Fit to Fly, PCR COVID Test: Same Day Appointment – £89

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Do you have the same Fit to Fly questions as me?

By JOURNALIST, OLIVIA PALAMOUNTAIN
DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO GET A RESULT TO TRAVEL AT THE LAST MINUTE?
DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOW DO YOU GET A REPORT TO TRAVEL AT THE LAST MINUTE?
This was her experience when she was invited on a very last-minute trip to Antigua and had 72 hours to get ready, including getting a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result! Dear Friends, here is my story:

According to several of the walk-in clinics I spoke with, they used to be able to process findings in that amount of time. except suddenly flooded with samples and demand outstripping supply, they had no choice except to retract on commitments.

I arranged appointments with two COVID PCR test London centres near me for two days before my flight, intending to sweet-talk my way to a speedier result.

The line outside City C in Moorgate at 10.10 am looked like the queue for Fabric nightclub around 2001 – one-in-one-out and full of dodgy faces. On the phone, City C assured me I could expedite my sample and have findings in 24 hours. Result.

On arrival, this proved not to be the case.

“To be honest with you,” said the doctor (note to medical professionals, never use this phrase), “we changed to a new lab at the beginning of the week, and demand is so high we can’t guarantee anything – and we definitely cannot do a 24-hour turnaround.”

After further questioning, all the day’s samples were packaged up after the final visit and submitted to a test centre independent of City C. It’s only when the samples arrive at the lab that the 48-hour clock starts ticking, so if you believe a 9 am appointment will get you your results sooner.

You’re wrong.

“Once the fit-to-fly samples have been sent off, it’s out of our hands,” explained the doctor.

I decided to try my luck later on the same day at an appointment near me for two, a private clinic on Harley Street. The reaction wasn’t much more soothing, but this practitioner did at least give me some more personal attention —

The Harley Street “touch”

He listened to my narrative, took the urgency on board and offered to hand-deliver the material to the lab soon after testing. Plus, he would oversee delivering my PCR findings to me 52 hours before my landing time in Antigua.

I had no other option than to go for it.

Sure, there was a slight risk I would have Covid and be designated a biohazard on arrival and have to quarantine, but it was a gamble I was willing to accept.

I handed over a staggering £179 (this amount appears to be common), climbed onto the sofa and winced as a huge cotton bud was shoved down my nostril and into the back of my throat. You’ll need a good incentive to suffer the Fit for Fly PCR experience — an all-expenses paid trip to the Caribbean ought to do it.

I departed hoping but barely certain that I’d hear steel pans soon.

I hadn’t expected British Airways would seek for proof of a negative test result before boarding. And I received that piece of knowledge at Gatwick’s BA check-in desk around 8.30 am.

My 48-hour countdown computation was based on the time I landed in Antigua — rather than my departure.

I’m sorry.

Why was I not able to discover any mention of this criterion on the BA website (at the time or since)? Are airlines now required by law to see negative test results before letting you to fly to destinations that require them to enter? I still can’t figure it out, so kindly send me the answers on a postcard.

After frantic calls to the walk-in clinic near me, my findings emerged with minutes to spare. I was one of the lucky ones.

On September 23

Five days following my journey, one of the UK’s main laboratories supplying COVID-19 kits declared it could no longer prioritise leisure travel due to demand outstripping capacity.

“ Testing has significantly increased in recent weeks in line with increasing infection rates and hospital admissions, and as a result, testing is now outstripping laboratory capacity,” a spokesperson from the Doctor’s Laboratory, the largest independent provider of clinical laboratory diagnostic services in the UK, told Telegraph Travel.

“Priority is therefore being given to clinical and work-related tasks.”

Holidaymakers are reporting last-minute cancellations and large losses due to delayed results, making the situation even worse today.

Sadie Whitelocks missed a flight to Kenya because her test had not returned in time.

Last Saturday, I was supposed to travel to Kenya, and like many other places, I required a negative PCR report. In Holland, these cost roughly £80–£150. I located a reliable source, chose a kit that would provide the findings within 48 hours, and paid the £80. However, the night before my travel, the exam still hadn’t returned as promised,” she told The Telegraph.

“The more I looked into the company, the more I realised there was no number or efficient way of contacting the company. They have also closed social media profiles. I missed the Fit to Fly flight and had to reschedule, which ultimately returned later than promised with a negative result.

“Looking at reviews around this Walkin Clinic company, many travellers have lost holidays and lots of money because of inefficiency.”

Complaints of delayed results near me, resulting to missed holidays, are widespread on Twitter. One user, Neelam9t2, wrote: “I had a Covid Test in London on Wednesday and am still awaiting results. Very disappointed as I was assured within 36/48 hours. I’ve missed my flight and have large hotel expenses and a new plane ticket. Visa finishes in 10 days.”