Hey everyone - as there's been a ton of discussions in multiple threads in this forum about all the testing and other steps necessary to fly to the US I thought perhaps there'd be value in sharing our recent experience.
Now by "our" I mean my wife and DD. My in-laws (wife's parents) are in Nashville, and she hasn't seen them in 18 months, which as they are very close has been brutal. So with the easing of the quarantine mandate - we're all completely vaccinated - they decided to go down for the August long weekend (and I'd stay here with the puppy).
We're in Toronto, and some of this is Ontario specific. To board a flight to the US the CDC requires a negative COVID test be taken within 3 days prior to travel - that's 3 full days, not 72 hours. They accept the Rapid Antigen test offered here by Shoppers for $40. Their flight was this past Thursday, so they could get tested as early as any time on Monday. I booked them in by calling the closest Shoppers that offered that test; they were in and out in 15 minutes with their (neg) results. They presented those along with the CDC attestation that is also required (Air Canada sent my wife the link to that, but I don't know if all airlines do that) prior to boarding. FYI it was am 11AM flight, and fearing long lines they got there at 8AM to find the place deserted, and were sitting at the gate well before 9.
For the return flight (this upcoming Monday) they will need to "upload" their proof of vaccination to the ArriveCan app, which is the easy part, but also present another negative test result taken 72 hours (NOT three days) prior to the departure time of the flight that takes them into Canada. That wording is important, as if you have connecting flights (which they do) the time you need to look at is the one for the final leg that crosses back. For them that is 2:40PM from Chicago; going back 72 hours the earliest they could get tested would be 2:40PM Friday (and I have heard that if the last flight is delayed that won't "void" the time period).
So here's probably the most important info for those travelling to the US under these circumstances - the how/where to get a test while you're in the States. Until/unless things change, I strongly recommend using Walgreens and their Rapid ID Now, which as an NAAT test is accepted to return to Canada. Booking is shockingly simple - go to Walgreens.com and look for COVID testing. You can search for a location that does this by entering the Zip Code of where you'll be staying (at no point are you asked for proof of residency, or citizenship, etc).
You fill out a short "questionnaire" that will include vaccine status, symptoms, and if you're travelled internationally in the past 14 days. Clicking yes on that will get you the "testing recommended" result. You fill in your details - phone, email and so on - along with your address, for which we used where they were staying. It does ask if you have an insurance voucher, but not having one doesn't matter. As far as I can tell you can't book everyone all at once; I did my wife first, and then my DD - as a minor it asked for the guardian's info, for which of course I used my wife. She received email confirmation of their appointments within minutes.
It then gives you locations to choose from, and you click on the test you want (Rapid ID). Keep in mind they only release dates/times for appointments three days out - so in our case, given they are flying back this Monday, I logged on this past Tuesday as that is when Friday's times were shown. I got the latest one (4:45) for both of them, which is within 72 hours of their flight from Chicago to Toronto.
It's a drive-through process. They went yesterday, and all they were asked for was their names, as they were already booked in online. The tech handed them the kit through the window and instructed them on what to do (very easy, not like the brain-poking of the usual PCR nasal swab). Done in 10 minutes, and they received their neg results about two hours later via email (YMMV). Bonus - it's also completely free!
So, with those in hand they're good to go for the return flight. I know that's a lot of details, but actually once you've done it it's not too too bad, and if we go down to Universal end of August as planned (let's see what shape the state is in by then) I think arranging the return testing will cause only a minor disruption to our stay.
I hope the above provides a little bit of clarity for those confused about (as I was) all the hoops that need jumping through. When they get back in a couple days I'll give an update as to how the return went - I hear arrivals at Pearson is a bit of a zoo lately ...
Now by "our" I mean my wife and DD. My in-laws (wife's parents) are in Nashville, and she hasn't seen them in 18 months, which as they are very close has been brutal. So with the easing of the quarantine mandate - we're all completely vaccinated - they decided to go down for the August long weekend (and I'd stay here with the puppy).
We're in Toronto, and some of this is Ontario specific. To board a flight to the US the CDC requires a negative COVID test be taken within 3 days prior to travel - that's 3 full days, not 72 hours. They accept the Rapid Antigen test offered here by Shoppers for $40. Their flight was this past Thursday, so they could get tested as early as any time on Monday. I booked them in by calling the closest Shoppers that offered that test; they were in and out in 15 minutes with their (neg) results. They presented those along with the CDC attestation that is also required (Air Canada sent my wife the link to that, but I don't know if all airlines do that) prior to boarding. FYI it was am 11AM flight, and fearing long lines they got there at 8AM to find the place deserted, and were sitting at the gate well before 9.
For the return flight (this upcoming Monday) they will need to "upload" their proof of vaccination to the ArriveCan app, which is the easy part, but also present another negative test result taken 72 hours (NOT three days) prior to the departure time of the flight that takes them into Canada. That wording is important, as if you have connecting flights (which they do) the time you need to look at is the one for the final leg that crosses back. For them that is 2:40PM from Chicago; going back 72 hours the earliest they could get tested would be 2:40PM Friday (and I have heard that if the last flight is delayed that won't "void" the time period).
So here's probably the most important info for those travelling to the US under these circumstances - the how/where to get a test while you're in the States. Until/unless things change, I strongly recommend using Walgreens and their Rapid ID Now, which as an NAAT test is accepted to return to Canada. Booking is shockingly simple - go to Walgreens.com and look for COVID testing. You can search for a location that does this by entering the Zip Code of where you'll be staying (at no point are you asked for proof of residency, or citizenship, etc).
You fill out a short "questionnaire" that will include vaccine status, symptoms, and if you're travelled internationally in the past 14 days. Clicking yes on that will get you the "testing recommended" result. You fill in your details - phone, email and so on - along with your address, for which we used where they were staying. It does ask if you have an insurance voucher, but not having one doesn't matter. As far as I can tell you can't book everyone all at once; I did my wife first, and then my DD - as a minor it asked for the guardian's info, for which of course I used my wife. She received email confirmation of their appointments within minutes.
It then gives you locations to choose from, and you click on the test you want (Rapid ID). Keep in mind they only release dates/times for appointments three days out - so in our case, given they are flying back this Monday, I logged on this past Tuesday as that is when Friday's times were shown. I got the latest one (4:45) for both of them, which is within 72 hours of their flight from Chicago to Toronto.
It's a drive-through process. They went yesterday, and all they were asked for was their names, as they were already booked in online. The tech handed them the kit through the window and instructed them on what to do (very easy, not like the brain-poking of the usual PCR nasal swab). Done in 10 minutes, and they received their neg results about two hours later via email (YMMV). Bonus - it's also completely free!
So, with those in hand they're good to go for the return flight. I know that's a lot of details, but actually once you've done it it's not too too bad, and if we go down to Universal end of August as planned (let's see what shape the state is in by then) I think arranging the return testing will cause only a minor disruption to our stay.
I hope the above provides a little bit of clarity for those confused about (as I was) all the hoops that need jumping through. When they get back in a couple days I'll give an update as to how the return went - I hear arrivals at Pearson is a bit of a zoo lately ...
