting a test done (Family Clinic next to old Rogers) was OK. But some friends were cutting it a bit fine for a Monday am flight to get that done, wait for the result and get off to the airport.
It really pays to book well in advance for your return test. I reserved mine 5 days before flying and the early slots had all gone.
They don't open at weekends (any of the clinics) - and it was all made worse this weekend with there being a very local (GA and SP) bank holiday on Friday
Did you fly from Alicante back to U.K. yesterday? How were the airports/queues/checking of tests done etc? Did it all run smoothly for you? Will be nice to hear some positive experiences this week of travelling there and back!
Nikki x
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We flew in to Manchester the other week,when i asked if they wanted to see our track and trace QR code i was informed it is automatically linked to your passport and it brings it up on their screen,our passports where manually checked by border force not the automatic passport scanners.
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Yes it went very smoothly.
We flew into BHX. We used bag -drop and there was plenty of staff in the queue to check over your Spanish PCR test, your UK track and trace. They then give you a piece of paper to prove your document check so that when you go to the gate you sail straight through (handing over that piece of paper)
If you don't bag-drop you can have your docs checked at the gate but takes a bit of time.
Arrival at BHX was also easy we just went straight through and had no further checks - although there was a person prior to the security queue doing random checks on Track and trace QR codes
Monday flights.
We were ok yesterday flying home later at night so getting a test done (Family Clinic next to old Rogers) was OK. But some friends were cutting it a bit fine for a Monday am flight to get that done, wait for the result and get off to the airport.
It really pays to book well in advance for your return test. I reserved mine 5 days before flying and the early slots had all gone.
They don't open at weekends (any of the clinics) - and it was all made worse this weekend with there being a very local (GA and SP) bank holiday on Friday
Did you fly from Alicante back to U.K. yesterday? How were the airports/queues/checking of tests done etc? Did it all run smoothly for you? Will be nice to hear some positive experiences this week of travelling there and back!
Nikki x
Beach life if I could ask why did you do a pcr and not a LFT for entry back into the UK.
Regards Wilson
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Exactly as Beachlife says re flying into BHX.
However paper copies are easier and quicker if you can do them. If you only have copies on your phone like me join the queue at check-in and get them checked there by the people who walk up and down the queue. I was checked and left the queue after 5 minutes, way before I would have got to the check-in desk. That little slip of paper is like a 'golden ticket'.
It's a lot easier and less stressful than desperately searching for the docs when you're waiting at the gate with everyone watching. There was an old bloke desperately trying to explain at the gate that he'd done the locator form but the page was saying 'Document not available'. He wasn't allowed on the plane.
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Sorry to be clear on the test - it was this one:
Type of test : Sars-Cov-2 antigen test
Type of sample: Nasopharyngeal Frotis
NO presence of Sars-Cov-2 virus antigens has been detected in your sample
Sensitivity : 98.4 %
Specificity: 99.8 %
Only one on offer
Yes it went very smoothly.
We flew into BHX. We used bag -drop and there was plenty of staff in the queue to check over your Spanish PCR test, your UK track and trace. They then give you a piece of paper to prove your document check so that when you go to the gate you sail straight through (handing over that piece of paper)
If you don't bag-drop you can have your docs checked at the gate but takes a bit of time.
Arrival at BHX was also easy we just went straight through and had no further checks - although there was a person prior to the security queue doing random checks on Track and trace QR codes
Monday flights.
We were ok yesterday flying home later at night so getting a test done (Family Clinic next to old Rogers) was OK. But some friends were cutting it a bit fine for a Monday am flight to get that done, wait for the result and get off to the airport.
It really pays to book well in advance for your return test. I reserved mine 5 days before flying and the early slots had all gone.
They don't open at weekends (any of the clinics) - and it was all made worse this weekend with there being a very local (GA and SP) bank holiday on Friday
Did you fly from Alicante back to U.K. yesterday? How were the airports/queues/checking of tests done etc? Did it all run smoothly for you? Will be nice to hear some positive experiences this week of travelling there and back!
Nikki x
Beach life if I could ask why did you do a pcr and not a LFT for entry back into the UK.
Regards Wilson
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Super thanks for reply.
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Came home yesterday. Only had to show our locator forms and that we had been double vaccinated. Given a slip of paper to hand over to the girl that scans boarding passes. All documents needed were added to the Ryanair app.
A family of 4 obviously didn’t have all the correct paperwork as they were left standing at the boarding gate
Wondering if anyone has had to prove they had a lateral flow or any covid test prior to flying back to the U.K? Had our lateral flow tests at the Salvum clinic was happy with the their service.
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Yes we had to prove our tests at Alicante airport before we boarded and they looked at the Covid test result in Bristol as well. They weren’t interested in looking at the locator form in Bristol
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Yes we had to prove our tests at Alicante airport before we boarded and they looked at the Covid test result in Bristol as well. They weren’t interested in looking at the locator form in Bristol
We also flew into Bristol. Just scanned passport then out we went no questions asked or forms showing.
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Yes we had to prove our tests at Alicante airport before we boarded and they looked at the Covid test result in Bristol as well. They weren’t interested in looking at the locator form in Bristol
We also flew into Bristol. Just scanned passport then out we went no questions asked or forms showing.
That’s the beauty of technology all information is already on the system, spooky isn’t it.
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Day 2 test results came today. Used expert medicals £35 didn’t expect to get results due to their bad reviews. Was sent off to them on Thursday. So will use them again when we go away.