wasabi Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 My wife and I are considering returning to the USA next month. The US like many countries currently requires a Covid test within 3 days of departure. Has anyone done this? Do you know which places and test types the airlines accept? Though I think we have both already had Covid; I'm not sure what I'd do in the unlikely event one of us tested positive. Could I get an airline ticket refund? I wonder when/ if this requirement to have a test before boarding will be dropped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Phillip9 Posted April 12, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted April 12, 2021 There are dozens of places to get these tests in bangkok. I used this place about a month ago. You can book online and they provide results in 24hr. Their prices are reasonable for Thailand. https://www.thaitravelclinic.com Personally, I think preflight tests will become the norm for several years because countries are worried about new variants, but I hope I'm wrong. You will have to ask the airline about the refund, every airline and ticket class is different. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aomelia Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 Japan Airlines is having Great Deal , biggest seats in economy 800 bucks RT to SFO and back , Free Changes to Flights , Also 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFPhuket Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 Qatar Airways tickets purchased by the end of April are fully refundable and changeable with no fees if you fly by the end of 2021. I made a reservation earlier, cancelled when the price dropped, and had the money refunded to my credit card in 5 days. I then booked a new flight and have now changed it to leave Thailand earlier. I'm getting my Covid test at https://www.medconsultasia.com/. The cost is 2600 Baht. If you take the test before 10 AM you get the result later that afternoon. A test after 10 AM is returned the next morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PumpkinEater Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 Koh Samui Bangkok Hospital 3500 THB Test before 10, results same day late.. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMBob Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 Check the US CDC website and it'll tell you what tests are required. The antigen (quick one) test is allowed....and results ought to be available within hours. As to when they'll stop requiring the tests to enter the US, not likely for a very long time. Have no idea about air ticket refund policies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasabi Posted April 13, 2021 Author Share Posted April 13, 2021 Appreciate the replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverlomsak Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 7 hours ago, Aomelia said: Japan Airlines is having Great Deal , biggest seats in economy 800 bucks RT to SFO and back , Free Changes to Flights , Also SFO I understand to be San Francisco but where does RT refer to as it is not in IATA airport code. All codes are 3 digits, and if it's not in Thailand, what's the relevance to the original post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverlomsak Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 On 4/12/2021 at 5:43 PM, Phillip9 said: There are dozens of places to get these tests in bangkok. My friends (3) used a place called Doctor Donna's, did the test in the morning got the answers back early evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip9 Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 14 minutes ago, CMBob said: Check the US CDC website and it'll tell you what tests are required. The antigen (quick one) test is allowed....and results ought to be available within hours. You will also have to double check with the airline. Some transit countries will require a pcr test even if your destination country will accept an antigen test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billpro785 Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 Flew back to the US 2 weeks ago, used the local hospital in Kanchanaburi, and my test results back in less then 24 hours. Cost was about 3000 Baht. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasabi Posted April 14, 2021 Author Share Posted April 14, 2021 8 hours ago, Billpro785 said: Flew back to the US 2 weeks ago, used the local hospital in Kanchanaburi, and my test results back in less then 24 hours. Cost was about 3000 Baht. Did you get the rapid antigen Covid test, or the slower PCR one? Which airline did you fly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtf Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 12 hours ago, foreverlomsak said: SFO I understand to be San Francisco but where does RT refer to as it is not in IATA airport code. All codes are 3 digits, and if it's not in Thailand, what's the relevance to the original post. RT means return. Duh. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aomelia Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 12 hours ago, foreverlomsak said: SFO I understand to be San Francisco but where does RT refer to as it is not in IATA airport code. All codes are 3 digits, and if it's not in Thailand, what's the relevance to the original post. RT is around trip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverlomsak Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 2 hours ago, Kurtf said: RT means return. Duh. too many abbreviations for my poor brain to handle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieSeek Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 Any updates OR further places in Bangkok ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patong2021 Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 Be warned that the testing requirement of an airline can be different than the testing requirement of the destination country. Each country has its own requirements for certificate format. There is no consistency or guaranteed common format. VERIFY with airline and destination country before departure. My friend have this problem and it took many headache and days to sort out bureaucracy. Many countries have strict test requirements For example Japan requirement is found here: https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/info/2020/inter/201227/?inbound=ar It is somewhat different than USA requirement. https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Global-Airline-Testing-Order-RPWSigned-Encrypted-p.pdf USA CDC Explanation; What types of SARS-CoV-2 test are acceptable under the USA Order? Passengers must be tested with a viral test that could be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Examples of available NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 include but are not restricted to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), nicking enzyme amplification reaction (NEAR), and helicase-dependent amplification (HDA). The test used must be authorized for use by the relevant national authority for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the country where the test is administered. A viral test conducted for U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel, including DOD contractors, dependents, and other U.S. government employees, and tested by a DOD laboratory located in a foreign country also meets the requirements of the Order. Japan has test certificate format https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page25e_000334.html Two reminders: 1. Previous infection with Covid19 does not necessarily give protection against reinfection because; i. variants can reinfect ii. Antibodies from previous infection may not be present Some countries are more likely to have greater exposure to variants because they service high risk zones. IMO The Gulf state airline hubs are a high risk because they have high risk countries serviced. Traveling international when unvaccinated is considered a high risk activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevoromgh Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 On 4/13/2021 at 9:38 AM, DFPhuket said: Qatar Airways tickets purchased by the end of April are fully refundable and changeable with no fees if you fly by the end of 2021. I made a reservation earlier, cancelled when the price dropped, and had the money refunded to my credit card in 5 days. I then booked a new flight and have now changed it to leave Thailand earlier. I'm getting my Covid test at https://www.medconsultasia.com/. The cost is 2600 Baht. If you take the test before 10 AM you get the result later that afternoon. A test after 10 AM is returned the next morning. I presume you are not returning to the UK? Qatar (even as a transit stop) is on the RED list of countries at the moment and would require UK citizens to stay 10 days in a special quarantine hotel and non-UK visitors from that country are not allowed to enter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFPhuket Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 2 hours ago, trevoromgh said: I presume you are not returning to the UK? The original poster inquired about returning to the US. That's what I'm doing as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasabi Posted April 15, 2021 Author Share Posted April 15, 2021 8 minutes ago, DFPhuket said: The original poster inquired about returning to the US. That's what I'm doing as well. Correct I am returning to the US however it is enlightening to know where I transit could make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieSeek Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 Basically most countries require a PCR test. So i've contacted a few companies getting quotes around 2700-3000 Baht for a test. Same day results i believe - although i went past one today and the queue outside was pretty big. Anyone know of any mobile places, where i could do the test myself like in the UK? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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