St. Andrews September 3rd-11th 2021

[nutmegchoi]

Our original trip was July 2019 and we all know what happened that year.

Second attempt was July 14th to 27th 2021 and that got scratched again.

(UK didn't lift 10 day quarantine until July 19th for fully vaccinated Americans)

Our third attempt is scheduled from September 3rd to 11th.

While we weren't getting our hopes up, this time it might really happen??!!

So, I have a couple questions hoping to get answers from you guys.

 

We need negative PCR test results 72 hour prior the trip.

Does that count as 72 hour prior the departure or arrival?

Since there'll be 15 hour difference (8 hour to travel and 6 hours time difference), it'll be nice to know when we need to get tested.

 

We'll need another PCR test two days after the arrival.

Do we need to order a kit to the hotel?

Or is there place we can go get tested in St. Andrews?

Cost? Any cheaper option??

 

Thank you in advance!

[865golf]

72 hours before your first flight departs. If you are flying into Edinburgh there is a testing location there. The 2nd day test can be taken immediately when you arrive or thereafter - just has to be done within 48 hours of arrival. They will email you the results. All the airports have testing centers, just Google the airport you are flying into and you’ll find the info.

[nutmegchoi]

We are flying from JFK - Amsterdam - Edinburgh.

I didn't know the 2nd day test can be done anytime within 48 hours.

That's great to know!

Thank you so much!!

[865golf]

Book your 2nd day test before you fly. When you get to Amsterdam  Schiphol you’ll be directed to check in at Gate 5? (It’s been a few weeks since I went through there) It’s essentially UK customs for Covid. You’ll need everything in paper form - your CDC vaccination card, your fit-to-fly test (the 72 hr test) and proof that you’ve booked and paid for the 2nd day test. They’ll put a stamp on the back of your passport and that’s all they will look at when you arrive in Edinburgh.

 

Make sure you have masks while in St. Andrews, they are pretty strict when going indoors. Outside is a different story, but you will be asked to mask up if you forget.

 

Have fun, the courses are all in great shape! There’s been plenty of rain the past few weeks so the courses are green, but still firm.

[nutmegchoi]

Thank you so much for the intel.

You gave me all the answers I needed to know and more!

Appreciate it!!

[philsRHman]

18 hours ago, nutmegchoi said:

We are flying from JFK - Amsterdam - Edinburgh.

I didn't know the 2nd day test can be done anytime within 48 hours.

That's great to know!

Thank you so much!!

What is your trip back like? Will you have to stay the night in Amsterdam? I’m struggling with my flights from NYC. United to EDI direct is cancelled. Aer Lingus to EDI (through Dublin) cancelled overnight. Looks like anything coming home, other than London, has a full day layover. 

[nutmegchoi]

Pretty much the same route with KLM and Delta.

Edinburg - Amsterdam - JFK.

Layover is 2 hours.

 

We flew 3 times with Delta this year and all were on time or early arrival.

Our luggage arrived safe as well.

 

But seems like there are some horror stories out there with other airlines.

Good luck with your flights back home!!

[philsRHman]

4 hours ago, nutmegchoi said:

Pretty much the same route with KLM and Delta.

Edinburg - Amsterdam - JFK.

Layover is 2 hours.

 

We flew 3 times with Delta this year and all were on time or early arrival.

Our luggage arrived safe as well.

 

But seems like there are some horror stories out there with other airlines.

Good luck with your flights back home!!

Thanks, I'll have to look. When I first checked, I thought the EDI to Amsterdam flight arrived after the Amsterdam-EWR flight leaves, so it was requiring an overnight in Amsterdam (not the end of the world but makes for a long travel.

[nutmegchoi]

We are departing September 3rd 8:40am and arriving September 4th 10:10am.

Returning September 11th 8:35am and arriving September 11th 12:55pm.

I see there are still some seats left.

Good luck!

[philsRHman]

6 minutes ago, nutmegchoi said:

We are departing September 3rd 8:40am and arriving September 4th 10:10am.

Returning September 11th 8:35am and arriving September 11th 12:55pm.

I see there are still some seats left.

Good luck!

I just got an update that they're shifting my departing flight from Newark to JFK, so looks like I'll be OK, but this is good to have, since it appears Aer Lingus' schedule is very much in flux right now.

[nutmegchoi]

Took us 16 hours to get here but we are arrived in St. Andrews.

Over night travel and time difference totally messed us up so we are wide awake at 2:30am.

 

Any idea where to get COVID test to get back to the US in St. Andrews?

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2021 by nutmegchoi

[865golf]

All you need to fly back is the antigen test which only takes about 20 minutes or so for results.  Depending on your departure time, you can likely take the test at the airport and have the results while you are waiting to check in.  Almost all the medical facilities in St. Andrews are geared towards students and hard to get access to.  Others are NHS facilities and NHS tests aren't accepted for travel purposes.  Hope this helps!

[nutmegchoi]

Ah… thank you! I’ll look into test at the airport!!

[philsRHman]

On 9/6/2021 at 2:23 AM, nutmegchoi said:

Ah… thank you! I’ll look into test at the airport!!

Hope you had a great trip. I leave in two weeks, I connect through Dublin. Starting to stress over testing on the way there and back. Not sure if complicated by connecting or not. Curious how that part went for you. 

[nutmegchoi]

On 9/11/2021 at 4:51 PM, philsRHman said:

Hope you had a great trip. I leave in two weeks, I connect through Dublin. Starting to stress over testing on the way there and back. Not sure if complicated by connecting or not. Curious how that part went for you. 

 

I don't think there's any direct from the US to Scotland right now.

We had to connect through Amsterdam and most COVID screening was done at the gate.

I had 72 hour negative PCR test result, Passenger Locator Form (You can submit the form any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK) and two day PCR test kit receipt all printed out.

And don't forget to take another COVID test (it could be Lateral flow tests) before you return to the US.

We took ours at Edinburgh airport and it was 50 pounds each which's pretty much as low as it gets.

[philsRHman]

3 hours ago, nutmegchoi said:

 

I don't think there's any direct from the US to Scotland right now.

We had to connect through Amsterdam and most COVID screening was done at the gate.

I had 72 hour negative PCR test result, Passenger Locator Form (You can submit the form any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in the UK) and two day PCR test kit receipt all printed out.

And don't forget to take another COVID test (it could be Lateral flow tests) before you return to the US.

We took ours at Edinburgh airport and it was 50 pounds each which's pretty much as low as it gets.

Was the EDI test fast enough to get by arriving early for your flight? Or did you go a day or two in advance?

[nutmegchoi]

We originally booked the test at LloydsPharmacy by our hotel in Edinburgh which canceled on us for no apparent reason two days before the departure.

Since our flight was 6am, we had to take the test night before at the airport.

You have to book online and cab ride was 45 pounds round trip and I gave 15 pounds tips for the wait.

Test itself was very easy and quick.

In and out 15-20 mins and they'll send the result to your email within an hour.

I didn't print out the result and PDF attachment was good enough to get through the authority. 

[philsRHman]

In case anyone is looking for more info, I just had the Covid test scavenger hunt in St. Andrews. First, none of the local pharmacies are doing them (Boots, Lloyds, Morrisons). One told me I should just go to an NHS testing center but all over the NHS site it says they're NOT for travel and are only for those with symptoms. Long story short, I traced my way via Google and various pharmacies to Dear's, which is doing them, but the closest location to St. Andrews is 40ish minutes away in Glenrothes. They did the rapid antigen for 69 pounds, and i had my fit to fly certificate in 20 minutes.

 

It looks like a lot more options in EDI (including of course at the airport), but my flight is very early Saturday, and I think they open at 8, so I couldn't risk it.