BREAKING: PCR tests scrapped from 24th October for those returning to England

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• Jody says:

  15 Oct15 October 10:50

  Can you fill our your PLF form then amend the test number later?

  We go on a cruise on the 22nd October for 2 weeks. Can’t book the new lateral flow tests until the 22nd. There is talk that the cruise company are insisting on seeing a completed PLF with test number at the port before you board.

  Don’t really want to be scrabbling around early in the morning on the 22nd trying to buy a test, as I suspect lots of people will be doing the same, and the PLF might be busy.

  Was wondering if I could use the number from my last test just to show a number on there, then whilst away, purchase a lateral flow test and change the number (we’ve got internet, so no problem doing this).

  Otherwise, it will be an Expert Medicals job again, as they’re the cheapest (will pay on a different credit card to the one I did last time seeing as I did a chargeback request on them for not getting my result).

  • Nick Burch says:

    15 Oct15 October 10:52

    You can’t fill in a PLF until 48 hours before arrival in the UK, so there’s no way you can fill it in at the start of a 2 week cruise!

    • Jody says:

      15 Oct15 October 11:00

      Not correct! For cruises, they can be filled in up to 21 days before arrival back in the UK. So if the cruise is shorter than 19 days you do it before, if it’s longer you do it on board.

      There seems to be some confusion as to whether it’s can do if you want to, or must do. And apparently, port staff have been asking to see completed PLF, and refusing boarding until one is filled out. So, whether staff are doing this rightly or wrongly I don’t know, but to avoid hassle it seems to make sense to do the form before we go, but I don’t really want to pay out for a PCR if I can help it. Not trying to cheat the system, I’m happy to purchase the lateral flow tests when they become available. Just slightly annoying that the day they become available coincides with the day we board the ship.

      • Nick Burch says:

        15 Oct15 October 12:26

        Ah, you’re right! Found this in the guidance

        > If you’re travelling on a cruise that lasts 19 days or less, submit the form in the 48 hours before boarding. If your cruise is longer, you can submit the form while travelling.

        You certainly can update a PLF after submitting it, and are required to if key details change. Maybe submit one with a clearly invalid reference like ZZZZZ0000000 (iirc 5 letters then 7 numbers) and update on/after the 22nd once you’ve booked a cheap suitable Lateral Flow?

        • Jody says:

          15 Oct15 October 13:51

          Thanks. I wasn’t sure if I could update it, or whether I’d have to fill it all out again.

          I guess the question is, do we actually think the LFT tests WILL be significantly cheaper than PCR, or am I just wasting my time and should pay out for Expert Medicals or somewhere similar?

      • david says:

        15 Oct15 October 15:11

        As stated time and time again. Nobody is checking these day 2 PCRs. You could put MICK3YMOUS3. Its a great big con. My friend paid 4x day2, did them, returned them. Never received the results, this was in mid August. I bought 3x day 2 pcr back in July. Never even took them, and I am still awaiting police at door.

• Shaw West says:

  15 Oct15 October 20:31

  I do have 8 pcr kits I ordered for £6.99 each. will I be able to use them instead of the now “more expensive” lateral tests?

  • Rob says:

    15 Oct15 October 20:44

    Yes, as long as you have the code for the Passenger Locator Form.

    • Shaw West says:

      15 Oct15 October 20:47

      I do have the code. 🙂 I had ordered day2 and day8. Now that we have no more day 8, I could reuse the day2 Code for day 8 test 🙂 awesome

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