COVID test for travel rant.... And question about test window

bigfelipe

bigfelipe

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Edit: Anyone who has flown in the last few weeks please advise as the rules are about as clear as mud...

So next Tuesday morning I am supposed to leave for Cuba for a few weeks.... As I understand it, thanks to our idiot president, I now have to have a COVID test regardless of vaccine status less than 24hrs before the flight. There's some debate if that's just on the way home or both ways. I've been waiting until today to book it as the test sites are appointment only and they only take them 7 days out. Well it's 7 days and they're not taking appointments. They also tell me that it's 12-24hrs for results to come back. Hello? Who's in charge of the math here? I can't get it more than 24hrs out but it could take 24hrs to get back to me? WTF? The recommend I go to a church in Raleigh from 3:30-8pm that doesn't require an appointment... 🤔??? Excuse me? How does that help when I fly out at 6am? Even if they get it back in under 12hours it's too late. This is the stupidest thing I have ever seen...🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
 
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I was just looking into this myself but isn’t the 1 day requirement for your return trip?

Edit: my trip is to Moldova and I am trying to figure out the logistics of testing since it is a multiple day trip (e.g. can I get tested in Moldova and it be good when I land 38+ hrs later or do I get tested before I depart Istanbul, my layover before flying into the US)
 
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Bocephus said:
I was just looking into this myself but isn’t the 1 day requirement for your return trip?

Edit: my trip is to Moldova and I am trying to figure out the logistics of testing since it is a multiple day trip (e.g. can I get tested in Moldova and it be good when I land 38+ hrs later or do I get tested before I depart Istanbul, my layover before flying into the US)
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Everything I see says 1 day even for domestic flights


It's from the origin of your trip. So layovers don't count unless you leave the airport.
 
Anyone have insight on this? Am I missing something? The information is very confusing and I haven't been on a plane since this mess started
 
Well I just got the last appointment for Saturday. That's within the 72hr window that Cuba requires...

I can't get confirmation on whether or not that's acceptable to fly out 🤦

Can't get anyone from JetBlue that knows on the phone... Need a different number....
 
bigfelipe said:
Well I just got the last appointment for Saturday. That's within the 72hr window that Cuba requires...

I can't get confirmation on whether or not that's acceptable to fly out 🤦

Can't get anyone from JetBlue that knows on the phone... Need a different number....
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Do you mind saying what this BS test is costing you?
 
Bocephus said:
I was just looking into this myself but isn’t the 1 day requirement for your return trip?

Edit: my trip is to Moldova and I am trying to figure out the logistics of testing since it is a multiple day trip (e.g. can I get tested in Moldova and it be good when I land 38+ hrs later or do I get tested before I depart Istanbul, my layover before flying into the US)
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FYI, I'm taking a rapid test with me for the return test. You do it over a 20min video call and the results are instant and accepted for US entry.
 
The last time I looked at this was for domestic travel. No test or proof of vax status required. Entering the country required a negative test result so many days before travel.

Without checking I'd guess this is a Cuban requirement for entering the country.

Are you taking orders for cigars? 😁
 
My MIL just flew to Miami Friday to get on a cruise and she had to be tested before leaving. Not sure if it was for the flight, cruise or both.
 

JetBlue

JetBlue offers flights to 90+ destinations with free inflight entertainment, free brand-name snacks and drinks, lots of legroom and award-winning service.
www.jetblue.com www.jetblue.com

This basically says no test for domestic. Must wear a mask.

Must test and some kind of attestation form before the return flight from out of country. I can't view the form because I don't have the required flight info.

This is from the US Embassy's page. I don't know what "non-immigrant" and "non-US citizen" means here (links to help clarify).

Effective December 6, all air passengers, regardless of vaccination or citizenship status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel to the United States.

All non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.

Also from the Embassy regarding entry/exit into Cuba:

Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes, but only with proof of vaccination if arriving from the United States.
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? (no answer listed on site)
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Cuban health authorities will randomly select arriving passengers for COVID-19 screening, to include the collection of a sample for a PCR test.
  • All passengers arriving in Cuba must confirm they have submitted a sworn declaration about their biographic data and COVID-19 vaccination status. Passengers may complete the confirmation form online before they travel at: https://www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio. Upon submission of the electronic form, passengers will receive a QR code to present to Cuban health and immigration authorities when they arrive in Cuba.
  • Cuba does not recognize the U.S. nationality of Cuban-born U.S. citizens. The Cuban government requires Cuban dual nationals to enter and depart Cuba using Cuban passports. Cuban-born U.S. citizens will be treated as Cuban citizens and may be subject to restrictions and obligations. Contact information for local immigration offices can be found here: https://www.cubatramite.com/oficina...acion-inmigracion-y-extranjeria-de-cuba-diie/.
  • Cuban nationals must appear before a family health practitioner or at a community health office within 48 hours of arrival in Cuba for additional screening measures.
 
every traveler that I have spoken to has had to pay for the expedited testing to get results within 24 hours.
 
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In the summer, they required testing within 3 days. Testing result were taking 5 to 7 days to get despite the promise of 2 to 3 days. My daughter had to reschedule her flight so she could get a quick antigen test done. She paid $300 total. Never even got results from the first test.
Now the PCR test can be pretty fast. But the tests ordered by anyone but a doctor can take days longer to process. my doctor ordered tests got results in hours.
 
john galt said:
And yet they are pushing this how are they going to process this?
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fairy dust and unicorn farts
that's what is going to pay for everything they say we need. you won't pay a penny if you make under 400k
 
Well it appears that the rule is based on where you are going... I'm going to Cuba. So I follow their rules. 72 hours. Then I'm going to the US. So I follow their rules. 1 day...
 
bigfelipe said:
Edit: Anyone who has flown in the last few weeks please advise as the rules are about as clear as mud...

So next Tuesday morning I am supposed to leave for Cuba for a few weeks.... As I understand it, thanks to our idiot president, I now have to have a COVID test regardless of vaccine status less than 24hrs before the flight. There's some debate if that's just on the way home or both ways. I've been waiting until today to book it as the test sites are appointment only and they only take them 7 days out. Well it's 7 days and they're not taking appointments. They also tell me that it's 12-24hrs for results to come back. Hello? Who's in charge of the math here? I can't get it more than 24hrs out but it could take 24hrs to get back to me? WTF? The recommend I go to a church in Raleigh from 3:30-8pm that doesn't require an appointment... 🤔??? Excuse me? How does that help when I fly out at 6am? Even if they get it back in under 12hours it's too late. This is the stupidest thing I have ever seen...🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Click to expand...
Will a rapid test available at the drug store, Walmart etc be acceptable. They are around $20 and takes 15 minutes at home.
 
There are no Covid testing requirements for domestic flights.

International fights are a different story and it is dependent on where you are going. It is not the US that is setting those rules it is the destination country. You need to look at the info for the country you are traveling to. Rapid tests may or may not be accepted. Many places will require a PCR test. When I went to The Turks and Caicos they required a PCR test no more than 3 days before departure IIRC.

Now re-entry is based on US CDC guidelines. You have to test 1 day before departure and rapid tests qualify. 1 day can mean 36 hours. It is not 24 hours so if you test at 8 AM today you have until 12:00 PM tomorrow to get in the flight.

www.cdc.gov

COVID-19 and Travel

CDC travel recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
www.cdc.gov www.cdc.gov
 
International info for specific countries can be found here.

COVID-19 Country Specific Information

travel.state.gov travel.state.gov

For Cuba: Effective January 5, 2021, a negative RT-PCR test performed no later than 72 hours before travel to Cuba is required, in addition to proof of COVID-19 vaccination.


COVID-19 Information

Last updated: 06/10/2022 *** As of 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 12, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will no longer order air passengers to show
cu.usembassy.gov cu.usembassy.gov
 
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I just came back from Mexico on Saturday. Nothing required to get into Mexico. COVID-19 test 24 hours prior to entering the US. We were tested at 11:00 am on Friday and had results back by 4:00 pm and into Verifly right after.
 
You’re a freaking U.S. Citizen, are they really going to not allow you back into the country if you have covid?
 
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