TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Test everyone before boarding?

This sounds like a much better alternative to the present 5 day test rule. https://www.yahoo.com/news/airlines-call-covid-19-tests-173840091.html

Interesting potential....but now they will need the arrival countries to accept the quick test results.

Wow - that would be wonderful!

The article touches on this, but whatever you lose in accuracy with the rapid test is probably made up by eliminating the gap between the test date and actual travel you have with the current system.

Yup....right now after testing you have up to 4 days to get infected at parties and rallies so your negative test might not be so negative when you travel....testing EVERYONE on the day of departure, if they can pull it off, makes MUCH more sense

Only problem I see with this is you are taking test at the gate after you have checked in and checked bags are already loaded on the plane. If you test positive then flight is held up while they take your bags off unless test is given prior to checking bags. With carry on only nt so much a problem.
Also this is a factor.
"Antigen tests are faster but less sensitive and therefore slightly more likely to miss positive cases than the PCR alternatives"

I would assume that the test would done be before check in to eliminate that issue. Just takes the place of the test now done days earlier.

One would think so but if you check in online, print boarding passes and only have a carryon when would they check you for covid. If at the gate it would be time consuming and hold up the process.

If EVERYONE needs a test then it would be part of the airport arrival process. If someone doesn't comply that would be their problem. I doubt the flight would be held up because of an uninformed passenger that didn't read the signs in the airport and online stating the requirement...can't fly without ID, can't board without a boarding pass, can't board without a passport for int'l flights, can't board without a negative test....

I guess we will find out if , and that's a BIG if, this is put into place

As it stands now, I assume we have to check in at the counter to have our travel authorization verified? We always check in online and travel with carry-on only. I'm thinking this trip will be different because of the additional documents required.

Right now its for international flights not domestic so difficult having it for all passengers arriving at airports to get on a flight.

Good point.....considering connecting flights

My personal feeling is that, if this were to happen, it would be an ADDITIONAL test, as I kind of doubt SXM would accept that test as the only test.. The upside to that is maybe that if the airlines do that additional test, there won't be any problem with having to do an additional test on SXM.

There in lies the issue....pointless to do the test in the airport if the destinations do not recognize it as valid. Testing a few days before departure, testing at the airport and testing on arrival sounds like an overkill to me anyway

I understand the concept of wanting a test several days before and also on the day one flies. IF that second test is very cheap and results within 15 minutes, I personally wouldn't have a problem with it. I would much rather have that potential positive test here in the US, versus in SXM.

I doubt if SXM would want to take on testing everybody. The lines when I arrived on a half full AA flight were long and slow. My test results and my EHAS approval were actually read by two different agents before they were stamped and I could move on. If we had to be tested too they need space for the longer lines as well as the activity.

That's an excellent point. My mindset was for testing in US airports BUT it would have to work in all airports flying TO the USA...I don't think it will work now but we will see I guess

Well THIS is interesting and maybe it will be a go for off continent flights anyway,,,,only one way testing to get passengers to travel to places needing a negative test. ..It's a start anyway

United Airlines testing link

More info link $250/test

Article in today's Daily Herald discusses Alitalia pursuing quick test to provide safety on the flight. Mentions including price of $7 on each ticket and tests taken by regular employees,

If it's not part of a medical staff I dn't think I would'nt want just an regular emplyee taking my test.

You don't need a lot of expertise to take or read a pregnancy test - maybe it would be something like that?

I'm not peeing on any swab at airport. LOL

You never struck me as the shy type scubaman lol

Right on. Just ask people on same dive boat I'm on.😁

SXM as far as I know has no intention of deviating from the RT-PCR test. Antigen tests are inferior I believe. Hopefully they can require the saliva test at some point -- way cheaper and just as effective as RT-PCR

Jeff, Have you found a place to get the PCR test near you? I found one in W Dennis, but results can be 24 hours to EIGHT days!

Dogs may become the answer to cheap and fast airport testing.

https://in.reuters.com/article/heal...roject-at-helsinki-airport-idUSKCN26F1QR

...and attached to that report that was on tv was a statement from the TSA saying that they have absolutely no plans to train dogs to do that task. So....maybe in Europe