If you haven't watched this video, I would do that first
because this video is just kind of a follow-up in regards to this one.
I'm answering the questions that you've direct messaged me on Instagram
or left in the comments. So let's get right into it!
*circling hand motion* Why do I always do this?
Should I print my test results or is the online copy fine?
I most definitely would print them out.
I've heard some airlines only accept the printed copy of the test.
But! I've also heard on the flip-side that some airlines only accept the electronic version
because they can see where it's been emailed from
and they can see, like, how legitimate it is.
So both!
The more the merrier!
But definitely print it off. I've heard some bad stories about people who didn't print it.
If a flight is delayed, what the heck happens?
Well, usually the country that you are going to be in (at that moment)
if it's their fault the flight is delayed, they can't hold that against you
so they will most likely allow you onto that flight.
The issue is when you get to another country and you have a layover.
When I was in Germany, they expected that you took that test within 72 hours
And so, because people were delayed
and they missed a certain flight and they had to get booked onto another flight
their test was then expire, they had to get a new test taken,
so that's why I really think getting one test right before you leave
is a really good back-up if you do have a layover that is in another country.
Again, this is playing it, like, super safe, but I would rather be super safe
and spend a little bit of money at the beginning than have to spend a whole heck of a lot more money later
and have a whole lot of worry along the way.
What does an official test look like?
"Oh my gosh, I don't have a signature on it! Is that okay?"
*air quotes* I don't know why I keep doing that...
In the other video, I mentioned what an official test looks like
and I have a list of all the requirements.
When in doubt, if you're a little worried, "Does my document look official enough?"
You can compare it to mine
or you can reach out to whatever urgent care or clinic that you went to
and say, "Is there any other more official document that I could have for travel?
I know the countries I'm going to are very strict so I don't want to get in trouble."
My middle name is not on my test results, does that matter?
Some countries, middle names are very important.
From my experience in America...
It's not that important.
In Germany, my middle name wasn't on it and they didn't say anything,
In (South) Korea they accepted my test, they didn't say anything
but that's because I am now in Korea, I am going to Korea, and so they just took the test
they're not... you know, they can't send me back because my middle name isn't on it.
Once I was trying to board a plane in South Korea
and my middle name was not on my flight ticket
and they literally wouldn't let me board the plane until I went and got a new ticket
because my middle name wasn't on there.
As a result, I was frantically running through the airport and I almost missed my flight.
So, it is always a really good rule of thumb to always make sure your full name is on everything.
Just so that everything matches.
If you don't like your middle name, but it's on your passport,
start to like it because I would recommend you put it on everything.
Tape it everywhere.
What time matters?
Does it matter when I get my results back, does it matter when I got the test taken,
does it matter when I arrive in that said country?
Every country is different so I cannot stress enough that you go
to the email that has, like, your flight information
and look-up flight details, look-up covid test frequently asked questions,
but make sure you're looking at every country that you're going to
so if you have any layovers
make sure you look at the regulation in the country that you're leaving,
the place that you have a layover, and the place that you will be arriving.
Some people are worried, "Does it matter when I arrive?"
Some people have reached out to me and in their email it specifically says,
"Your test must be taken *within 48 hours of arrival."
If it doesn't say that, you don't have to worry about it.
From my experience, what you do need to worry about though, is the departure time.
And the quickest way that I can tell you, when do you need to get your test taken,
look at the last departure time that you have.
So, direct flight, that's your only flight.
Look at the very last departure time that you have,
and then you are going to take a test within 72 hours of that last departure time.
If I have this departure time in let's say Germany,
what time is that in America?
Are they ahead, are they behind?
And then I need to take a test within 72 hours of this time *points*
And don't forget, Google can be your best friend,
you can say, "If it's this time here what time is it here?" and they can help you out too.
Where can I get my test taken?
Look at your airlines, look at your emails,
look to see what tests are accepted for the flight that you're going to take,
And then you're going to go to Google and type in, "_______ test near me."
Good ol' Google.
You're definitely going to want to do research because different tests
are offered for different prices in different locations.
The quicker you want your results back, obviously the more money that you're going to have to pay.
Which leads really well into another question:
Can I just get a rapid test?
Yes, you can get a rapid test, just make sure it is the correct rapid test.
Now these tests that you see, where it says "rapid"
but it doesn't say anything but "rapid test"
these are usually not acceptable for travel and it's not what you're looking for.
What you want, is you want to put in the name of the test you need,
so let's say "PCR"
you need to find a "PCR rapid test" or "same day PCR test"
*same thing with Antigen tests and RT-PCR tests.
The rapid tests will probably save you a little bit of headache
because the results will come back, sometimes they can come back within a day - a few hours.
But you are going to end up spending quite a lot of money.
So, it's very much up to you,
but I'm someone that's always looking to save a little bit of money,
so that's why I went the cheaper route.
Are CVS and Walgreens; are those tests acceptable for these flights?
When you do your own research,
and you see what tests are acceptable,
if the test is offered at CVS or Walgreens
by all means - go for it.
But the thing you have to worry about is how long are those results going to take to get back to you.
So... I was looking over this part
I don't like the way I explained it
so me and my ratchet-self gonna come back on here and explain more throughly.
If you would like to spend no money
but maybe live a tiny, teensy, little bit on the edge
you can go to Walgreens
(I'm not sure about CVS because I was only able to contact and actually physically talk with people from Walgreens)
you can get one, free, PCR test done at any Walgreens location, one everyday.
There are many Walgreens that offer many different types of tests,
but only a few offer PCR tests
and I'm going to focus on PCR tests because that is the most common one for travel.
They told me that usually the results come back within 1-3 days.
The reason why that "3 days" is there and it's not "1-2 days" - -
There's literally a wasp trying to fly in through the window...
Excuse me... *taps window*
Thank you.
For PCR tests, there is a truck that will come around,
and it will come to all the Walgreens stores,
and pick-up the tests from that location and take it to their lab.
Now if you get a test done earlier in the day,
most likely your test will be taken that day to the lab,
but if you take a test later in the day,
then you're probably not going to make it until tomorrow's truck,
so that's why they have 1-3 days.
So, what I would recommend you do,
is you get one test done within 72 hours of your first departure,
but make sure you get a second test done within 48-72 hours of your final departure.
And make sure even if the Walgreens is listed on here as offering a certain test,
make sure you call them yourself,
and you also make an appointment because they'll only take you if you make an appointment.
It is a little risky, but it is a really good way that you don't have to spend any money.
I would still do research and find a place that can give results within a few hours,
maybe like 4-8 hours,
because if you're at the 12-hour-mark before you're about to leave
and you're like, "I still haven't gotten my first test results back..."
because something crazy went wrong
you could always go to that place, get your results really quickly.
You have the free option (option a) there
with having to pay money (option b) if something goes wrong.
But, make sure if you have a layover ESPECIALLY in another country,
that you get a second test taken almost right before you leave.
That way, if something does go wrong: you're delayed, or that country is very strict
and they're thinking that you needed to take a test within 72 hours of THAT departure
(like my flight did in Germany...)
then you don't have anything to worry about, you're set and covered and
I'm just repeating myself at this point so...
let's go back to the other me.
I also received a lot of questions very specific to South Korea
and quarantine (because that's where I quarantined).
So if you go over to my Instagram, I'm actually going to have a whole story on there
about all of the questions that I received about quarantine.
So you can check that out @MeganOsten!
If you do have any other questions, leave a comment down below,
or you can message me on Instagram!
And I will see you in the next one!
Bye~