Where to get a pre-flight COVID-19 test?

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Not sure if this is the right place for the question but… given the move away from PCR testing in the community, how do we best manage the lead up to international travel?

For example… let’s say I get covid today, zero symptoms. Don’t get tested.

In two months I am flying to USA/UK. If i go for a PCR test just before flying it will likely show positive from my earlier infection? Then I’d have to wait 14 days and get a ‘recovering’ letter.

How do we avoid that scenario? Ideally I’d want to get tested three to four weeks prior to departure so that if the PCR comes back positive from the earlier infection I have time to sort it out?

Do we go to a private doctor? Create an itinerary via expedia?

If truly no symptoms throughout and no close contacts, perhaps do a RAT (very high sensitivity if possible) test about 3-4 weeks before.

 

[Lynda2475]

Well flying to the USA only requires a RAT - so could do a RAT at home to verify all is good.

Otherwise 15/16 days out you can book at a Histopath community paid sites for a paid same day PCR + Antibody test ($120). If you are well and test positive the antibody test will show if you natural as opposed to vaccine supplied antibodies and you can proceed to get a medical clearance certificate from GP (even if asked to iso would only be for 7 days). Small price for piece of mind.

 

[Scr77]

Well flying to the USA only requires a RAT - so could do a RAT at home to verify all is good.

Otherwise 15/16 days out you can book at a Histopath community paid sites for a paid same day PCR + Antibody test ($120). If you are well and test positive the antibody test will show if you natural as opposed to vaccine supplied antibodies and you can proceed to get a medical clearance certificate from GP (even if asked to iso would only be for 7 days). Small price for piece of mind.

How long would this clearance certificate last for? Ie could it be used for returning to Australia? If not, would have to be undertaken in USA before return.

 

[Lynda2475]

How long would this clearance certificate last for? Ie could it be used for returning to Australia? If not, would have to be undertaken in USA before return.

Not sure, but clearance certificate states you have had and recovered from covid in last 6 months. If you left on the basis of such a certificate (and the infection was deemed to be within the month before you left) getting another clearance certificate on way back would only be stating the same again.

Perhaps @Mattg could investigate QFs policy on this one.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Google suggests there is a whole industry around online applications for certificates of recovery in the UK. I expect that in time that will become a thing here too. Not too long a time I hope.

And one sunny day when covid is endemic we will have dispensed with all this certification and we can go back to flying out on presentation of a ticket and passport.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well flying to the USA only requires a RAT - so could do a RAT at home to verify all is good.

Otherwise 15/16 days out you can book at a Histopath community paid sites for a paid same day PCR + Antibody test ($120). If you are well and test positive the antibody test will show if you natural as opposed to vaccine supplied antibodies and you can proceed to get a medical clearance certificate from GP (even if asked to iso would only be for 7 days). Small price for piece of mind.

Thanks… I hope I can actually book in for one of these? Some of the current testing places, even the paid ones, are saying they want a copy of your itinerary before they will accept you for testing. This seems to imply ‘next 24-72 hours’ rather than 3-4 weeks away. Something I’ll need to explore.

Otherwise maybe create a booking on expedia for next 48 hours and take that along?

 

[Lynda2475]

Otherwise maybe create a booking on expedia for next 48 hours and take that along?

I will likely book a classic reward somewhere a few weeks out to get the initial test, then cancel it. Im hoping by the time I need to do this, testing wont actually be required but who knows.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I will likely book a classic reward somewhere a few weeks out to get the initial test, then cancel it. Im hoping by the time I need to do this, testing wont actually be required but who knows.

That’s a good idea! Thanks!

 

[DVDA]

Sydney T1 experience - arrived 6.50pm tonight, straight in with no line, test returned 90 minutes later.

 

[flyinpod]

Has anyone experienced histopath lately at Brisbane. I have a Fiji flight booked for 1125am. It says online they open at 8am but to allow 2-3 queuing and 90 mins for a result. This would mean not enough time for check in? Ive booked and paid for it, like a goon, before i realised.

 

[Thibault]

Has anyone experienced histopath lately at Brisbane. I have a Fiji flight booked for 1125am. It says online they open at 8am but to allow 2-3 queuing and 90 mins for a result. This would mean not enough time for check in? Ive booked and paid for it, like a goon, before i realised.

My plan was to get the test at BNE before my domestic flight to Sydney then onwards to Europe. Arrived at 7.30 and there was 90+ persons in front of me. Had to leave to get my flight to Sydney.

I would strongly recommend to show up super early to ensure you have your test on time.

 

[flyinpod]

My plan was to get the test at BNE before my domestic flight to Sydney then onwards to Europe. Arrived at 7.30 and there was 90+ persons in front of me. Had to leave to get my flight to Sydney.

I would strongly recommend to show up super early to ensure you have your test on time.

Ekk, how did you get on? i think ill go the night before ?? will they allow that do you know?

 

[Thibault]

Ekk, how did you get on? i think ill go the night before ?? will they allow that do you know?

It was in December - there was only one flight to Sydney per day with Virgin. Ticket was booked via Etihad so I had a 9h layover before my flight to AUH.

Goal was to get it done in Brisbane to have the full 9h and do something instead of waiting for the test at SYD.

I booked a second appointment for the SYD facility but this was proven to be not necessary - as they could see my BNE booking.

So I landed in Sydney and did my test there but lost some time to transfer between domestic to international with my bags, lining up and etc. Baggage check-through was not activated so that was annoying.

If you can do it the previous day it might be better ! I believe they can test you within 24h of your flight if I remember correctly.

 

[flyinpod]

It was in December - there was only one flight to Sydney per day with Virgin. Ticket was booked via Etihad so I had a 9h layover before my flight to AUH.

Goal was to get it done in Brisbane to have the full 9h and do something instead of waiting for the test at SYD.

I booked a second appointment for the SYD facility but this was proven to be not necessary - as they could see my BNE booking.

So I landed in Sydney and did my test there but lost some time to transfer between domestic to international with my bags, lining up and etc. Baggage check-through was not activated so that was annoying.

If you can do it the previous day it might be better ! I believe they can test you within 24h of your flight if I remember correctly.

Thanks , ill be a wreck anyway.. i have a mammoth trip, i have ten flights in 11 days booked dont want to start it off on the wrong foot ... ill go the night before i think. Glad it worked ok for you!

 

[straitman]

Ekk, how did you get on? i think ill go the night before ?? will they allow that do you know?

From my Melbourne in early January experience it should not be an issue.

 

[Scr77]

Anyone found a Australian based company that does a video supervised RAT for returning to OZ? Would be great to be able to take the RATs on the trip and do test.

I’m concerned that the paperwork that comes with a travel test in the USA won’t be sufficient and we’ll be denied boarding. I haven’t had any luck getting sample certificates.

 

[henrus]

This would mean not enough time for check in? Ive booked a

They do push the Fiji flight to the front but how close are you to BNE?, once the evening flights depart it's quite out there so if you can get out there the night before it'd be wise to (don't want to start the holiday out stressed).

Parking at the terminal is $5 per hour when booked online so this would be my recommendation for the Fiji flight. Otherwise I'd show up at 6am like some of the others on the Fiji flight did to begin queueing.

My experience part of it documented up thread was one month ago and whilst everyone who wanted to make the flight was able to get a test, many were very stressed. I spend a long time in the thread and got talking to someone behind me who was off to Germany with SQ at 2pm, we stood there watching one guy who paced the entire terminal for about 40 mins after taking his test, you can't check-in until negative and you don't want to be that person pacing around either.

 

[flyinpod]

They do push the Fiji flight to the front but how close are you to BNE?, once the evening flights depart it's quite out there so if you can get out there the night before it'd be wise to (don't want to start the holiday out stressed).

Parking at the terminal is $5 per hour when booked online so this would be my recommendation for the Fiji flight. Otherwise I'd show up at 6am like some of the others on the Fiji flight did to begin queueing.

My experience part of it documented up thread was one month ago and whilst everyone who wanted to make the flight was able to get a test, many were very stressed. I spend a long time in the thread and got talking to someone behind me who was off to Germany with SQ at 2pm, we stood there watching one guy who paced the entire terminal for about 40 mins after taking his test, you can't check-in until negative and you don't want to be that person pacing around either.

I’m about 30 mins from airport im nowplanning to go get it done the Monday evening before the flight, they close at 10 pm what time do the evening flights depart? I’m a stress head I’d be the pacing bloke (woman! )

 

[henrus]

they close at 10 pm what time do the evening flights depart?

Whilst they close at 10pm you really want to be there a bit before hand (it takes time to process the test), Brisbane processes the tests rather quickly but I'd show up around 8pm ish that way they can process it that night. My result even after queuing for a few hours came back about 30 minutes later so if you're lucky you'll get the result back before you even get back home.

There are normally a few evening flights around 9pm, 10pm and 11pm, Not all of them run each night so if you search on google flights the date and flights to Doha (DOH), Dubai (DXB) and Singapore (SIN) you'll be able to find.

I’m a stress headed be the pacing bloke (woman! )

Yeh it was bad, like he even whilst waiting decided to take his checked bag down stairs to security before he had checked in (those who've been through Brisbane would know what I mean), when I left he'd completed several laps of level 4 and then was onto level 2 the arrivals.

By doing the test the night before you can just stroll on up to check in, expect a temperature check at the start of the queue and then be prepared to show all documents at the desk - whilst not a requirement if you have them all printed it'll make both yours and the check in agents life 1000x easier.

 

[flyinpod]

Whilst they close at 10pm you really want to be there a bit before hand (it takes time to process the test), Brisbane processes the tests rather quickly but I'd show up around 8pm ish that way they can process it that night. My result even after queuing for a few hours came back about 30 minutes later so if you're lucky you'll get the result back before you even get back home.

There are normally a few evening flights around 9pm, 10pm and 11pm, Not all of them run each night so if you search on google flights the date and flights to Doha (DOH), Dubai (DXB) and Singapore (SIN) you'll be able to find.


Yeh it was bad, like he even whilst waiting decided to take his checked bag down stairs to security before he had checked in (those who've been through Brisbane would know what I mean), when I left he'd completed several laps of level 4 and then was onto level 2 the arrivals.

By doing the test the night before you can just stroll on up to check in, expect a temperature check at the start of the queue and then be prepared to show all documents at the desk - whilst not a requirement if you have them all printed it'll make both yours and the check in agents life 1000x easier.

Cheers you’re right plus more time to chill in lounge! I’ll be stressing bout something else by then, lord knows why I do this to myself. ive got, bne- Nan, Nan-lax, lax -was, was-lhr lhr-man, man-lhr, lhr-lax, lax-Nan, Nan-Syd, Syd-bne starting on the 1st returning the 11th, maybe wearing a wooden overcoat by then lol