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Cost of Covid Tests for Holidaymakers Still Too High, Says Travel Firm

by Michael Curzon
16 April 2021 2:24 PM

When overseas travel returns this summer, holidaymakers – including those travelling to countries on the Government’s “green list” – will have to take at least one Covid test. Unfortunately, these don’t come cheap, with the average cost sitting at around £120 per person, per test. This, clearly, is enough to price out many families from holidays abroad. Competition between the companies offering PCR test kits is bringing prices down, but slowly. Randox, a firm based in Northern Ireland, has halved the cost of its kit to £60. Even then, testing costs will still add almost £250 to the holiday bill for a family of four (returning from a “green list” country).

The Chief Operating Officer at Hays Travel says that £60 is still too high and that the Government should step in to help make the cost of testing more manageable. Sky News has the story.

The cost of Covid tests for holidaymakers should be cut to £30 to encourage people to start travelling again, a boss at one of Britain’s biggest travel chains has told Sky News.

Jonathan Woodall, chief operating officer at Hays Travel, said that the current price of up to £200 for PCR tests was too high and will be a “barrier for customers” as restrictions ease next month.

He said the Government should help bring the cost down…

Industry figures including easyJet boss Johan Lundgren have said that the rule [on testing] threatens to price ordinary travellers out of returning to the skies.

Speaking to Sky’s Ian King Live, Mr Woodall said the cost of the tests would “cause a barrier” – especially for families looking at total bills of around £600 for the tests.

“We are hoping that Government will help us get those tests reduced,” he added.

Jonathan Woodall said that Randox’s price reduction was a step in the right direction but that the figure should be lower still.

From our point of view, we would like to see that price to be around £30, we think that would be acceptable…

It’s important that we can get our industry back to some normality, it’s important the customers can start to travel.

Worth reading in full.

Earlier this month, travel industry leaders stressed that it would be better still to scrap testing requirements for those returning from “green list” countries altogether. The Mail had the story.

easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said the testing requirement should be ditched because if countries have cases under control and have extensive vaccination programmes then “green is green”. 

He said paying for laboratory-based PCR tests would cost “way over and above what the cost is of an average easyJet fare” which would result in only opening up international travel “for people who can afford it”.

He said that would not be “fair” or “right” as he also questioned whether the approach was backed up by science.

Also worth reading in full.

Tags: Overseas TravelPCR Test

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44 Comments
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realarthurdent
realarthurdent
4 years ago

“The Existence of Covid Tests For Travel Is Unacceptable”, says realarthurdent, lockdown sceptic.

33
0
Julian
Julian
4 years ago
Reply to  realarthurdent

Agreed. The cost is a factor for those who have compelling reasons to travel, but the real issue as with the rest of this nonsense is the whole coronanonsense infrastructure and theatre – testing, masks, self isolation, form filling.

31
0
realarthurdent
realarthurdent
4 years ago
Reply to  Julian

Yes. The headline and article seem to accept the existence of coronavirus vaccine passport and merely quibble about the cost.

I don’t except the passports AT ALL.

21
0
Cristi.Neagu
Cristi.Neagu
4 years ago

Here we are, one year later, talking about the need for tests which are used to detect what supposedly is the deadliest plague in the history of mankind. One would have thought, considering the absolute social and economic devastation, that the only test one needs to diagnose this is whether you can stand up without dying.

I mean, how dumb do you have to be to not realize that if you can’t detect a deadly disease with ease, it’s probably not that deadly. People with a heart condition can barely get around. People with cancer are devastated. Even people with a simple flu feel like they just want to crawl in bed and never get out of it again. But then you get a bunch of energetic people, with no issues at all, jogging, cycling, going on vacation, and everyone’s like: “STOP! You might be carrying the deadliest virus ever!” Yeah, right. Spare me.

75
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago
Reply to  Cristi.Neagu

Totally agree. This is the deadliest year since 2008 and every year before that

https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/deathsintheukfrom1990to2020

Some younger members may not remember ‘The Great Dying’ of 2008 or the plague year of 2007 of the dead piling up in the street in 2006 or the great mortuary crisis of 2005 or …..etc etc

fact is if we hadn’t had the media we wouldn’t have noticed. Maybe a byline about slightly higher numbers of deaths than expected from care homes – but it wouldnt have been that bad because no-one would have panicked and stuffed the care homes full of infected patients.

Panic kills – should have stuck to the plan

29
0
Peter W
Peter W
4 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

Thanks for the nice simple ONS table. It really should put things in proportion for people but of course they ignore it.

0
0
I am Spartacas
I am Spartacas
4 years ago
Reply to  Cristi.Neagu

The Covid Zone

covidzone.jpg
8
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago
Reply to  I am Spartacas

Excellent, thank you. Now I’ve got the theme tune to Time Tunnel (US 1960s, aired UK 1970s) stuck in my head.

Last edited 4 years ago by karenovirus
2
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago

latest PHE daily all cause mortality

deaths far below ‘expected’. probably because a lot of vulnerable were killed by the vaccine earlier in the year

phe_7apr.png
12
0
Rogerborg
Rogerborg
4 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

Thanks, Steve. It sounds callous, but it’s a simple statement of fact, that both the China Virus and the experimental medical procedures are just going to run out of vulnerable people to kill off. It looks like we’re there, or thereabouts.

12
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago
Reply to  Rogerborg

Yes – I can’t really get too upset about care home residents dying of covid – cycle of life and all that. Vaccine deaths just seem a bit unnecessary because we knew from the early trials that the side effects on young and healthy volunteers were worse than covid, so these hyper vulnerable deaths were to be expected.

Its the ruining of the lives of the young through vaccine side effects, stress, suicide, loss of education etc. Not to mention the 30 million under 5s in Africa who are deemed ‘expendable’.

14
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago

EMA investigating second side effect of AstraZeneca vaccine

https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/eu-affairs/165325/ema-investigating-second-side-effect-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-ema-blood-clots-capillary-leak-syndrome/

I suppose if you have a novel untested vaccine and you rush it out for population wide use it would be expected you ‘learn as you go’. New effects will crop up here and there because it wasn’t tested for in trials because there weren’t really any. One thing is for sure – there are many things about the vaccine we just don’t know yet – it will keep on surprising us

12
0
leicestersq
leicestersq
4 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

The Royal Family dont all get on the same plane. The chances of a plane crash might be low, but the impact is devastating if the whole family are on the plane.

Likewise why would you vaccinate and entire nation with an untested treatment. If something was wrong, you have wiped out your people.

5
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago

Australia records first death from blood clots likely linked to AstraZeneca Covid vaccine
https://www.msn.com/en-au/health/medical/australia-records-first-fatality-from-blood-clots-linked-to-astrazeneca-covid-vaccine/ar-BB1fIsSI

If the vaccine deaths in Australia carry on like this they might have to emergency license covid-19

5
0
Rogerborg
Rogerborg
4 years ago

“Sure, it’s a completely unnecessary and invasive procedure whose only real purpose is to fundamentally reverse the British way of life from permitted-unless-prohibited to prohibited-unless-permitted. But look how we’re fighting on your behalf to make your subjugation cheaper and more convenient.”

26
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago

Norway: Health officials recommend to remove the AstraZeneca vaccine from the Coronavirus Immunization Program
http://outbreaknewstoday.com/norway-health-officials-recommend-to-remove-the-astrazeneca-vaccine-from-the-coronavirus-immunization-program-50361/

We in the UK are becoming a bit of an outlier with our irrational belief in a vaccine which is being banned in more and more countries by the day. Let’s hope Matt ‘Josef Mengele’ Hancock either comes to his senses or is removed for this corruption and fraud before he starts attacking the children.

23
0
Attaboy
Attaboy
4 years ago

tests are absolutely essential to get the positive cases up… how else are you supposed to impose all these restrictions.

18
-1
WeAllFallDown
WeAllFallDown
4 years ago
Reply to  Attaboy

Local to me there is much talk of taking swabs from various parts of your pets. Don’t know if people do it or not, but I really hope so. THAT is the Great British way.

Last edited 4 years ago by WeAllFallDown
4
0
caravaggio57
caravaggio57
4 years ago
Reply to  WeAllFallDown

It would be a very brave person who tried to take a swab from my cat. They wouldn’t want to try a second time!!

11
0
Old Trout
Old Trout
4 years ago
Reply to  caravaggio57

Haha that made me laugh. Cats have a far better sense of self preservation than our silly sheeple. No way would a cat take the vax!

Last edited 4 years ago by Old Trout
1
0
chris c
chris c
4 years ago
Reply to  Old Trout

Applying flea powder was bad enough, you risked death from a thousand cuts

1
0
Banjones
Banjones
4 years ago
Reply to  chris c

They can hear the packet opening as soon as you begin to think about it……..

1
0
Peter W
Peter W
4 years ago
Reply to  Old Trout

A friend of mine keeps a couple of towels close by so that when he has worm-pilled his cat he can mop up the blood and bind his lacerated arms!

1
0
steve_w
steve_w
4 years ago

Just having a look at the US vaccine side effect data.

This year so far

2240 deaths
211 deaths under age 60

a surprising number of ‘suicides’. Although in its broadest sense, choosing to be injected with an unlicensed and untested drug could be classified as that.

15
0
Bellathebrave
Bellathebrave
4 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

Spot on excellent!!

5
0
Bellathebrave
Bellathebrave
4 years ago

There should be no testing requirement
From ‘green countries’! For the 2 of us (& our dog!) we would have to pay £139 per person because we would have to have the results back in 24 hours as we travel by car to Folkstone to The Tunnel. I have been told it’s cheaper in France but why are we having to take a test before coming back from France. We didn’t last year we stayed in the car on the train.
On top of that before we go we have to order a Travel Test kit at £210 per person!
We know our route and which places stay but I’ve no idea whether we would be able to get a 24 hour turnaround result. France is a very big place and so I can anticipate that we may have to pay for extra overnight stays to ensure we get our results before travelling north! What would happen if one of us what (false positive!). Go into a hotel
With our dog. The whole thing is outrageous and nothing to do with Covid.
Cheers Johnson Hancock etc – you’ve just ruined another summer as we won’t be going. Wouldn’t mind but they’ve even managed to negotiate an expensive bill in the Uk as well as we now have to go to the Vets before we travel – our vet said it’s 14 pages long and think the cost of that is around £50! Then the vets in France check
Passport chip etc that costs around €50. It’s great this so £100 for the vets as opposed to €50. Why does she need checking over here as well as France! Whose idea was that. I despair with this country I Have absolutely despair!

12
0
Paula
Paula
4 years ago
Reply to  Bellathebrave

Yes the ‘requirement’ to provide a negative test before being allowed to come back to the UK is the bit I find most disturbing. No clue what you are supposed to do if you cannot fulfill this requirement because of a positive (or false positive). There are plenty of stories of people testing positive for months – I bet Easyjet won’t allow people to fly home with a positive test…..

6
0
Banjones
Banjones
4 years ago
Reply to  Bellathebrave

And all this for a ‘virus’ that will not make you very ill even if, by some very remote chance, you DO contract it.

Last edited 4 years ago by Banjones
1
0
Anonymous
Anonymous
4 years ago

I’ve just looking into this as I ordered some LFT tests (we are supposed to complete to visit work) and was wondering if I could travel abroad with a ‘negative’ test. P&O Ferries allow you to perform these at home (same as LFT) but they only mention PCR on the website and have very kindly hooked with a 3rd party to bring these to your door step and a ‘modest’ price of 95 effing quid.

If you can do them at home isnt there the same ‘latitude’ as there is with the LFT? I don’t understand why there isn’t the option to use an LFT as they govt kind can’t give them away quick enough.

Perhaps I answered my own question…

10
0
NonCompliant
NonCompliant
4 years ago

Going to Whitby. Meh !

2
0
Peter W
Peter W
4 years ago
Reply to  NonCompliant

Until a week ago we weren’t even allowed to leave Wales to go to England (of the United Kingdom – what happened to that) by the ignorant twats in Cardiff. Needless to say we’ve been doing that for a month anyway, though not to go to Whitby!

0
0
Carrie Symonds
Carrie Symonds
4 years ago

I can only surmise that Matt Hancock doesn’t have any shares in an aerospace or hospitality company.

9
0
karenovirus
karenovirus
4 years ago

Refer my response to this mornings roundup in which an epidemiologist complains of the waste of money conducting ‘free’ mass testing in areas with little or no Covid at present.

“If these tests cost (the government) £10.00 each ? ”

Ten Pounds ! ? !

Last edited 4 years ago by karenovirus
1
0
leicestersq
leicestersq
4 years ago

Anyone remember ‘keep calm and carry on’?

That is what we need to do. Open everything up and deal with the cases as they arise. Let those who want to shelter do so, let everyone else get on with their lives and stop restricting their choices.

10
0
CarrieAH
CarrieAH
4 years ago
Reply to  leicestersq

Exactly. I prefer to live life rather than hiding indoors, but if some folk still want to do that, fine. Choice matters.

7
0
Banjones
Banjones
4 years ago
Reply to  leicestersq

Spot on. There’s plenty of capacity to treat people IF they become ill with anything beyond the normal illnesses- but, of course, that would blow their ”strategy” wide apart. There would NOT be a ”surge” or bodies in the streets. There would be hardly anyone becoming ill FROM the virus.
People would soon see they’ve been cheated and lied to, coerced and manipulated.

1
0
CarrieAH
CarrieAH
4 years ago

I fly to and from my family home in the Greek islands a lot in a normal summer. They are elderly, I’m responsible for them and there’s lots to sort out, but I still also need to be here in the U.K. too. If Greece goes into the Amber category at first, which it is likely to do, not only do I have to pay for a PCR test before flying out there (I’m not vaccinated – Greece would waive that if I was, to be fair) but also another PCR before returning, then 3 more on arrival in the U.K. including a test to release on the 5th day of isolation. Talk about overkill! It’s going to cost me hundreds of pounds each month + unnecessary isolation cutting into my few days back in Britain before I fly back again. Yet last year I flew regularly, no testing, no quarantine and I’m still alive and so is everyone else around me. Complete overkill this year. I also risk getting a false positive test and being told to isolate even longer. To say I’m filled with anxiety and fear is an understatement. We don’t all travel for holiday reasons. The whole scenario is just ridiculous, for a virus which really isn’t the worse thing we’ve ever faced. And a big NO from me to vaccine passports too for the same reason.

Last edited 4 years ago by CarrieAH
10
0
swedenborg
swedenborg
4 years ago
Reply to  CarrieAH

Completely ridiculous going from one country with endemic virus to another. Testing is just part of the sham zerocovid nonsense and lining pockets of the testing industrial complex.At least the unvaccinated will see the vaccinated having to have the PCR test on return and although they might escape quarantaine now but wait until we see the present vaccine useless in the autumn and more scariants coming.

3
0
Banjones
Banjones
4 years ago
Reply to  CarrieAH

There’s continuous talk about ‘tests’ and ‘jabs’ and so on. No-one is speaking any more about this being necessary as protection against a DEADLY virus that will KILL us all unless we take such measures. The fear now is not for the ”virus” but for the measures we must take to avoid being fined or incarcerated.

We are being right royally ”HAD”.

2
0
Old Trout
Old Trout
4 years ago

My other half is in our house in Spain whilst I’m stuck in the UK. I’m supposed to be moving there this year and he wants to come back here pick up van with furniture and stuff and drive the two of us back via France. We’ve worked out we need a whopping 11 covid tests between us to complete the journey! The ones in France and Spain are cheaper than here but it’s still going to cost getting on for £1000. Absolutely ludicrous!

IMHO the bottom line is they don’t want the plebs to travel and will make it as expensive, complicated and stressful as possible in order to put us off!

4
0
Banjones
Banjones
4 years ago
Reply to  Old Trout

You told us a while ago now that you were hoping to join up again and move home together. Here’s hoping that you can sort things out. Good luck to you both!

2
0
Old Trout
Old Trout
4 years ago
Reply to  Banjones

Thanks Banjones, I hope we can get it sorted. We’ve put back the travel date many times due to changing regulations. What sort of crimimal policies stop people being able to get to their own house?!!

0
0
Banjones
Banjones
4 years ago

And what ”holidaymakers” would THEY be, then?

0
0
Peter W
Peter W
4 years ago

He (easyJet CEO) said that would not be “fair” or “right” as he also questioned whether the approach was backed up by science.
Of course it is! it’s backed up by The Science(tm). Do not doubt the Great Religion, it is the only Truth!

0
0

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