UK to France with pandemic rules in Flux

[Flashback]

And........ cough* you France. Just announced and takes effect tomorrow, so no way Mrs FB and I can get tested with results provided back to us before 7am tomorrow unless we want to pay £150-400 each. Absolute bunch of twits. Trip now cancelled, just managed to hit the hotel free cancellation period a few minutes before it would have charged 1 night at least.

COVID-19: rules for travel between France and the UK

Find out about measures in place for all people travelling between France and the UK.

uk.ambafrance.org

1. Travelling from the UK to France​

LAST MINUTE :


From 4 December, fully vaccinated travellers (12 years old or more), and whatever their nationality, have to provide the result of a negative PCR or antigen test (in paper or digital format) carried out less than 48h hours prior to departure. Self-administred tests (NHS test for example) are not considered valid for travel.
The NHS indicates that it will not carry out tests for travel purposes. Private entities offering the same service must therefore be used.

 

[drron]

And........ cough* you France. Just announced and takes effect tomorrow, so no way Mrs FB and I can get tested with results provided back to us before 7am tomorrow unless we want to pay £150-400 each. Absolute bunch of twits. Trip now cancelled, just managed to hit the hotel free cancellation period a few minutes before it would have charged 1 night at least.

COVID-19: rules for travel between France and the UK

Find out about measures in place for all people travelling between France and the UK.

uk.ambafrance.org

1. Travelling from the UK to France​

LAST MINUTE :


From 4 December, fully vaccinated travellers (12 years old or more), and whatever their nationality, have to provide the result of a negative PCR or antigen test (in paper or digital format) carried out less than 48h hours prior to departure. Self-administred tests (NHS test for example) are not considered valid for travel.
The NHS indicates that it will not carry out tests for travel purposes. Private entities offering the same service must therefore be used.

Was the airport testing unable to be used.
i have been looking up the options as in March we are flying into LCY.Their clinic is open from 1445 and the tests not as expensive with a rapid PCR being GBP 66, the antigen test cheaper and quicker.
Our Apartment management offered a test when there at the sum of GBP 395 each.Think we will get it done at the airport. hoping an antigen test will be all needed by then.

 

[Flashback]

Was the airport testing unable to be used.
i have been looking up the options as in March we are flying into LCY.Their clinic is open from 1445 and the tests not as expensive with a rapid PCR being GBP 66, the antigen test cheaper and quicker.
Our Apartment management offered a test when there at the sum of GBP 395 each.Think we will get it done at the airport. hoping an antigen test will be all needed by then.

All fully booked at all terminals, including first thing this morning. Rang around to 15 places that we could easily get to and found one that agreed to squeeze us in. So, it was on our bicycle and pedal as fast as we could to get there for it. Test done (not without a loan from the lady doing it who said the guy should not have told us to come...), results negative and on our way to LHR now. Fingers crossed no issues as there's a lack of clarity on validity for entry to France for essential Vs non essential as their gov website is worded a bit all over the place. Hopefully in just over an hour I'll be sitting down with my usual smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and a glass of rosé champagne

4th time we rescheduled this trip so put a bit more effort into making it happen. Managed to get the antigen test for £30 each. Will rebook hotel when we land as don't want to take any additional chances or cost now...

 

[Flashback]

Checked in at LHR T5 going to France, no worries. She said we're vaccinated so don't need a test ....... which is clearly wrong. She checked her system, says the same. Looks like not all systems are aligned so might be lots of people turned away at the border, unless they have it sorted by boarding time and check again?

In case anyone doubts me.....

Alerte Covid | info.gouv.fr

Toute l'information sur les politiques publiques et l'action du Gouvernement

www.gouvernement.fr

https://www.gouvernement.fr/sites/default/files/dp-covid_frontieres_021221_3ep_0.pdf

Mrs FB and I have earned these bubbles!

 

[Flashback]

As mentioned, check in staff didn't know about the new requirements. So they checked their systems...... which also were still the old requirements. I went to the ticketing desk in the first lounge, said they might want to go and check and she basically told me to cough* off. Nice. First class service indeed. Went and spoke to a lady at reception at the First lounge and she thanked me profusely and was going to follow up with their internal COVID line, so hopefully they'll check the docs etc. at boarding. Perhaps France is making an allowance for morning flights today given the late notice? Anyway..... just trying to be helpful to avoid them having to turn around most of the plane of people.

C'est bon!

 

[I love to travel]

As mentioned, check in staff didn't know about the new requirements. So they checked their systems...... which also were still the old requirements. I went to the ticketing desk in the first lounge, said they might want to go and check and she basically told me to cough* off. Nice. First class service indeed. Went and spoke to a lady at reception at the First lounge and she thanked me profusely and was going to follow up with their internal COVID line, so hopefully they'll check the docs etc. at boarding. Perhaps France is making an allowance for morning flights today given the late notice? Anyway..... just trying to be helpful to avoid them having to turn around most of the plane of people.

C'est bon!

Trip report pretty please. We need proof of life for thus weird thing called a holiday.

 

[Flashback]

Trip report pretty please. We need proof of life for thus weird thing called a holiday.

I've done lots in the last 18 months! Managed to fit in 30k miles

 

[Flashback]

Most of the people I've spoken to on the plane haven't got a test. Be interesting to see what happens....

 

[Flashback]

Nothing happened. Didn't even check we had a test. Mildly annoyed!

 

[love_the_life]

Nothing happened. Didn't even check we had a test. Mildly annoyed!

But at least you know you have done the right thing,

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Things just got more difficult travelling to France from the UK...just in time for my trip to Europe next week!

Travelling London > Brussels > Paris so should be interesting with all non-essential travel between UK-France suspended.

 

[Telemachus]

Things just got more difficult travelling to France from the UK...just in time for my trip to Europe next week!

Travelling London > Brussels > Paris so should be interesting with all non-essential travel between UK-France suspended.

Bit of an understatement to say ‘more difficult’ and 'interesting'. Among the several new French rules it’s so far unclear (to me) whether by travelling via Belgium or other third country you will still fall foul of the French requirement from today which (as you allude to) excludes all non-French citizens and residents arriving from the UK unless they can produce a ‘motif impérieux’ (compelling reason) for entering France. And then there is the matter of getting your Australian proof of vax accepted by Belgium and France.

I know when to accept defeat. I was planning a short side-trip to France (from UK) in January but – unless the situation and rules change radically for the better – I expect to have to drop the idea.