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

[henrus]

Also if I'm getting my RT-PCR test done in advance, should getting to the airport 3 hours before my flight be fine or would 4-5 hours earlier be better?

Arriving the standard three hours (or potentially even a little less) would be more than sufficient. Just make sure you have all your paperwork in order as you can't check in without it. Showing up with less time limits the time you have to rectify any problems but it's also worth noting that SQ is still only opening desks 3 hours prior at all Australian airports with desks closing 40 minutes prior to departure (except for CNS and DRW wehre desks only open 2hrs 30 mins prior and SYD where it opens 4 hours prior).

I too would prefer to get my RT-PCR test done 48 hrs in advance at a private clinic and want to pay around the $150 mark - any recommendations?

Qantas maintains a good list of testing locations on their website:

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/coronavirus/pre-departure-testing-requirements/COVID-19-testing-locations.html

Scroll down and click Australia, prices in the community are around $120.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Advice pls on advised arr time MEL for pre dep Covid test if dep on SQ228 16:40?

 

[woodyren]

I called Melbourne airport yesterday and they suggested 4-5 hours before your flight. That is also the advice from the testers. We have a three and a half hour connection in Melbourne for our Qantas flight to Singapore next month and I was advised that it would be better to arrange a test the day before. There are many locations in Sydney to get supervised ART for around $65.

 

[woodyren]

Seeking some info on the required trace app to be installed for Singapore.

Does that mean that a local SIM or international roaming will be required on your phone? We always just use whatever wifi is available when we travel.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I called Melbourne airport yesterday and they suggested 4-5 hours before your flight. That is also the advice from the testers.

Tks woody

Anybody with actual recent first hand experience of wait times to get tested and response time post testing?

 

[henrus]

Does that mean that a local SIM or international roaming will be required on your phone? We always just use whatever wifi is available when we travel.

Yes you will need a working sim card as it requires internet to work properly.

Local sim cards can be purchased in the airport before passing through immigration and are about SG$20.

An alternative is a prepaid Australian sim card. If you have an esim device you can get one from Felix with 4GB roaming data for $20 (the first $35 month is free using the promo code on their site) otherwise they can mail out a free sim. Optus prepaid also has a $20 pack with 10GB roaming data in Singapore.

 

[Hvr]

I got my pre-departure PCR test from 4cyte.

Booked and paid on-line, specifying it was for international travel.

Drove up to the testing centre on the Tuesday for a Thursday departure. Had the printed form in hand. They then sent a text to my phone and I agreed to the Ts and Cs. Did the test and I got the result about 15 hours later.

Printed the form sent by email and presented it at the check in desk.

Much easier than waiting at the airport hoping it comes through in time.

 

[henrus]

Does anyone have any more details about Chemist Wearhouse doing supervised travel RAT's. I heard on the radio this afternoon they were doing them for $29 but can't find anything about it online.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Does anyone have any more details about Chemist Wearhouse doing supervised travel RAT's. I heard on the radio this afternoon they were doing them for $29 but can't find anything about it online.

Unless anybody else has intel I will be visiting them in morn at opening time to check - I have a dilemma on my hands pre dep on Mar 31 and am really keen to find a solution

 

[SydneySwan]

 

[henrus]

Probably makes it the cheapest RAT's for travel in Australia. $29 for a travel RAT plus a spare rat to take with you!

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Hopefully they will also offer this from their NZ stores. Prices for international covid tests in NZ are still very high.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I called Melbourne airport yesterday and they suggested 4-5 hours before your flight. That is also the advice from the testers. We have a three and a half hour connection in Melbourne for our Qantas flight to Singapore next month and I was advised that it would be better to arrange a test the day before. There are many locations in Sydney to get supervised ART for around $65.

Did they mention by any chance for MEL airport you could also go the day before? The Melbourne Airport website says you can only go same day, Histopath says you can go the day before. I was going to call them tomorrow but wondered if they volunteered that to you already.

 

[N860CR]

Did they mention by any chance for MEL airport you could also go the day before? The Melbourne Airport website says you can only go same day, Histopath says you can go the day before. I was going to call them tomorrow but wondered if they volunteered that to you already.

I believe histopath have updated it to say up to 72 hours before departure now? Have done it myself and know of a few others who have gone at 65ish hours before departure and nobody is concerned (or asks)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I believe histopath have updated it to say up to 72 hours before departure now? Have done it myself and know of a few others who have gone at 65ish hours before departure and nobody is concerned (or asks)

I'm going to do this.

Melb Airport still has a banner saying do not come until day of departure... maybe it's cached. I wasn't sure if the airport had someone checking tickets before you could get to Histopath.

 

[larrymull]

View attachment 273544

Finally, going to the airport the day before or even 3+ hours earlier before departure is painful.

 

[Virgin Bart]

View attachment 273544

Does anyone know if the Chemist Warehouse supervised RAT meets the requirements of Singapore's "professionally administered" RAT?

 

[N860CR]

I'm going to do this.

Melb Airport still has a banner saying do not come until day of departure... maybe it's cached. I wasn't sure if the airport had someone checking tickets before you could get to Histopath.

I think that’s still a hangover from Christmas time. Sydney has been very quiet lately and Melbourne looked the same when I walked past about 10 days ago so I suspect they’re not fussed anymore. You do input your flight number into the booking and then see it when doing the swab and nobody seems fussed.

As close to 72 hours as possible seems like the answer. I must have just slipped past as, by my best guess, I picked it up in the 3 days before leaving Australia.

 

[Berlin]

Does anyone know if the Chemist Warehouse supervised RAT meets the requirements of Singapore's "professionally administered" RAT?

Or any "professionally administered" RAT? I would hope so but my trust in Chemist Junkhouse is not exactly the highest. Also- do all their branches offer this service now? We're heading to the US via Fiji next week and it sounds like an easy (and cheap) way to sort the testing requirements.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Does anyone know if the Chemist Warehouse supervised RAT meets the requirements of Singapore's "professionally administered" RAT?

Well a pharmacist is more qualified medically than the part-timer on their day off from uni at Histopath...