JANUARY 14, 2021
CDC REGULATIONS INTERNATIONAL AIR PASSENGER TESTING
New CDC regulations require all passengers coming to the US to present a negative Covid. All airline passengers will be required to present a simple CDC attestation form to the airline for collection prior to boarding. The CDC attestation form can be found here for reference.
Q. What are the new CDC requirements?
A. Beginning Jan. 26, passengers traveling to the United States by air (including U.S. citizens returning home from trips abroad) must present negative results from a Covid-19 test when they check in for those U.S.-bound flights. They must have taken that test within three days of the scheduled departure date and time for that flight to the United States. Without those results, they will not be allowed to board the flight.
Both molecular tests (nasal swabs) and rapid antigen (saliva) tests will be accepted. As an alternative to the test results, passengers may show proof that they've recovered from Covid-19 within the past three months (e.g., a letter from a healthcare provider). However, proof of Covid-19 vaccination will NOT be accepted in lieu of the test results or a recent Covid-19 recovery.
Here's a Q&A page from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with more details: https://www.cdc.gov/.../testing-international-air...
Q. Where can I get this test while I'm traveling internationally?
A. Many resorts and hotels will offer testing on site so you can take the test and receive your results within the three-day window before your flight home to the United States. As your travel advisor, I'll work closely with the suppliers involved in your trip to give you these best testing options that fit around your vacation schedule!
Q. Who will pay for this test?
A. The short answer is you. While it’s true that some Caribbean destinations and resort/hotel companies are planning to offer free testing for your return flight home, this can’t be guaranteed. We have confirmed with we have confirmed with Sandals Resorts and Iberostar Resorts, for example, that they will be offering free COVID-19 tests 72 hours before return. But, if free tests aren't available from your airline or resort, we'll work with you to find the best testing options.
Also, if you booked insurance with us, we will check with your travel insurer to see if the specific policy you purchased will cover the testing or any portion of quarantine costs.
Q. What happens if I test positive?
A. If your test results are positive, you won't be allowed to board your scheduled flight. However, your travel insurer may cover all or part the cost of staying longer in the destination so you can repeat the test to rule out a "false positive" (or, you may need to quarantine there if you actually have Covid-19, and the insurer may cover all or part of those costs as well). Also, some destinations such as the Dominican Republic are offering free Covid-19 coverage to all visitors who arrive by air and stay in a hotel, so that coverage may cover some of these costs too.
Q. What if my U.S.-bound flight is delayed?
A. Under these new rules, your results must come from a test that was taken within three days (72 hours) of your scheduled departure date and time. So, it is possible that you might have to retake the test in the case of a significant flight delay. Thus, we recommend that you time your return test scheduling in consideration of possible flight delays. And, of course it’s important to have a robust travel protection plan that may cover some of the costs of unexpected situations such as this.
Q. What are the new CDC requirements?
A. Beginning Jan. 26, passengers traveling to the United States by air (including U.S. citizens returning home from trips abroad) must present negative results from a Covid-19 test when they check in for those U.S.-bound flights. They must have taken that test within three days of the scheduled departure date and time for that flight to the United States. Without those results, they will not be allowed to board the flight.
Both molecular tests (nasal swabs) and rapid antigen (saliva) tests will be accepted. As an alternative to the test results, passengers may show proof that they've recovered from Covid-19 within the past three months (e.g., a letter from a healthcare provider). However, proof of Covid-19 vaccination will NOT be accepted in lieu of the test results or a recent Covid-19 recovery.
Here's a Q&A page from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with more details: https://www.cdc.gov/.../testing-international-air...
Q. Where can I get this test while I'm traveling internationally?
A. Many resorts and hotels will offer testing on site so you can take the test and receive your results within the three-day window before your flight home to the United States. As your travel advisor, I'll work closely with the suppliers involved in your trip to give you these best testing options that fit around your vacation schedule!
Q. Who will pay for this test?
A. The short answer is you. While it’s true that some Caribbean destinations and resort/hotel companies are planning to offer free testing for your return flight home, this can’t be guaranteed. We have confirmed with we have confirmed with Sandals Resorts and Iberostar Resorts, for example, that they will be offering free COVID-19 tests 72 hours before return. But, if free tests aren't available from your airline or resort, we'll work with you to find the best testing options.
Also, if you booked insurance with us, we will check with your travel insurer to see if the specific policy you purchased will cover the testing or any portion of quarantine costs.
Q. What happens if I test positive?
A. If your test results are positive, you won't be allowed to board your scheduled flight. However, your travel insurer may cover all or part the cost of staying longer in the destination so you can repeat the test to rule out a "false positive" (or, you may need to quarantine there if you actually have Covid-19, and the insurer may cover all or part of those costs as well). Also, some destinations such as the Dominican Republic are offering free Covid-19 coverage to all visitors who arrive by air and stay in a hotel, so that coverage may cover some of these costs too.
Q. What if my U.S.-bound flight is delayed?
A. Under these new rules, your results must come from a test that was taken within three days (72 hours) of your scheduled departure date and time. So, it is possible that you might have to retake the test in the case of a significant flight delay. Thus, we recommend that you time your return test scheduling in consideration of possible flight delays. And, of course it’s important to have a robust travel protection plan that may cover some of the costs of unexpected situations such as this.
