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Post by bc2ca on Jan 17, 2022 19:52:25 GMT
DH is driving me batty and insisting that a negative PCR test is required when flying from Canada to the US.
He has flown twice in the six months and insists he took PCR tests both times. Everything I'm reading says it is just a negative antigen test that is required for flying this direction.
Have you flown from Canada to the US? Which test did you take?
Bonus question: it has to be taken within 24 hours of departure, so did you just do it at the airport?
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Post by librarylady on Jan 17, 2022 20:02:13 GMT
My son found a location in Ottawa near his home. I went the 2 days before flight and had test performed. I had to show the results to person at airport.
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Post by librarylady on Jan 17, 2022 20:03:15 GMT
Perhaps rules have been changed. Go to US immigration website to verify what is needed.
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,637 
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Post by valincal on Jan 17, 2022 20:07:39 GMT
I flew down on Boxing Day and we had rapid antigen tests done right at YYC.
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 17, 2022 20:23:02 GMT
Go to US immigration website to verify what is needed. I have, which is why I questioned DH telling DD she needed a PCR test. He is pushing her anxiety buttons so I told her I'd asked other real people what they had done.  |
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chico
Junior Member
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Post by chico on Jan 17, 2022 20:30:05 GMT
I haven’t flown yet, not ‘till February, but I’ve done a bit of research and a rapid antigen is all that is required from Canada to the USA.
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Post by calgaryscrapper on Jan 17, 2022 20:31:36 GMT
Have her call a couple of travel agents to verify the current rules
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Post by voltagain on Jan 17, 2022 20:38:59 GMT
DH is driving me batty and insisting that a negative PCR test is required when flying from Canada to the US. He has flown twice in the six months and insists he took PCR tests both times. Everything I'm reading says it is just a negative antigen test that is required for flying this direction. Have you flown from Canada to the US? Which test did you take? Bonus question: it has to be taken within 24 hours of departure, so did you just do it at the airport? Have her contact the airline she is flying with. |
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tanya2
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by tanya2 on Jan 17, 2022 21:18:25 GMT
I flew last Tuesday from Toronto to Atlanta & then to Honduras
You only need to show an antigen test, taken 24 hours before. I got mine done at Shoppers. $40 and results in 15 minutes. Also bring your proof of vax
oh - I had to book an appt at shoppers to get the test done. And when booking they ask for my passport info, which is then recorded on the test results
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,920
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Post by pilcas on Jan 17, 2022 21:49:23 GMT
We got into the US yesterday with a rapid antigen from Guatemala. Doesn’t matter where your coming from. We had it done at the airport but the day before. We were close to the airport and it was the cheapest place $25.
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Post by melanieg on Jan 17, 2022 22:13:55 GMT
The US requires an antigen test within 24 hrs of departure flight time into the USA.
Returning to Canada a PCR test is required within 72 hrs of departure flight time into Canada. Along with the ArriveCan app.
Maybe that is what he is thinking of?
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Post by librarylady on Jan 17, 2022 22:17:50 GMT
I went in August. At that time PCR test was required in each direction.
Obviously things have changed.
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Post by librarylady on Jan 17, 2022 22:18:51 GMT
I wish the US had an app like Canada does...upload the information, get the approval code and you are done.
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Post by hjs on Jan 17, 2022 22:37:52 GMT
I flew in November, and took a rapid antigen test at YVR. I believe though, that not all rapid tests qualify. The ones we took through Bon Voyage Medical listed specifically on the results that they are approved for flying. I think that Hawaii has somewhat different requirements.
At the moment a PCR test is required for return to Canada.
I would suggest checking immigration websites though for both countries, as things may be changing quickly
Happy travels
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 17, 2022 23:31:24 GMT
I got mine done at Shoppers. $40 and results in 15 minutes Lucky you! I just checked and BC Shoppers are only doing Travel PCR tests with a 48 hour results window. No antigen option available. I went in August. At that time PCR test was required in each direction. Obviously things have changed. IIRC, the change was in the fall, and might have been around the same time the US land borders opened up. Returning to Canada a PCR test is required within 72 hrs of departure flight time into Canada. Along with the ArriveCan app. Maybe that is what he is thinking of? He knows the north/south travel rules are different. We drove in and out at Christmas and it was like two different worlds. I think he is stuck on the fact that you can get a rapid PCR at the airport, so that must be what is needed. Even though it is not. |
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Jan 17, 2022 23:50:08 GMT
We flew Dec 29. Antigen test 24 hrs before.
We bought the tests through aeroplan. Anyone can buy them. From switch health. You do them at home with someone over FaceTime. $40 per person.
You can even buy the PCR tests to do on the US side for getting home. $80 per person. We did free tests in US but in retrospect it would have been less stressful to do the $80 ones. You do them at your hotel and get your results in 30 min. We were stressed our results wouldn’t be back in time. I know many people who had to cancel flights home because their tests weren’t back in time.
Airport tests are quite expensive in comparison I think, especially for PCR (for coming home).
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 17, 2022 23:58:28 GMT
You can even buy the PCR tests to do on the US side for getting home. $80 per person. We did free tests in US but in retrospect it would have been less stressful to do the $80 ones. You do them at your hotel and get your results in 30 min. We were stressed our results wouldn’t be back in time. I know many people who had to cancel flights home because their tests weren’t back in time. Thanks for this information.  I didn't get my PCR test result within the 72 hour window heading north in December and it was a minor, very expensive nightmare. DD is planning to pay for a rapid PCR test when she heads back because her anxiety will be through the roof waiting for a free test. |
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valincal
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Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on Jan 17, 2022 23:59:13 GMT
I wish the US had an app like Canada does...upload the information, get the approval code and you are done. The app isn’t that great. You still need to show proof of negative PCR test at check in. We’ve had rapid antigen tests done at Shoppers ($40), at Walmart ($20) and Numi ($62). I can’t speak to the availability of these tests in other provinces. I’m in Alberta. |
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Post by flanz on Jan 18, 2022 0:08:06 GMT
In November 2021 I just needed a neg antigen test which I had done at Shopper's Drug Mart for $40
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Post by MichyM on Jan 18, 2022 1:01:15 GMT
Can I ask a possibly stupid question simply out of curiousity? Is an antigen test the same as doing an at home rapid test such as Binaxnow and others? But it’s done under the guidance of a medical professional (of other trained individual), thus it’s acceptable?
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Post by tallgirl on Jan 18, 2022 2:42:34 GMT
Don’t forget that if you have recovered from Covid and have PCR proof, then you can use that positive test (after 11 days) to travel between Canada and the US, with no new negative test needed. It’s valid for 3 months after the date of the test to enter the US and 6 months after the date of the test to enter Canada.
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valincal
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Southern Alberta
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Post by valincal on Jan 18, 2022 2:48:42 GMT
Can I ask a possibly stupid question simply out of curiousity? Is an antigen test the same as doing an at home rapid test such as Binaxnow and others? But it’s done under the guidance of a medical professional (of other trained individual), thus it’s acceptable? I believe so! When I was researching tests I found a company (through WestJet) that will mail you a kit (with both an RAT and a PCR test) that is good for travel to and from the US. I think they were around 80 or $100 and they are monitored by a health professional over a zoom type call. I guess similar to the kit that Air Canada has for their passengers as someone shared above. |
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 18, 2022 3:21:02 GMT
Can I ask a possibly stupid question simply out of curiousity? Is an antigen test the same as doing an at home rapid test such as Binaxnow and others? But it’s done under the guidance of a medical professional (of other trained individual), thus it’s acceptable? Yes, the tests are the same. To be acceptable for travel, the test has to be witnessed via a telehealth connection* to assure the result belong to the person being tested and there needs to be a report of some sort produced. *or in person at a clinic |
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tanya2
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Post by tanya2 on Jan 18, 2022 3:42:10 GMT
We flew Dec 29. Antigen test 24 hrs before. We bought the tests through aeroplan. Anyone can buy them. From switch health. You do them at home with someone over FaceTime. $40 per person. You can even buy the PCR tests to do on the US side for getting home. $80 per person. We did free tests in US but in retrospect it would have been less stressful to do the $80 ones. You do them at your hotel and get your results in 30 min. We were stressed our results wouldn’t be back in time. I know many people who had to cancel flights home because their tests weren’t back in time. Airport tests are quite expensive in comparison I think, especially for PCR (for coming home). But when you do this kind of test what do you have to show at the airport? Do you bring the negative test with you? Shoppers gave me a signed & stamped form confirming we were negative. |
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tanya2
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Post by tanya2 on Jan 18, 2022 3:44:05 GMT
I so wish that Canada would switch to accepting the antigen test for return to Canada. It's so much easier to get than a PCR test & way cheaper. I don't mind having to test to return but it's annoying to be so inconvenienced and to have to pay through the nose for a test (literally!!)
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valincal
Drama Llama
Southern Alberta
Posts: 5,637
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Post by valincal on Jan 18, 2022 4:28:07 GMT
We flew Dec 29. Antigen test 24 hrs before. We bought the tests through aeroplan. Anyone can buy them. From switch health. You do them at home with someone over FaceTime. $40 per person. You can even buy the PCR tests to do on the US side for getting home. $80 per person. We did free tests in US but in retrospect it would have been less stressful to do the $80 ones. You do them at your hotel and get your results in 30 min. We were stressed our results wouldn’t be back in time. I know many people who had to cancel flights home because their tests weren’t back in time. Airport tests are quite expensive in comparison I think, especially for PCR (for coming home). But when you do this kind of test what do you have to show at the airport? Do you bring the negative test with you? Shoppers gave me a signed & stamped form confirming we were negative. I believe the company that does the tele-health sends you an email confirmation/proof of your result. And that’s what you would present at the airport. |
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Jan 18, 2022 14:56:40 GMT
We flew Dec 29. Antigen test 24 hrs before. We bought the tests through aeroplan. Anyone can buy them. From switch health. You do them at home with someone over FaceTime. $40 per person. You can even buy the PCR tests to do on the US side for getting home. $80 per person. We did free tests in US but in retrospect it would have been less stressful to do the $80 ones. You do them at your hotel and get your results in 30 min. We were stressed our results wouldn’t be back in time. I know many people who had to cancel flights home because their tests weren’t back in time. Airport tests are quite expensive in comparison I think, especially for PCR (for coming home). But when you do this kind of test what do you have to show at the airport? Do you bring the negative test with you? Shoppers gave me a signed & stamped form confirming we were negative. You have a test with a barcode associated with your name on it when the test is done you take a pic of it with the barcode and send it in. It shows the results. This result gets uploaded. As a result, you must upload all of your info correctly. In case you don’t, you can bring in the pic of your negative test with barcode. It works fine. |
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