My experience travelling back from USA yesterday

Morning All

As some of you will have read 3 weeks ago I gave a quick overview of my experience travelling to USA and what to expect

Yesterday I got back into the UK and this is how it went

As part of the requirement to return to UK you have to do the following
Covid test within 72 hours of travel
Complete the UK Government Locator Form
Purchase day 2 and day 8 covid tests.

I used online service Qured for my 72 hour test at a price of £39.  I purchased this a few weeks before I travelled and it arrived by post.  I then booked my time slot to suit the 72 hours.  They send you a link to a video interview.   The interview / test takes around 10 minutes and was very smooth.   They watch you do your test on Video and show you how to put the sample in the solution.  You then email a photo of the test kit to them and within 2 minutes I got a certificate to say it had passed (I knew that already as its like a pregnancy kit).    You then have to upload this or at least I did to a space on United Airlines who I was travelling with.

Within 24 hours of travel you need to complete the UK Government online passenger locator form,  this takes around 10 minutes

Book your day 2 and day 8 covid test.  On the UK site there must be a list of 30+ companies you can use all with different prices I paid £159 I probably should have booked this a week before returning as it has not turned up yet.

Arrival at the departure airport in my case San Franscisco, they ask to see a copy of your covid certificate and passenger locator form.  I wished I had printed it as it took me a while to find it in email.   I had a connecting flight to London via Chicago.

At Chicago before being allowed to board the London flight again I had to show my Covid / Locator form

On arrival at Heathrow in Security you again have to show the Covid, Locator and evidence that you have booked your day 2 and day 8 test,  numerous people had not done this and were having to  complete the forms at the airport before leaving security.

The day 2 and 8 tests are posted to you the day before you are meant to take them (I guess so you don’t take them both on day 1?). Because of the bank holiday weekend this weekend, things might not quite turn out like this!!

Today is my mom’s day 9, but her day 8 test arrived today.

She isn’t in quarantine any more as she opted for the day 5 test to release and got her result on day 6 (Saturday) which was an extra £100.


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The day 2 and 8 tests are posted to you the day before you are meant to take them (I guess so you don’t take them both on day 1?). Because of the bank holiday weekend this weekend, things might not quite turn out like this!!

Today is my mom’s day 9, but her day 8 test arrived today.

She isn’t in quarantine any more as she opted for the day 5 test to release and got her result on day 6 (Saturday) which was an extra £100.


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What is the thinking behind the day 5 early release test? If you take this (and allowed to mingle with the public) why the need for the Day 8 test? Not questioning the science, I just don't know the science.

Morning All

As some of you will have read 3 weeks ago I gave a quick overview of my experience travelling to USA and what to expect

Yesterday I got back into the UK and this is how it went

As part of the requirement to return to UK you have to do the following
Covid test within 72 hours of travel
Complete the UK Government Locator Form
Purchase day 2 and day 8 covid tests.

I used online service Qured for my 72 hour test at a price of £39.  I purchased this a few weeks before I travelled and it arrived by post.  I then booked my time slot to suit the 72 hours.  They send you a link to a video interview.   The interview / test takes around 10 minutes and was very smooth.   They watch you do your test on Video and show you how to put the sample in the solution.  You then email a photo of the test kit to them and within 2 minutes I got a certificate to say it had passed (I knew that already as its like a pregnancy kit).    You then have to upload this or at least I did to a space on United Airlines who I was travelling with.

Within 24 hours of travel you need to complete the UK Government online passenger locator form,  this takes around 10 minutes

Book your day 2 and day 8 covid test.  On the UK site there must be a list of 30+ companies you can use all with different prices I paid £159 I probably should have booked this a week before returning as it has not turned up yet.

Arrival at the departure airport in my case San Franscisco, they ask to see a copy of your covid certificate and passenger locator form.  I wished I had printed it as it took me a while to find it in email.   I had a connecting flight to London via Chicago.

At Chicago before being allowed to board the London flight again I had to show my Covid / Locator form

On arrival at Heathrow in Security you again have to show the Covid, Locator and evidence that you have booked your day 2 and day 8 test,  numerous people had not done this and were having to  complete the forms at the airport before leaving security.

Thanks Swilt. But I thought to arrive back in the UK it had to be a PCR test? It sounds like you did a lateral flow test.

Morning,  yes I did Lateral, there was no requrirement for PCR from USA....   I think the next 2 I do this week have to be  PCR.

Not sure about the science... think it’s more about £££. You get fined if you don’t do the day 8 test. The day 5 test is optional and extra £.

My mum’s been fully vaccinated for more than a month, so we’ve been fairly confident she’d be ok.


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Not sure about the science... think it’s more about £££. You get fined if you don’t do the day 8 test. The day 5 test is optional and extra £.

My mum’s been fully vaccinated for more than a month, so we’ve been fairly confident she’d be ok.


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I was thinking about that myself and yes there is £££ in it but I think its also to try to deter people from travel at the moment.   In terms of being vaccinated (I to am) I dont think that is the issue but more that we can still carry covid even though we are vaccinated so there is a risk to others and possible new strains etc.        LEts hope coming months it becomes alot easier.     I have to say though whilst I was in California and Vegas last week I didnt see to much to deter people from catching it over there and spreading it...

And there is no option for the 5 day test to release in Scotland.

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I find it hard to believe that it's about the money as the government isn't getting any of it.  I think it's more about cutting down on the sheer numbers of people who travel and one way to do that is simply to make it expensive. 

The science is more money to discourage travel and make it a royal pain in the ass. It’s worked. My family knows we aren’t going anywhere until testing is a thing of the past (unless it looks like it’s never going away).  I’m cheap! 

Us too, my wife is dying to get to France to see her mom but the tests are way too expensive.  I think they'll eventually change it to lateral flow tests for green light countries.   

I find it hard to believe that it's about the money as the government isn't getting any of it.  I think it's more about cutting down on the sheer numbers of people who travel and one way to do that is simply to make it expensive. 

Hmm this government logic of making things expensive to act as a deterrent sounds familiar...

Hmm this government logic of making things expensive to act as a deterrent sounds familiar...

Yes, it's a common tactic and many governments do similar, with high taxes on things like tobacco, alcohol, petrol and diesel etc.

@swilt170571 how did you do the covid test in the USA? I'm thinking about booking one at the airport here, but not sure if it's okay if I book a rapid test (and the gov website is super unclear on that, it just mentions how accurate the test is meant to be)

Has anyone travelled back from the USA to the UK with a CVS rapid antigen test? Thanks!