Which? responds to the news that from 24th October vaccinated travellers will be able to use lateral flow tests on return to England

Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said:

“These changes to travel testing should simplify the system and reduce costs a little for travellers in England, but it’s vital that the government now ensures there is sufficient capacity to deal with a surge in demand for lateral flow tests – especially as it has said tests should not be booked until the day most people heading away for half term will go to the airport. It must also ensure there is no repeat of the problems with rogue providers charging extortionate prices or failing to provide tests on time that have plagued the private PCR testing market.

“There is already a lot of confusion among travellers about what these changes mean for them. Crucially, you cannot use NHS lateral flow tests but must book through a private provider. Travellers should not book their tests yet. While some private test providers already sell lateral flow tests for travel, these are not the right ones for arrival back in England under the government’s new scheme. The government has said tests will be bookable from October 22nd.”

ENDS

Statement