Price of flights to the US soars after lifting of ban on vaccinated adults… and parents face forking out for THREE Covid tests if they want to travel to the States with their children
- Testing bills could add at least £70 per child to the cost of a transatlantic trip
- Washington stated that unjabbed under-18s will have to take a post-arrival test
- Vaccines in the UK are only being offered to children that are aged 12 to 17
Families planning autumn and winter trips to America were dealt a blow yesterday as it emerged unvaccinated children will have to take three Covid tests.
It means testing bills could add at least £70 per child to the cost of a transatlantic trip when the US reopens to British tourists next Monday.
The change in border rules has prompted a surge in demand and the cost of flights.
But in updated travel guidance, Washington stated that unjabbed under-18s will have to take a post-arrival test between days three and five.
Families planning autumn and winter trips to America were dealt a blow yesterday as it emerged unvaccinated children will have to take three Covid tests
It is understood this can be a rapid antigen test, which can cost only £8 in America but could be as much as £30 if shops are out of stock of cheaper ones.
This is in addition to the pre-departure test in the UK which must be taken by all travellers within three days of flying to America.
This can also be a rapid test but must be supervised by a clinician in person or via an online video call, making it around £40.
UK rules mean another test must be taken by day two on arrival back home.
This can be an unsupervised rapid lateral flow test typically costing £20 to £25.
It applies to children aged five to 17 and adults. Vaccines in the UK are only being offered to children aged 12 to 17.
The US is allowing in adults only if they are fully vaccinated.
Despite the rules, airlines are gearing up for their busiest day of transatlantic flying since America banned British tourists in March 2020.
It means testing bills could add at least £70 per child to the cost of a transatlantic trip when the US reopens to British tourists next Monday
The demand is pushing up the cost of flights. Those with British Airways from Heathrow to JFK in New York are £350 on November 7 but £1,319 the next day.
Virgin Atlantic flights soar from £584 to £1,215 for the same days.
In better news, the last seven countries remaining on the foreign travel red list were removed early today.
It means that, for the first time since February, Britons can go anywhere in the world without facing 11 nights of hotel quarantine on their return.
Source: Read Full Article
