A woman and her daughter were left distraught after being told they could not go on their £1,500 holiday to Cyprus.
The reason given was that the test needed to be done within 72 hours of travel – the pair had been tested too early, and therefore their tests didn’t fall within the specified time frame.
You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country,” reads the advice.
You should arrange to take a private test. The UK government guide to testing for Covid-19 contains useful links and further information. Internet search of the words ‘Covid testing near me’ will bring up many private and local testing facilities (fees can vary).
Lemaire and her daughter both got tested and started to look forward to their long-awaited holiday, only to discover that their application for a flight pass had been rejected the day before they were due to fly.
The reason given was that the test needed to be done within 72 hours of travel – the pair had been tested too early, and therefore their tests didn’t fall within the specified time frame.
I finally got through to Jet2 after 45 minutes to an hour of being on hold and the response I got from them was absolutely disgusting – it was a case of ‘and, what do you expect us to do?’” said Lemaire.
Jet2’s terms and conditions do not allow for changes or cancellations within 48 hours of a flight’s scheduled departure time, while the flight pass application for Cyprus can only be submitted within 24 hours of travel.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is very clear that NHS Covid-19 tests should not be used in order to gain entry to Cyprus.
“You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country,” reads the advice.
“You should arrange to take a private test. The UK government guide to testing for Covid-19 contains useful links and further information. Internet search of the words ‘Covid testing near me’ will bring up many private and local testing facilities (fees can vary).
