There’s a Twitter storm right now about COVID-19 testing at Las Vegas Airport, but it’s not what you think
Inbound passengers from Las Vegas to the United Kingdom were in turmoil this weekend after many were unable to board their flight due to confusion around pre-departure testing requirements.
Being turned away from your flight is every passenger’s nightmare right now and this became a reality for many this weekend when attempting to check in to their BA274 flight from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) to London Heathrow (LHR).
According to passengers TPG UK has reached out to, some were turned away from their flight this weekend after discovering they did not have the necessary pre-departure COVID-19 testing documentation to board.
The confusion was further heightened after a handwritten sign was placed in the airport that claimed "at home or online testing" would not be accepted for travel — something which contradicts official guidance from the U.K. government for pre-departure testing.
What actually happened?
A number of passengers were told by staff that they could not check in after not being able to provide certified proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. This is despite many having taken at-home antigen tests pre-departure. However, the tests themselves would appear to have not been valid for travel as they did not also provide a certificate for travel.
Passengers involved told TPG they had taken at-home tests, but did not also provide the required documentation for proof of a negative result ahead of travel.
Some of these passengers were left with no other option but to pay an additional $200 for testing that would provide them with a certificate.
There are also reports that some of the BA staff in the airport were unaware of the Verifly app and its acceptable use for sharing COVID-19 travel documents when checking in. Some employees refused to accept it. We haven't been able to substantiate this; however, we do know of passengers that did manage to use their Verifly app without hiccups to fly to LHR this weekend from LAS.
So what caused the confusion?
This is twofold. The first issue was a misleading sign that appeared at check-in that claimed at-home and online testing wouldn’t be accepted for travel. This is only correct if your at-home test is an unobserved antigen test, or wasn’t processed in a lab which would then provide the relevant documentation following a negative result (like a QR code or downloaded letter document).
Related: Visitors to the UK must take a second-day test
TPG UK has reached out to British Airways, which confirmed that the handwritten sign was put in place in error by a third-party ground handling member of staff used by the airline. Once the airline became aware of the mistake the sign was removed and is no longer there.
British Airways said: "Like all airlines, we ask customers to check the gov.uk website for information on testing. We apologize to customers for the confusion, but we are following the government’s requirements and accept customers with valid testing documentation for travel."
BA has also said that any passengers unable to board their flight should contact them directly and they will discuss alternative options for returning to the U.K.
This leads us nicely into the second cause for confusion: the frankly awful user experience on the official U.K. government website where it lays out COVID-19 travel advice.
Many passengers were left under the impression that the website does not outline that a certificate is required to prove your COVID-19 test was negative. In some instances, passengers believed that they were able to bring their negative lateral flow test with them as proof.
This is due to the first page most people visit via search engines, which shows the below information.
The additional link labeled "Read more about taking a COVID-19 test before you travel to England" takes you to an additional page with further details around pre-departure testing requirements. This section of the site more clearly outlines the types of documentation that you are required to have to prove you are OK to travel.
The U.K. government was similarly criticized recently for lack of clarity and bad communication last week when two-day PCR tests were announced for arrivals after the information on the government website contradicted advice provided by their social accounts and that of health minister Sajid Javid.
For clarity, if you are a non-EU resident or a U.K. citizen, you must provide proof of your negative COVID-19 test result before you travel to England. If you arrive in the country without this proof you could face a fine of up to 500 pounds ($660).
Accepted test results can be provided as a printed document, as an email or as a text message that you can show on your phone.
Any result should contain:
- Your name (as on your passport).
- Your date of birth.
- The result of the test.
- The date that the sample was taken.
- The name of the test provider and contact details.
- Confirmation of the type of test used.
Bottom line
Traveling right now involves a gauntlet of checks and testing requirements. It’s imperative that when you travel you do as much research as you can, and fully read the government website’s COVID-19 advice pages.
Due to the pace at which new rules and regulations are brought in, many of these websites do not always have clearly identifiable hyperlinks or clear bullet-pointed breakdowns of what is needed. As such, crucial information can be easily missed. For further details, check out our five things you should know about the current testing requirements for visiting the U.K.
And don't forget TPG's complete guide to each country's rules for entry, which can be found here.
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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
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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.
- $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.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- 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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Intro Offer
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.