27/01/2021
7 things to know about new COVID-19 test requirement on flights to US
1. Yes, U.S. citizens are subject to the new rules.
2. No, you aren't exempt if you've had a COVID-19 vaccine.
3. Yes, you can avoid a test by submitting two things before your flight home: test results that show you had COVID-19 within the past three months and a note from a health care provider or public health official that states that you have recovered and been cleared for travel.
4. No, airlines won't be testing you when you arrive at the airport for an international flight to the U.S. Travelers are on their own to obtain the required test, which must be taken no more than three days before your departure date. Hotels from the swank Atlantis in the Bahamas to timeshare resorts throughout the region have rushed to add on-site testing for guests, so check in advance to see what's available and add the cost to your vacation budget. Make sure you make a reservation for a test if offered in case slots fill up quickly. For more information on testing options in international destinations, check the websites and social media accounts of U.S. embassies. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has assembled a list of private providers throughout the country, and so has the embassy in Costa Rica.
5. No, you don't need to get a test before your flight out of the U.S. if you're headed to certain destinations, including Mexico. You will, though, if you're headed to select Caribbean destinations, Canada, the United Kingdom and scores of other countries with entry restrictions. Check with your airline and destination for details. Traveling within the U.S.? Coronavirus tests aren't required to board a plane, though some destinations, most notably Hawaii, require you to quarantine if you don't receive a negative test result before departure.
6. Yes, airlines are trying to make it easier to stay up to date on new COVID-19 travel restrictions and organize test results and other documents while avoiding logjams at the airport. United Airlines on Monday announced a new "travel-ready'' center on its mobile app and website.
United Airlines has added new features to its mobile app to help travelers stay on top of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
And American Airlines over the weekend expanded the use of the VeriFLY app, a mobile health passport where travelers can upload test results and other required documents, for passengers traveling to the U.S. from all international destinations. Previously, the option was available to passengers traveling from the U.S. to places with entry restrictions, including Jamaica, Chile, Colombia and Guatemala.
7. No, there is no mandatory quarantine when you return to or arrive in the United States. It is recommended by the CDC and President Joe Biden, however. The CDC recommends that travelers get tested three to five days after travel and stay home or in a hotel to self-quarantine for seven days post-travel regardless of the test results. If you don't get tested after the trip, the CDC says "it's safest'' to stay home for 10 days. Biden's executive order states that travelers arriving in the U.S. from an international destination are "required to comply with other applicable CDC guidelines concerning international travel, including recommended periods of self-quarantine or self-isolation after entry into the United States.''
