 Poster: A snowHead
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At Manchester airport departure lounge now waiting for our flight to Geneva.
We were asked for PCR at baggage drop but they accepted lateral flow cert from Randox
Other than a bit of a queue going through security there has been no issues. Will update (hopefully) when in Geneva.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi all
We are due to fly to Geneva on 27th. For the Lateral Flow (Antigen) Test, does this have to be a supervised test done eg on Zoom or at a test centre? Or can you just physically show them a negative test cassette?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@tronic, it will have to be certified.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@tronic, certified by lab so the likes of c19 testing where you photo the cassette and your ID and they return a QR coded certificate - it doesn't need to be witnessed on a zoom call
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Got it, suspected as much, thanks very much @GlasgowCyclops and @RichieC43...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lets hope the Swiss don't decide to go back to take away meals on the slopes....could do with a plate of rosti and a bottle of Dole.
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@NewSkiingDad, interested in how you got on with your Swiss entry with your antigen self test/lab cert issued certificate, any update?
Flying a triangle Man-Osl-Zrh-Man, 4 in family group so all testing savings info for Switzerland is a serious cost saving. Have a great holiday
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yes that Switzerland no long had any countries on its VoC list had been noted.
Good news on the entry requirement allowing an LFT but the important thing to note is
“travellers opting for an antigen test must take it within the 24-hour window prior to arrival.”
(And I think cannot be an NHS one. )
Whereas a PCR has a 72 hour window.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@oui4ski, true and good to see in totality but on this specific point and all that was in the article the journo seems to have got it right when I read both.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@ster, fair enough  - I've just been concerned given the numbers of newer members on here relying upon journalists or travel companies interpretation rather than government sources!
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Returned from Switzerland yesterday after a 5 day trip to the 4 Vallees. Flew Easyjet to Geneva on 18/12 (mare with cancelled flights!) finally arriving at accom in Nendaz at 11pm. Easyjet very thorough with checking negative tests (adults) and Swiss PLF. Also checked at Geneva. As far as checking in resort, very random. Walked in to some mountain restaurants with no checking, others wanted to see covid pass. Masks compulsory in restaurants and on lifts - most lifts had someone reminding you to wear a mask. Didn't do 4-7 day test, but did return home LFTs with Randox - all very straightforward and certificates arrived within three hours. Check in staff at Geneva asked for covid passes and PLF and neg tests (kids too).
Great 4 days skiing in Nendaz / Verbier / Thyon - covid passes and masks a minor inconvenience.
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You know it makes sense.
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@james75, thanks for the info ... which tests did you take on the way out? Verified Antigen LFT or PCR?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| dvb wrote: |
| @james75, thanks for the info ... which tests did you take on the way out? Verified Antigen LFT or PCR? |
Before going - PCR test from Randox (think LFT woukd be ok now), to return home, LFT from Randox.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| james75 wrote: |
Returned from Switzerland yesterday after a 5 day trip to the 4 Vallees. Flew Easyjet to Geneva on 18/12 (mare with cancelled flights!) finally arriving at accom in Nendaz at 11pm. Easyjet very thorough with checking negative tests (adults) and Swiss PLF. Also checked at Geneva. As far as checking in resort, very random. Walked in to some mountain restaurants with no checking, others wanted to see covid pass. Masks compulsory in restaurants and on lifts - most lifts had someone reminding you to wear a mask. Didn't do 4-7 day test, but did return home LFTs with Randox - all very straightforward and certificates arrived within three hours. Check in staff at Geneva asked for covid passes and PLF and neg tests (kids too).
Great 4 days skiing in Nendaz / Verbier / Thyon - covid passes and masks a minor inconvenience. |
Was there at same time as you. Just landed back in uk. Much the same experience as you describe. We skied mainly in Thyon & Vessonaz. Nobody asked us to wear masks on lifts but staff were thorough on Telecabines. We were only asked for covid passes at one bar - but to be fair we sat outside at most places.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@james75, thanks for the info, relying on C19 verified antigen lateral flow test ... Fingers crossed
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@dvb, No problems getting into GVA today. C19 LFT tests promptly accepted both at checkin and at the border.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We flew out on 20th Dec. 24 hour antigen test with Chronomics accepted (though had to tell Easyjet staff at BRS rules had changes overnight (it was the 07:10 flight). Antigen test, Swiss PLF and Proof of Vaccination all required to check in, and all docs checked at GVA.
Email from Canton after 2 days to ask for proof of vaccination + PLCF reference.
Fly back tomorrow, done Chronomics Fit to Fly tests again and completed UK PLF.
Warning - if you can, pre-register for the UK PLF. The form is a bit of a pain to fill out and you will need to be able to scan, or upload the proof of vaccination QR code (just the QR code and nothing else), which might not be easy.
100% compliance with mask wearing here in Zermatt, and QR codes read to enter restaurants in both CH and Italia.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@JDL65, thanks for the info regards UK PLF - I assume you can still pre-fill the form with your QR codes etc and save it, then just submit within the 48 hours?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@lacedelli, thanks, feeling more at ease now
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On my last 2 trips back the UK, I couldn’t get the vaccine QR codes to scan, selected the can’t upload proof part and the PLF completed, both times came through the e-gates with no questions asked, once heathrow other one gatwick
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| CathS wrote: |
| RichieC43 wrote: |
| @JDL65, thanks for the info regards UK PLF - I assume you can still pre-fill the form with your QR codes etc and save it, then just submit within the 48 hours? |
If only it was that straightforward 
You can create and save a draft of the UK PLF in advance. It then sends you a link by email so that you can go back in and update the draft. However, it will only let you fill in about 30% of the form prior to the 48 hr submission window (and doesn't let you get as far as uploading the vaccination QR code). And if you have no activity with the draft for 7 days, it helpfully deletes it for you 
You can in theory set up an account for the PLF to save your details for multiple PLFs, but as I found if you make an error with the international code format for your mobile number for the verification text for the account set-up, it permanently locks you out of the account and you can't set up another one under the same email address.
The whole thing is atrociously Kafkaesque. It's like filling in an asylum application.
You don't however have to upload the Vaccination Certificate to the PLF. There is the alternative option of presenting the vaccination certificate separately to the PLF QR at check-in/border control. I was able to successfully submit the PLF and get the QR code for it without uploading the vax certificate when I travelled back via Geneva last week.
I would definitely recommend having a dummy run with it (and if possible creating a draft) on a laptop before you travel out, rather than trying to do the whole thing from scratch on a mobile phone on the eve of returning home. And allow about an hour (and some hair tearing) for the process - compared with about 4 minutes it takes to do the super-efficient and straightforward Swiss Entry Form... |
Hellish, isn’t it?
It covers everything under the sun. We found (2 weeks ago) that it won’t allow two adults to be on the same form. So two email addresses are needed, which was a last minute panic for us as we share an icloud email address on iphones and ipads. Got out of jail with my wife using her work email address.
Make sure you have the prebooked special UK 2 day PCR codes (from the UK lab/test provider) with you for the PLF. We forgot, so another panic. Luckily my wife found them on old test messages.
I’d advise having a more user friendly tablet or laptop with you.
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The PLF email address is merely a contact point (there is no requirement to have a different email address per PLF) - we returned to the UK last week via Geneva and I used my email address across 3 PLF's because it was easier to juggle incoming emails from my phone!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The Swiss Federal Council had a telephone meeting this afternoon. Despite the rising case numbers they decided no new restrictions should be brought in.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@JohnMo, Thanks for that. Flying out on Sunday and was a bit worried they may do something.
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Being paranoid here: I have C19 lateral flow tests which are is done at home unsupervised & you upload the image. Are those the tests that are OK for entering Switzerland? If done within 24 hours?
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You know it makes sense.
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@PinkPig, I certainly hope so - that’s what I’ve done. I’ve not seen anything to suggest this won’t be acceptable. These will also be ok for the pre-return tests for UK
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@PinkPig, I believe so but we currently have a disagreement within our group - one thinks we need a PCR, but I think lateral flow is fine.
We're flying into Geneva and then traveling on to Italy.
Be great if we could get a consensus of opinion on here.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Handy Turnip, for Switzerland it can be 72hr PCR or 24hr LF. However I don’t know what Italy requires.
Edit: corrected PCR time, sorry for any confusion and thank you albob
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 2-01-22 12:32; edited 2 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Handy Turnip, The Swiss https://travelcheck.admin.ch/ site comes up with this
"You need to present a negative PCR test (not older than 72 hours) or a negative rapid antigen test (not older than 24 h) at boarding. Under 16s and people who have a medical certificate to prove that they cannot have a Sars-CoV-2 test for medical reasons are exempt from the testing requirement."
Fully vacced, entering Switzerland and travelling from the UK with a transit to another country.
It is unsure how you would get on if entering France on the way to Italy and then " what are the entry requirements for Italy?"
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks @motyl, @albob - that's my assumption too.
Italy appears to be antigen too. We're planning on driving through Switzerland so avoiding France altogether.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Handy Turnip, I don’t know if that is the UK gov website - it has been known to get things less than accurate. There should be a link to Italy’s own website which should have everything you need to know. (Lots of “should”s here  )
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@motyl, good shout, I'll give it a look
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| motyl wrote: |
| @PinkPig, I certainly hope so - that’s what I’ve done. I’ve not seen anything to suggest this won’t be acceptable. These will also be ok for the pre-return tests for UK |
I have used the self testing for coming back to the UK a few times. I am off to Switzerland tomorrow and did a PCR test yesterday (negative) but that was only because I booked it before Switzerland dropped the PCR requirement and started accepting lateral flow. Next time I am heading out I fully intend to use the self test - there is nothing on the Swiss government website that suggests they would not be valid. You get a certificate from the test company in exactly the same way.
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| motyl wrote: |
| @Handy Turnip, I don’t know if that is the UK gov website - it has been known to get things less than accurate. There should be a link to Italy’s own website which should have everything you need to know. (Lots of “should”s here ) |
Yes the Italian website seems to indicate the same.
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I think that the lateral flow test is not good enough for international travel. I don't think it is sensitive enough in early infection stages. A chap I know took LFTs before eurotunnel to FR quarantine and negative. Mrs tested positive on PCR at FR 48 hour test 2 days later, but not Omicron.
I wonder if a PCR day before travel would have picked it up quicker??
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| colinstone wrote: |
I think that the lateral flow test is not good enough for international travel. I don't think it is sensitive enough in early infection stages. A chap I know took LFTs before eurotunnel to FR quarantine and negative. Mrs tested positive on PCR at FR 48 hour test 2 days later, but not Omicron.
I wonder if a PCR day before travel would have picked it up quicker?? |
That is a different issue and not one many on here would be qualified to answer (I include myself in that group). As a matter of government regulation in the UK and Switzerland they are OK as pre departure tests in both directions.
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| colinstone wrote: |
I think that the lateral flow test is not good enough for international travel. I don't think it is sensitive enough in early infection stages. A chap I know took LFTs before eurotunnel to FR quarantine and negative. Mrs tested positive on PCR at FR 48 hour test 2 days later, but not Omicron.
I wonder if a PCR day before travel would have picked it up quicker?? |
Although most people I know take the PCR a day before they would take the LFT to ensure they get the results back in time, so it might just even itself out.
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FAQ
