Amazon now sells cheap UK government-approved PCR tests for travel
Online retail giant Amazon now sells lower-cost COVID-19 PCR tests. The tests will cost £34.99 ($46.24) each, but will also be sold in discounted bundles, and crucially will be approved by the U.K. government for travel.
The price point is a key aspect of the Amazon program, given that prices for PCR tests can vary widely, with some costing as much as £150 ($200) for some 24-hour services.
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The tests are approved by the U.K. government and can be used for the U.K.'s Day 2, Day 5, Day 8, and Test to Release" protocols. The tests have already have appeared on Amazon's U.K. site and are now listed on the government’s approved list of COVID test suppliers.
Amazon's tests will be processed at the company's lab in Salford, U.K. which was organized last year to process tests for its employees.
The retailer also set up a lab in the U.S., where it started selling home testing kits in the summer to American shoppers via its website. The tests will be sold in various packages that are all listed on the shopping website. Amazon's Test to Release, while included in the U.K. government's list of approved services is not currently listed on Amazon's website as a clear option.
The company actually began selling testing kits in the U.K. earlier this month but was not approved for travelers at that point.
It is hoped that the arrival of Amazon into the COVID-19 test market will bring some stability and security to a retail arena that some say is chaotic and ripe for consumer price-gouging. People traveling to the U.K. who have used some of the lower-cost tests approved by the government have complained that the turnaround times are incredibly slow and that some smaller companies' test results don't even arrive.
On the listing for the test on its website, Amazon says its test results will come back "within 24 hours of your sample arriving at the laboratory."
However, it is worth being aware of Royal Mail closures ahead of time if you're looking to make use of the test during the festive season. Due to reduce postal services during the holiday period you will be unable to register Amazon test kits from Dec. 23-27 and Dec. 30 through to Jan. 2, 2022. Amazon advises not buying their product if you want or need to test on these days.
U.K. officials have been criticized for failing to properly regulate the test market, which has regained its importance for travelers as the omicron variant threatens to derail the Christmas travel season. Mandatory PCR tests have been re-implemented to track and hopefully contain the spread of the latest strain of the coronavirus.
Related: Traveling soon? Here’s where you can quickly get a COVID-19 PCR test for travel
According to the Guardian, a number of PCR testing deals -- including some offering tests for less than £1($1.32) — have been removed from the government site set up to help travelers find COVID-19 tests. Those offers were taken down because of complaints that some testing deals were misleading consumers, as well as service that was called "exceedingly poor."
Lord Tyrie, the former chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), last week referred to the COVID test marketplace as a “rip-off jungle”.
The CMA has reportedly warned 25 PCR providers to sort out their issues or risk formal investigations.
Despite all this, some travel industry observers say the system is in disrepair and in need of better oversight. The arrival of a large company like Amazon with a better grasp of logistics is thought to be the kind of stabilizing move that will ultimately benefit consumers.
“We welcome Amazon’s new offering. Reliability and transparency are vital, so we hope that the company will meet the standards set by LTIO members," said Francis Ingham, the independent director of the trade group Laboratory and Testing Industry Organisation.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.