United Airlines Return Flight to US: BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test

[MarryMe987654 244]

Hello,

So I booked a flight to the Philippines for March 29 to June 30.

I was checking on requirements and found this on United Airlines' website:

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/covid-testing.html#to_us

 

Does this mean that I don't need to go to a clinic to get tested on my way back to the U.S.? I need confirmation as this seems too easy to be true. I understand that this  can still change in the coming weeks.

 

I would appreciate any input.

 

Thanks!

 

[Chancy 6,241]

25 minutes ago, MarryMe987654 said:

Does this mean that I don't need to go to a clinic to get tested on my way back to the U.S.?

 

Don't risk it with those home test kits.  You may encounter airline staff who would require test results from a DOH-accredited facility and strictly check for the CDC requirements for COVID test results for travel.  The JAL staff who checked my paperwork were very strict.

 

Just get tested at PADLAB near NAIA.  You can get the results within 30 minutes, and it costs less than 1k pesos.

 

[MarryMe987654 244]

10 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Don't risk it with those home test kits.  You may encounter airline staff who would require test results from a DOH-accredited facility and strictly check for the CDC requirements for COVID test results for travel.  The JAL staff who checked my paperwork were very strict.

 

Just get tested at PADLAB near NAIA.  You can get the results within 30 minutes, and it costs less than 1k pesos.

 

Thank you so much for the tip!

[Adventine 3,196]

I used this exact same test kit on my return flight from Costa Rica to the US last month. Very easy to use and absolutely no issues with boarding. 

 

However, @Chancy is correct, with the PH travel restrictions being so inconsistent and unstable, you are better off with a laboratory that is clearly DOH-accredited. The last thing you need when checking in to the flight PH-US is an overzealous employee who insists on seeing results from DOH-accredited labs.

 

If it was me in your shoes, I would go for a DOH-accredited lab but I would keep these test kits as a backup option, just in case the travel requirements change again or PH labs are fully booked by the time you need to travel back to the US.

Edited January 10, 2022 by Adventine

[MarryMe987654 244]

5 minutes ago, Adventine said:

I used this exact same test kit on my return flight from Costa Rica to the US last month. Very easy to use and absolutely no issues with boarding. 

 

However, @Chancy is correct, with the PH travel restrictions being so inconsistent and unstable, you are better off with a laboratory that is clearly DOH-accredited. The last thing you need is an overzealous employee who insists on seeing results from DOH-accredited labs.

 

If it was me in your shoes, I would go for a DOH-accredited lab but I would keep these test kits as a backup option, just in case the travel requirements change again or PH labs are fully booked by the time you need to travel back to the US.

Thank you, @Adventine. That's what I am leaning towards to.

But for now, I think I will wait and see what the situation is, at least one month before my trip

 

Edited January 10, 2022 by MarryMe987654

[top_secret 2,414]

These days in the Philippines any type of rona-test certificate has to have QR code that pseudo-authenticates online.  When my wife and stepdaughter departed they were absolutely verifying QR codes as part of the check-in.  Plus you never know when someone might get caught up in a witch-hunt for passengers trying to travel with "fake" test results.  

[hunny&me 274]

I used this one on my last trip from Philippines - Sept 2021.  No problem.  They will email you a certificate and you will have the same in Navica app.  Make sure it is the one for travel (connected with emed.com).  I have an upcoming trip in back to Manila, and I plan to buy the same.  With the requirement of 1-day prior to flight covid test, this is perfect!