Switch Rapid Antigen travel to US question

[Pumpkin1172]

Just ordered 2 for our trip in February. Crossing my fingers this works. I hope for the price tag, it is easy and peace of mind. I am really hoping that this works, as when we need to test we will be in the lower Keys and testing is not as available - hence why I ordered and am doing it this way! DH is leaving this part of the details to me, so I am wanting to make sure our testing goes easy.

 

[valiamo]

We did the tests north and south bound for our recent trip to Disney. $79 (for 2 persons) for South bound and $149 each for the Northbound tests.

I cannot gush enough how easy it was. Southbound tests were ready in 15 minutes with a PDF in hand. Northbound is a little longer with results available in 30 minutes. Took about 5 minutes to connect to a tech, and the overall testing process was less than 5 minutes. The instructions are very clear, just follow them. You get lots of notification of your test results, when to upload you photo (that the app takes), when to access your test results. You will see and know if you are Negative or Positive before you submit your photo's

ZERO questions at the either side (Canada or US Customs, Airlines, etc), they were accepted without question.

Some quirks:.

• Make sure you set-up your Switch account first. and MAKE SURE that all the data is correct (have someone else double check).
• Have your Passport ready for the Tech to view.
• Have a stand for your phone to keep it steady, you will need 2 hands for the testing.
• They will ask you to blow your nose and sanitize your hands (have them handy)
• DO NOT open any of the packages until they tell you to.
• You have to affix the labels before you call (make them straight)
• The northbound test kit has a machine included and you MUST wait for them to tell you to put the batteries into it (the machine has a timer that starts when they are put in)

We had a problem (me and the first point above) with one test, and a call to their 1-800 number cleared it up and we were able to proceed (hence my notes above).

 

[wdwmom3]

We did the tests north and south bound for our recent trip to Disney. $79 (for 2 persons) for South bound and $149 each for the Northbound tests.

I cannot gush enough how easy it was. Southbound tests were ready in 15 minutes with a PDF in hand. Northbound is a little longer with results available in 30 minutes. Took about 5 minutes to connect to a tech, and the overall testing process was less than 5 minutes. The instructions are very clear, just follow them. You get lots of notification of your test results, when to upload you photo (that the app takes), when to access your test results. You will see and know if you are Negative or Positive before you submit your photo's

ZERO questions at the either side (Canada or US Customs, Airlines, etc), they were accepted without question.

Some quirks:.

• Make sure you set-up your Switch account first. and MAKE SURE that all the data is correct (have someone else double check).
• Have your Passport ready for the Tech to view.
• Have a stand for your phone to keep it steady, you will need 2 hands for the testing.
• They will ask you to blow your nose and sanitize your hands (have them handy)
• DO NOT open any of the packages until they tell you to.
• You have to affix the labels before you call (make them straight)
• The northbound test kit has a machine included and you MUST wait for them to tell you to put the batteries into it (the machine has a timer that starts when they are put in)

We had a problem (me and the first point above) with one test, and a call to their 1-800 number cleared it up and we were able to proceed (hence my notes above).

We have the tests for our February trip. Thanks for all the info!

 

[springsteenmickey]

Curious if anyone knows if these test expire at all? Meaning if I order the PCR ones now for my March trip - will they still be good?

 

[Princess KP]

Curious if anyone knows if these test expire at all? Meaning if I order the PCR ones now for my March trip - will they still be good?

I ordered the RT-Lamp test last week and the expiry date is July 29, 2022.

 

[FinnFogg]

I ordered the RT-Lamp test last week and the expiry date is July 29, 2022.

Same.

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

Antigen test was easy. Connected to nurse in less than 5 minutes and had results within a few minutes of uploading photo.

 

[NewYKRunner]

This thread seems to be more focused on Switch home tests. Has anyone used Switch located in the Calgary airport before flying to the US and had any issues? We travel through Calgary to Orlando early January on WestJet and just want to make sure nobody has had any issues with the rapid tests that Switch does right at YYC. I'd like to book them in advance to make it as smooth as possible.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CanucksRock]

This thread seems to be more focused on Switch home tests. Has anyone used Switch located in the Calgary airport before flying to the US and had any issues? We travel through Calgary to Orlando early January on WestJet and just want to make sure nobody has had any issues with the rapid tests that Switch does right at YYC. I'd like to book them in advance to make it as smooth as possible.

Thanks in advance!

FYI, if you are in Alberta there are much cheaper options available. I'm going to do the test at Walmart for $19.95 the day before I fly out. Appt can be booked in advance.

 

[NewYKRunner]

FYI, if you are in Alberta there are much cheaper options available. I'm going to do the test at Walmart for $19.95 the day before I fly out. Appt can be booked in advance.

I'm not in Alberta and need reviews on Switch at YYC which we're passing through. We are coming from the NWT on a Sunday and the timeframe gets very close to the 24 hour requirement so we can't rely on a test before we leave home.

 

[CanucksRock]

I'm not in Alberta and need reviews on Switch at YYC which we're passing through. We are coming from the NWT on a Sunday and the timeframe gets very close to the 24 hour requirement so we can't rely on a test before we leave home.

The US is 1 day before, not 24 hours.
If you are connecting, you should check with the airline as I had to show my negative test in Edmonton, even though my connection was in Toronto. I don't know anyone that has used switch health at the airports.

 

[NewYKRunner]

I had to show my negative test in Edmonton, even though my connection was in Toronto.

We are overnighting in Calgary so we will be checking in at the Calgary airport to get to Orlando so we need to ideally test in Calgary.

I don't know anyone that has used switch health at the airports.

Thank you

 

[disneyin2013]

Update! We used the tests at home and we are in CA, everything was very smooth. Highly recommend.

 

[disneyin2013]

We are overnighting in Calgary so we will be checking in at the Calgary airport to get to Orlando so we need to ideally test in Calgary.

Thank you

If you were in a quiet location with headphones - and had an area that you could stay in for 15 min, I think you could do it. You need to prop your phone up and have a flat surface for the test.

 

[NewYKRunner]

If you were in a quiet location with headphones - and had an area that you could stay in for 15 min, I think you could do it. You need to prop your phone up and have a flat surface for the test.

No need for a phone I'm pretty sure, it's in person and cheaper than the home kits that I've seen. I'm just looking for reviews on it and if anybody has had issues boarding a plane after using them.

https://switchhealth.ca/en/clinics/book/calgary-yyc-airport

 

[Chip#1]

This thread seems to be more focused on Switch home tests. Has anyone used Switch located in the Calgary airport before flying to the US and had any issues? We travel through Calgary to Orlando early January on WestJet and just want to make sure nobody has had any issues with the rapid tests that Switch does right at YYC. I'd like to book them in advance to make it as smooth as possible.

Thanks in advance!

Have only done Switch Health via home but NUMI is located in YYC (International terminal) and we have used them. They have been there since the very beginning; believe KLM was using them exclusively for their flights. Both rapid and PCR we have done there and have had great success. They might be a bit more than SH but I would recommend them. Rapid -- you wait for the results and they had you a hard copy.

 

[NewYKRunner]

Have only done Switch Health via home but NUMI is located in YYC (International terminal) and we have used them. They have been there since the very beginning; believe KLM was using them exclusively for their flights. Both rapid and PCR we have done there and have had great success. They might be a bit more than SH but I would recommend them. Rapid -- you wait for the results and they had you a hard copy.

Thank you. I've found Numi's website but I did not see that they're in the airport. I'll check them out as well.