Air travel policy updates

[hdrolfe]

Some good news, direct flights to Canada to be able to land in more places, no quarantine for those too young to be vaccinated, US vaccinated people will be able to enter without quarantine as of Aug 9 and other countries in Sept. But still the 72 hour test. I think I'll be happy when that one is gone.

I am happy about flights being able to come into Canada and land in Ottawa again though. I have direct flights booked for March and though I know they can still change, it makes me a little more hopeful.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa-border-measures-reopening-1.6107988

 

[wdwmom3]

Some good news, direct flights to Canada to be able to land in more places, no quarantine for those too young to be vaccinated, US vaccinated people will be able to enter without quarantine as of Aug 9 and other countries in Sept. But still the 72 hour test. I think I'll be happy when that one is gone.

I am happy about flights being able to come into Canada and land in Ottawa again though. I have direct flights booked for March and though I know they can still change, it makes me a little more hopeful.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa-border-measures-reopening-1.6107988

They said no quarantine for kids travelling with vaccinated parents. But they can’t go to any group settings like school, daycare etc for 14 days. So they are still limited as to where they can go.

 

[CdnKayDee]

They said no quarantine for kids travelling with vaccinated parents. But they can’t go to any group settings like school, daycare etc for 14 days. So they are still limited as to where they can go

It said advised to, not required to. So I don't believe you have to. They just want you to.

 

[wdwmom3]

It said advised to, not required to. So I don't believe you have to. They just want you to.

I guarantee you every school and daycare will say kids can’t attend if they have travelled within 14 days.

 

[Sue M]

 

[Sue M]

I‘d rather they did away with 72 hr test too and kept arrival test. i guess on direct flights from US to Canada you will know everyone on flight will be vaccinated so there’s an element of safety there. But it sure is a hassle and added expense to find a place to do 72 hr test.

Meanwhile Loonie is going down ugh

 

[ellbell]

I‘d rather they did away with 72 hr test too and kept arrival test. i guess on direct flights from US to Canada you will know everyone on flight will be vaccinated so there’s an element of safety there. But it sure is a hassle and added expense to find a place to do 72 hr test.

Meanwhile Loonie is going down ugh

The reason they got rid of the arrival one is because it costs them money. We pay for the one 72 hours in advance.

 

[Sue M]

The reason they got rid of the arrival one is because it costs them money. We pay for the one 72 hours in advance.

I guess I didn’t think about that lol!

 

[Chip#1]

I‘d rather they did away with 72 hr test too and kept arrival test. i guess on direct flights from US to Canada you will know everyone on flight will be vaccinated so there’s an element of safety there. But it sure is a hassle and added expense to find a place to do 72 hr test.

Meanwhile Loonie is going down ugh

Hmmm I would disagree on the 'everyone on the flight will be vaccinated' thought; the 5 trips i've done this past year had TONS of 'essential' ppl on them that never had to quarantine/test and I don't think those deemed essential have to prove they are vaccinated even now. The fact that everyone, including essential individuals, all have to test 72hrs in advance is really the only thing that a person can feel comfortable in knowing -- although I still would rather not have the testing required.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Oh just said if you are gone less then 72 hours your pre departure test can be done in Canada?

That’s just strange, don’t see the point in that.

This is good for day trips.

 

[ellbell]

This is good for day trips.

Not really. We still need to test coming back. Nothing was mentiones about removing the test requirement at the land border.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Not really. We still need to test coming back. Nothing was mentiones about removing the test requirement at the land border.

I don’t mind the test coming back at the border, I was wondering how it would work with the 72 hr test to cross, so if we can just use the test to cross to come back then that makes it easier. I hope that made sense, lol

 

[ellbell]

I don’t mind the test coming back at the border, I was wondering how it would work with the 72 hr test to cross, so if we can just use the test to cross to come back then that makes it easier. I hope that made sense, lol

For very few people. I'd have to pay 400 dollars minimum since I don't dtive myself so would have to have my spouse test too.

 

[Sue M]

Hmmm I would disagree on the 'everyone on the flight will be vaccinated' thought; the 5 trips i've done this past year had TONS of 'essential' ppl on them that never had to quarantine/test and I don't think those deemed essential have to prove they are vaccinated even now. The fact that everyone, including essential individuals, all have to test 72hrs in advance is really the only thing that a person can feel comfortable in knowing -- although I still would rather not have the testing required.

I never have any idea who the other people are on my flight! Essential or not. Id rather not have the 72 hr test either and just the airport test but that’s not happening.

I don’t mind the test coming back at the border, I was wondering how it would work with the 72 hr test to cross, so if we can just use the test to cross to come back then that makes it easier. I hope that made sense, lol

we’d have to get the more expensive test then that will work for both borders. Thats $200 here in BC. Pretty expensive for a day trip.

 

[KNovacovschi]

For very few people. I'd have to pay 400 dollars minimum since I don't dtive myself so would have to have my spouse test too.

Good point.

 

[Starwind]

Oh just said if you are gone less then 72 hours your pre departure test can be done in Canada?

That’s just strange, don’t see the point in that.

It allows for the practicality of day trips and similar very short trips.

For example, I live less than an hour from the US border. Pre-covid my day trips across usually lasted 1-2 hours stateside, sometimes even less than an hour. If I have to have test in the US before returning to Canada, I would need to add many hours, possibly an overnight stay to my trip **just for the purposes of the test** and waiting for its results, but that stay will then expose me to a lot more people and situations [hotel, meals, ...]. [Also, the Walgreens in the crossborder town the UPS store is in does not do covid testing, so there is a further drive to a Walgreens that does]. Without the need for a test, I can have a trip that is as short as cross the border, drive to UPS store, go into UPS store to pick up my packages, get back in car and drive back across border. Other than the border guards both ways, the only humans I would interact with or are in proximity with are whoever is in the UPS store at the time, which could be as few as 2 people. Add in testing and an overnight stay and you significantly increase exposure for something that won't tell you anything -- any test taken at that point cannot show infection from exposure that very day, only days before (and likely 5-7 or more days before) in Canada.

I am looking forward to this change, but want to see the actual written explanation/rules from government - and would travel with a printed copy to reference at the border if needed.

Also there is still the question of whether Canada will adjust the advice against Canadians travelling for non-essential reasons, as depending on one's policy travel emergency medical insurance and other travel insurance may not cover you while that advisory is still in place. Don't want to e.g. fall and break your arm or have a heart attack or be in a car accident stateside on a short (or longer) trip and find out you don't have travel insurance because the advisory is still there and you traveled anyway.

SW

 

[Sue M]

It allows for the practicality of day trips and similar very short trips.

For example, I live less than an hour from the US border. Pre-covid my day trips across usually lasted 1-2 hours stateside, sometimes even less than an hour. If I have to have test in the US before returning to Canada, I would need to add many hours, possibly an overnight stay to my trip **just for the purposes of the test** and waiting for its results, but that stay will then expose me to a lot more people and situations [hotel, meals, ...]. [Also, the Walgreens in the crossborder town the UPS store is in does not do covid testing, so there is a further drive to a Walgreens that does]. Without the need for a test, I can have a trip that is as short as cross the border, drive to UPS store, go into UPS store to pick up my packages, get back in car and drive back across border. Other than the border guards both ways, the only humans I would interact with or are in proximity with are whoever is in the UPS store at the time, which could be as few as 2 people. Add in testing and an overnight stay and you significantly increase exposure for something that won't tell you anything -- any test taken at that point cannot show infection from exposure that very day, only days before (and likely 5-7 or more days before) in Canada.

I am looking forward to this change, but want to see the actual written explanation/rules from government - and would travel with a printed copy to reference at the border if needed.

Also there is still the question of whether Canada will adjust the advice against Canadians travelling for non-essential reasons, as depending on one's policy travel emergency medical insurance and other travel insurance may not cover you while that advisory is still in place. Don't want to e.g. fall and break your arm or have a heart attack or be in a car accident stateside on a short (or longer) trip and find out you don't have travel insurance because the advisory is still there and you traveled anyway.

SW

I fear day trips are a ways off for me. Cost $200 to havePCR test for a few hours shopping
After both sides of land border open, they’re going to have to figure out a cheap way to have cross border day trips resume. My guess is they don’t want us doing this yet!

 

[hdrolfe]

I fear day trips are a ways off for me. Cost $200 to havePCR test for a few hours shopping
After both sides of land border open, they’re going to have to figure out a cheap way to have cross border day trips resume. My guess is they don’t want us doing this yet!

It would, rather, offset the savings in going down there (if there are any to begin with I guess) for a day of shopping. If you were planning to go to a Walgreens to shop you could see about using that free test to return. If it is back the same day/hour or whatever.

 

[Sue M]

It would, rather, offset the savings in going down there (if there are any to begin with I guess) for a day of shopping. If you were planning to go to a Walgreens to shop you could see about using that free test to return. If it is back the same day/hour or whatever.

But wouldn’t you have to show a test when crossing into the US? It’s just too complicated. Trader Joe’s will have to wait

 

[hdrolfe]

But wouldn’t you have to show a test when crossing into the US? It’s just too complicated. Trader Joe’s will have to wait

They don't require the expensive test and from someone else's comments it's not required when driving, only flying