Brits warned to check COVID-19 test before travelling

Monday, October 11, 2021

The Brits warned to check COVID-19 tests before travelling after couple are banned from flight for taking them too early

A couple were banned from their easyJet flight after being told their Covid tests had been taken 40 minutes too early.

Jayne Nicholls and Alexander Doory were travelling with the airline from London Luton to Naples when they were stopped at the gate. Having taken their tests at 8.02am two days before, their flight was due to land 8.40am UK time – meaning it was 40 minutes too early.

Jayne told thathad our fit to fly test at 8.02am at Colington’s at East Midlands.

They asked us where we were going and where we were flying so we thought we were sorted. But when we got to the gate, we saw a young lad before us getting turned away.

He looked really panicky, but he could only speak Italian so we couldn’t find out what was wrong. As their flight was scheduled for 6.10am, they thought that the test would be within the eligible time, only to find out it has to be valid for the arrival time, not departure time.

She added that it was “really confusing,” and saying it “wasn’t logical or fair.”

She also said that other passengers had similar problems, but were given a 30-minute leeway – meaning they were still 10 minutes past this.

An easyJet spokesperson explained that the passengers travelling from the UK the Italian authorities require a negative Covid test result to have been taken within 48 hours of arrival which unfortunately the passengers didn’t have.

Like all airlines, easyJet is required to comply with the requirements of the local authorities in all destinations where we operate.

It isn’t the first time it has happened – back in August, a family were stopped from boarding their flight to Croatia after they were told that they had taken their Covid test 15 minutes too early.

The family arrived for their 6.40am flight with easyJet, having taken an antigen test 48 hours beforehand at 8.55am on Monday, as required by Croatian authorities.

However, their flight was due to arrive in Croatia at 9.10am (British time) which meant they exceeded the 48 hours by 15 minutes.

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