Heads-up for Those Flying South

[Maddysdaddy]

New rules for those flying into the U.S., effective Jan 26.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passengers.html
“Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.”

 

[KNovacovschi]

If you are in Ontario or Alberta you can go to the Shoppers site to book and you will get the test results back within 48 hrs as they are specific for international travel. You provide your departure date/time from Canada and arrival date/time to where you are going and what the countries time requirement for the test results and then it will tell you when to do it by. Also it costs $199 + tax in Ontario and $150 + tax in Alberta, no other province is doing this it looks like. You can do it for free but here in Ontario you have to meet a requirement for the regular testing centre, which travel is not one of them, and it can take up to 7 days to get the results. That won’t work when it has to be within 72 hrs of departure.

 

[ottawamom]

Finally. Maybe that will slow things down for a bit.

 

[Lydia S]

For sure it will discourage more people from travelling unless absolutely necessary. $199/test is a pretty steep price to pay. Not to mention, whenever you return, you would also need to take another test to get back to Canada.

 

[Jrb1979]

It's just not worth it to travel right now. I'm expecting that normal travel for Canadians won't return til next year.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

We have a trip in the planning stages for this December (read: rooms booked onsite, price holder on flights..) The cost of testing going & returning for our travel party of seven at the rates shown (Shoppers ends up being $226 per person with hst, & a test in Orlando @ $200US per person - before tax.. is $254CDN per person at today’s exchange rate) will add — $3353.00 to our travel costs.
Then there is the mandatory quarantine upon return to still consider also... smh.

So we wait, watch, and hope that things will be able to change by year end... with the news of the vaccines we felt guardedly optimistic as we chose mid December/2021 travel dates, but as with 2 previously booked 2020 trips.. we knew there was a chance we would need to rethink things.

 

[Carolynleanne]

The big question is, how long will Canada and the USA have this requirement? There’s no way we’re paying an extra $2500 on top of vacation costs yearly for a trip We may have to wait til the vaccine is acceptable to go international.

 

[hdrolfe]

Taking a wait and see approach on this one. I have a trip planned for December and am hoping to be vaccinated by then, not sure if kiddo will be though (given there isn't a vaccine approved for his age yet). Wondering if the testing will still be required past September when "everyone who wants it will be vaccinated". At least on the Canada side of things. Hoping a vaccination certificate will be sufficient by then.

 

[Lydia S]

Then there is the mandatory quarantine upon return to still consider also... smh.

Mandatory quarantine still in place for December will make me cancel my trip. I'm able to work from home, but my husband doens't and my daughter would be (presumably) back to in-school learning by then, so 14 days quarantine is not an option for us.

We've got our hotel stay booked as well, but not sure if/when we'd look into booking flights given the high probability that we'll choose to cancel

 

[Carolynleanne]

Taking a wait and see approach on this one. I have a trip planned for December and am hoping to be vaccinated by then, not sure if kiddo will be though (given there isn't a vaccine approved for his age yet). Wondering if the testing will still be required past September when "everyone who wants it will be vaccinated". At least on the Canada side of things. Hoping a vaccination certificate will be sufficient by then.

that’s the big question! I feel like going forward you’ll either need proof of the vaccine or proof of a negative Covid test.

 

[Pumpkin1172]

I wonder how this will affect countries (think warm tropical climates) to provide a place for travelers to be able to access these places to even consider going to vacation there?

I understand the "why" they are implementing this, but this just puts a nail in the coffin for many people who were trying to plan a vacation (when they felt it was safe for them)

Edited to add

I will swallow that fee for two of us to do our "50th Birthday " celebration trip...especially being in Alberta, if we follow the guidelines set out (and if dh work is ok with that as well) to get all the covid testing. and the travel guidelines of the travel program through Alberta Airports. But, if you have more than 2 travelers, that adds up VERY fast as an extra cost.

Let's hope that once vaccines are rolled out, positive cases go down dramatically, then we can start to maybe think of some normalcy getting back into our daily lives.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Mandatory quarantine still in place for December will make me cancel my trip. I'm able to work from home, but my husband doens't and my daughter would be (presumably) back to in-school learning by then, so 14 days quarantine is not an option for us.

We've got our hotel stay booked as well, but not sure if/when we'd look into booking flights given the high probability that we'll choose to cancel

We chose our December dates to coordinate with the Christmas holidays. My job closes over the Christmas break which was perfect for the 14 day requirement. Any other dates and I’d have to use personal time to quarantine, I’m not willing to do that.

Westjet & Air Canada periodically offer the ability to book with a hold on lower rates. Early on they offered at no cost (desperation) - lately though there’s a $100 holding fee.

 

[Lperd]

Mandatory quarantine still in place for December will make me cancel my trip. I'm able to work from home, but my husband doesn't and my daughter would be (presumably) back to in-school learning by then, so 14 days quarantine is not an option for us.

We've got our hotel stay booked as well, but not sure if/when we'd look into booking flights given the high probability that we'll choose to cancel

So does this mean that you now have to get a negative test going there, one coming back, and then you still have to quarantine for 14 days?

 

[ottawamom]

Yup!

 

[Starwind]

There is also this part of the CDC announcement which seems to be overlooked with the focus on the testing before arrival:

Before departure to the United States, a required test, combined with the CDC recommendations to get tested again 3-5 days after arrival and stay home for 7 days post-travel, will help slow the spread of COVID-19 within US communities from travel-related infections.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passengers.html
Doesnt say if there will be enforcement of the retest and "stay home for 7 days"... also does that apply for tourists ?

 

[Lperd]

Oy...well this is a game-changer. Was hoping to book Aulani now for year-end in hopes of the vaccine being available to the gen pop in the fall. Not sure if it's even worth booking now with these new requirements.

 

[wdwmom3]

Oy...well this is a game-changer. Was hoping to book Aulani now for year-end in hopes of the vaccine being available to the gen pop in the fall. Not sure if it's even worth booking now with these new requirements.

I’m sure there requirements will change once there is widespread use of the vaccine. Problem is nobody knows when that will be. We have booked stiff. Just make sure whatever you book is refundable.

 

[damo]

I don't think it will be too long before we start seeing if this vaccine is having the desired effect. Lots of people in other countries are getting their second doses already. Evidence will be coming out.

 

[KNovacovschi]

We have a trip in the planning stages for this December (read: rooms booked onsite, price holder on flights..) The cost of testing going & returning for our travel party of seven at the rates shown (Shoppers ends up being $226 per person with hst, & a test in Orlando @ $200US per person - before tax.. is $254CDN per person at today’s exchange rate) will add — $3353.00 to our travel costs.
Then there is the mandatory quarantine upon return to still consider also... smh.

So we wait, watch, and hope that things will be able to change by year end... with the news of the vaccines we felt guardedly optimistic as we chose mid December/2021 travel dates, but as with 2 previously booked 2020 trips.. we knew there was a chance we would need to rethink things.

Just so you know you can get the test free at Maingate, about 5 mins from AK but I get what you’re saying. For us it’s just 2 of us and most likely just me so the cost is not so much.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

FYI, for going to the US, you can use antigen rapid tests, doesn't need to be PCR.