Air travel policy updates

[Sue M]

I don’t know if this is helpful, I know I’m confused reading this lol, but here is a list of the tests that are approved for entry into the US, this is from the CDC website.

View attachment 588029

I plan on getting the Antigen test at YVR before flight. There‘s a place at the airport that does tests. So I’ll just leave a little earlier. Unfortunately we don’t have the cheap Shoppers testing in BC.

 

[Sue M]

With the meter running. I think the standard rate is $0.80/minute for waiting time.

Really! Meter running? This is great info. Thanks. I was going to try to do Uber but without a call centre there’s no way of knowing ahead if they’ll do it.

 

[wdwmom3]

So what do you guys think the chances of them dropping the 14 day isolation period for kids by October is? It sucks having no idea either when that will be dropped, or when a vaccine will be approved for them.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I paid $200 for it not $40.

Shoppers now has 2 different tests, the PCR is $200 and yes done through life labs. It’s the one that is actually advertised for international travel and it’s quite possible back in January it was the only option.
The $40 one is an antigen test which is accepted for entry to the USA. I believe the antigen test is done on site at Shoppers (selected Ontario locations) - this is the one that the pharmacist told me about when I asked about covid tests prior to travel to USA.
I will have more information next week when I actually book it.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

So what do you guys think the chances of them dropping the 14 day isolation period for kids by October is? It sucks having no idea either when that will be dropped, or when a vaccine will be approved for them.

I honestly don’t think they will drop it for kids, once the vaccines come out for 5-11 (and later for under 5) they will have to hang something over the parents heads to make sure as many kids get vaccinated as possible. Otherwise people might stop with the vaccinations for the most part.
I hope I’m wrong and they do drop it, at least for kids of vaccinated parents when travelling together but I don’t know...

 

[dvcdisney]

I’m curious how the covid test on return will work with a layover. (Assuming my flight is not canceled/changed I layover in YYZ) I’m going for the 50th…I am hoping the whole Covid testing will go away for fully vaccinated by then.

We have a trip in Dec and I'm really hoping the testing will no longer be required.

 

[Etch]

So what do you guys think the chances of them dropping the 14 day isolation period for kids by October is?

The one thing I could see happening is dropping it to a 7 day quarantine instead of 14 with a negative PCR test at 7 days. That was one of the recommendations of the Advisory panel on reopening the border way back in May. They seem to be following this advice at their own pace.

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-can...s/priority-strategies-quarantine-borders.html
This would may a big difference to our family as 7 days for our youngest is a little more palatable then 14.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Found a little more info on the rapid antigen test at Shoppers, it was first offered less than 2 months ago. This explains tests are performed at the pharmacy which is how I understood it from the pharmacist that did my vaccination.
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releas...stomers-in-ontario-and-alberta-847556845.html

 

[bcwife76]

So what do you guys think the chances of them dropping the 14 day isolation period for kids by October is? It sucks having no idea either when that will be dropped, or when a vaccine will be approved for them.

I don't think they will drop it. I think they are waiting for vaccines to be available for the under 12's. I also don't see the testing requirement going away until the end of 2021 at the earliest. The US CDC has their testing in place until Dec 31 2021 unless they rescind it.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I don't think they will drop it. I think they are waiting for vaccines to be available for the under 12's. I also don't see the testing requirement going away until the end of 2021 at the earliest. The US CDC has their testing in place until Dec 31 2021 unless they rescind it.

I agree with you that testing will probably be around for a while but I wonder if some of it be dropped for vaccinated travellers.
For example, my dad is flying to Europe next month to see his elderly parent and to enter he needs to either prove he’s vaccinated OR take a covid test.
The States, yes but let’s remember, they don’t ask about your vaccination at all. At this point anyway.
So what I’m hoping for is that once Canada says ok to non-essential travel (right now it’s not forbidden but the government says to avoid it) they will drop the testing for vaccinated people. I think for those unvaccinated the testing will continue for another year or more.
Just speculating of course.

 

[skondo10]

Thanks for all of the great info about your experience pangyal! We are heading to Disney August 2nd and your experience helped ease some of my anxiety about the testing process! Just a question, when you went on the Walgreens site to register for the NAAT test, what address did you use? SSR address? I didn’t see an option for a Canadian address. Thank you!

 

[Sue M]

Thanks for all of the great info about your experience pangyal! We are heading to Disney August 2nd and your experience helped ease some of my anxiety about the testing process! Just a question, when you went on the Walgreens site to register for the NAAT test, what address did you use? SSR address? I didn’t see an option for a Canadian address. Thank you!

Bookbabe said she used her WDW hotel address

 

[Sue M]

I broke this thread off from the land border discussion. I'll start by posting this update from June 9 2021 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hotel-quarantine-1.6058930

My current gripe is that doing away with the hotel quarantine is great, but the testing required both before entering the USA, and upon arriving back in Canada is *very* expensive. That, combined with a still mandatory (at-home) shorter quarantine doesn't do much to free up leisure travel.

From what Ive read, there isn’t a quarantine at home for fully vaccinated.

 

[Sue M]

I don't think they will drop it. I think they are waiting for vaccines to be available for the under 12's. I also don't see the testing requirement going away until the end of 2021 at the earliest. The US CDC has their testing in place until Dec 31 2021 unless they rescind it.

I can live with the US Antigen test at YVR, and the test at YVR returning home. But what I really, really want them to drop is the 72 hr before flying home test. That one is stressing me out, and have to use vacay time to get it done. Plus I don’t have a car. And I don’t see the point for fully vaccinated people coming home to have to do 2 tests within a 72 hr time frame.

 

[flav]

I can live with the US Antigen test at YVR, and the test at YVR returning home. But what I really, really want them to drop is the 72 hr before flying home test. That one is stressing me out, and have to use vacay time to get it done. Plus I don’t have a car. And I don’t see the point for fully vaccinated people coming home to have to do 2 tests within a 72 hr time frame.

Agree with that! I could not find information on what happens if you test positive on that 72h or less test before returning home. Will Disney let you stay in your room for an extra 14 days and deliver food at the room?

 

[skondo10]

Thanks so much Sue M! I agree the 72 hour before coming home is so stressful! Hopefully they will lift that restriction soon!

 

[bcwife76]

I can live with the US Antigen test at YVR, and the test at YVR returning home. But what I really, really want them to drop is the 72 hr before flying home test. That one is stressing me out, and have to use vacay time to get it done. Plus I don’t have a car. And I don’t see the point for fully vaccinated people coming home to have to do 2 tests within a 72 hr time frame.

I absolutely agree!

 

[flav]

How do we understand that there are no quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers? What do we tell the gym, the dentist or the school when they ask « have you traveled in the last 14 days »? Yes, I traveled but you should ignore this as I am not required to quarantine because I was fully vaccinated… I am afraid that we will be denied entry anywhere we go.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

How do we understand that there are no quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers? What do we tell the gym, the dentist or the school when they ask « have you traveled in the last 14 days »? Yes, I traveled but you should ignore this as I am not required to quarantine because I was fully vaccinated… I am afraid that we will be denied entry anywhere we go.

YES!!!
I was wondering the exact thing myself just yesterday staring at a sign in front of our local Mall with the “Have you traveled outside of Canada in the last 14 days?” If yes, go home and self isolate...
Then completing the online screening for my 12 year old’s soccer practice this morning...”have you traveled outside Canada in the last 14 days is definitely a question. Heck, I think it’s even on the sign in front of the grocery store! It doesn’t make sense that the government would tell us we don’t have to quarantine after travel if fully vaccinated but we can’t even go grocery shopping for 14 days afterwards?That question was (is) on there because up until now you were supposed to quarantine after international travel no matter what.
I think it’s a matter of these signs, questions and screenings being updated but when will that happen? Places have been using the same ones for at least a year now and I feel like the direction to update them should come from Canada’s public health. I’m starting to wonder, if we travel for a week to Orlando this august, will my kid have to miss 3 weeks of soccer? Should I ask the coach? If the player screening form is the same as currently used... well he won’t pass it! Which seems extremely silly if fully vaccinated and 2 covid tests? Like a lot of things during covid, this just doesn’t make sense.
I might email or the public health and ask them... maybe they will have some insight.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Shoppers now has 2 different tests, the PCR is $200 and yes done through life labs. It’s the one that is actually advertised for international travel and it’s quite possible back in January it was the only option.
The $40 one is an antigen test which is accepted for entry to the USA. I believe the antigen test is done on site at Shoppers (selected Ontario locations) - this is the one that the pharmacist told me about when I asked about covid tests prior to travel to USA.
I will have more information next week when I actually book it.

Ok good to know. I actually found another pharmacy that does them as well where I was actually able to book for our September trip this far in advance, I just want it booked so I’m not racing to see if there are appointments available as I believe by then travel will definitely be up and it will be hard to get an appointment. My DH doesn’t trust that the antigen will be enough and wants the PCR however this location only charges $100 for the PCR, a big savings since it will cost the same for 2 as it does for 1 at Shoppers.I requested a refund for my Shoppers one and rebooked this one, this one also doesn’t require prepayment.

http://www.medionerx.com/