First United flight with free COVID testing for passengers lands at Heathrow
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated.
United’s first flight between Newark and London Heathrow with free rapid testing for passengers and crew has landed. United Airlines Flight 14, operated by one of the carrier’s Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, departed from Newark Airport (EWR) at 7:28 p.m. local time on Nov. 16 and arrived at Heathrow (LHR) at 6:40 a.m. GMT.ew
United said that all passengers aged two or older and crew were required to take a rapid test prior to boarding. The tests were free of charge, and anyone who wasn’t willing to take a test was placed on another flight, guaranteeing that everyone on board UA14 had been tested prior to departure.
“These flights are a good proof-of-concept for governments around the world that are considering making testing part of the travel experience,” United Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist said in a statement. “Expanding our testing efforts with pilot programmes like this one not only helps guarantee passengers onboard test negative for COVID-19, it also adds another element to our layered approach to safety and demonstrates a way to work within quarantines to key international destinations.”
During the remainder of the trial period, the Chicago-based carrier will offer free rapid testing to all passengers and crew onboard select flights from Newark (EWR) to London Heathrow (LHR). The testing will take place at an onsite testing facility, located at the Newark United Club near gate C93.
Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter for more airline-specific news!
During the trial, the carrier will offer the free testing pilot on Monday, Wednesday and Friday departures of United Flight 14, with the following schedule:
- United Flight 14, EWR to LHR 7:15 p.m. to 6:55 a.m. (next day)
The airline will continue the testing through Dec. 11.
The test, administered by Premise Health, uses Abbott’s ID Now rapid molecular test system, which gives results in 15 to 20 minutes. For now, United is planning for about 50 to 100 tests per departure, in line with the average loads on recent flights to London.
Appointments are required, and United recommends a three-hour buffer between the test and departure time — something to consider if you’re booking a connecting itinerary. You’ll need to wait in the lounge until you receive a negative result before being allowed to freely roam around the airport.
Just because customers are flying on a COVID-free flight doesn’t mean you can remove your mask. Everyone still needs to abide by the mask requirement or risk getting booted from the airline. United’s other CleanPlus safety initiatives, like enhanced cleaning and sanitisation, still apply to its London flights.
United hopes that this trial is as successful as its recent launch of pre-travel testing in San Francisco for Hawaii-bound passengers. On Oct. 15, Hawaii began welcoming visitors and returning residents to the islands without a 14-day quarantine, if the traveller packed a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure.
In partnership with GoHealth Urgent Care, United set up an optional testing facility in San Francisco’s international terminal. In the first 10 days since Hawaii’s reopening, the carrier’s San Francisco to Hawaii flights have seen a nearly 95% increase in passengers compared to the prior two-week period.
Aaron McMillan, managing director of operations policy and support, cautioned that “testing does not currently exempt travellers from quarantine by the Brits [like it does in Hawaii].” He continued, “we’re hopeful that we can prove this testing pilot is safe. Then, the [British] government can take a look at the data and make a decision [about the quarantine] rooted in safety.”
On Tuesday afternoon, American Airlines and British Airways announced a similar partnership in a testing regime for flights between select U.S. departure points and Heathrow.
In recent weeks, there have been talks about an air corridor starting between New York and London. The concept is that passengers would submit a negative test result before departure to avoid the mandatory quarantine on either side of the pond.
Asked what it would take to consider this pilot a success, especially if the quarantine requirements aren’t lifted, Earnest responded, “if we are able to stimulate additional demand to fly on a COVID-free flight or win customers from our competitors or if the publicity around this initiative convinces others countries to work with us on similar programs, then the London pilot would be considered a success.”
Henry Harteveldt, president at Atmosphere Research Group, thinks that pretravel testing is key to getting passengers back in the sky. Asked earlier this month about the recent proliferation of airline testing programmes, Harteveldt said “it all boils down to one word: confidence.”
“If people are confident they can get tested, then they will be more confident to travel,” he concluded.
Emily McNutt contributed to this story.
Featured photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.