San Diego Airport rolls out on-site COVID-19 testing
Andrea M. Rotondo is director of content operations at TPG. She's trailed an orca pod from a skiff in Alaska’s Inside Passage, had an allergic reaction to a cheetah she met at a South African rehabilitation center and hiked the Borneo rainforest to glimpse orangutans in the wild — and she's written about it all.
Feb. 06, 2021
•
2 min read
San Diego Airport rolls out on-site COVID-19 testing
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Carbon Health, a major player in COVID-19 testing, will now extend its footprint to the San Diego International Airport (SAN). It's offering "travel clearance visits" that include a COVID-19 test that is sufficient for domestic travel. San Diego joins other West Coast airports such as Portland, San Jose and Los Angeles that all offer similar testing.
Airports in other destinations like Tampa are providing similar on-site testing, while Oakland International Airport is selling COVID-19 tests in vending machines.
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According to Carbon Health, it's giving the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) at San Diego Airport. It's an anterior nasal swab, which is more comfortable than the nasopharyngeal swab.
The company says the test is "currently configured to meet the state requirements of Alaska and Hawaii. We cannot guarantee our tests and result formats meeting international travel requirements."
Related: How rapid COVID-19 testing can help travelers
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Passengers should get tested 72 hours before their flight. Book an appointment online and then bring your flight itinerary, which the technician will review. Once you are tested, the results will be available by 2 p.m. the next day. You'll get a text as soon as the results are ready. You'll then access the results via the company's website or app, where you can download a printable PDF to bring with you on your travels.
Carbon Health can test anyone over 3 months old and it does so in the Valet lot at 2357 Air Lane Road from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
You'll pay $170 per person out-of-pocket for the test and Carbon Health doesn't accept insurance. But, the good news is that you can pay via your HSA or FSA card.
As time goes on, we hope to see more airport locations offering COVID-19 testing.
Featured image by Featured image by ronstik/Shutterstock
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
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Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
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- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees