International flights returning to US COVID testing

[favoritevacation]

Does anyone know what happens if you test positive for COVID when being tested to fly back to the US? Where do you stay? How do you change your airline ticket? Who pays the cost? Does insurance cover any of the expenses? What type of insurance? Who offers it? Can you get retested for false positives? We are fully vaccinated US citizens considering a Greek island cruise. Any advice would be helpful. Has anyone had this experience? 

[Hlitner]

On 6/29/2021 at 9:58 PM, favoritevacation said:

Does anyone know what happens if you test positive for COVID when being tested to fly back to the US? Where do you stay? How do you change your airline ticket? Who pays the cost? Does insurance cover any of the expenses? What type of insurance? Who offers it? Can you get retested for false positives? We are fully vaccinated US citizens considering a Greek island cruise. Any advice would be helpful. Has anyone had this experience? 

There is no simple answer as there are too many variables such as whether you are on a tour package, cruise, on your own, etc.  But as a general rule, if you test positive you will need to quarantine for a period of time (this can vary from a few days to a couple of weeks) and see a physician.  To get back into the USA you will need a letter from the physician that essentially says you no longer have COVID.

But there are some weird exceptions.  Consider that the passenger who recently tested positive at the end of a cruise disembarking in Nassau, Bahamas...was flown back to the USA in a private aircraft chartered by their cruise line (the CDC has provisions that allow for such a flight).  Otherwise they would have needed to quarantine in Nassau until cleared by a physician to fly back to the USA.

 

What makes this even more complicated are the various travel and medical insurance policies that may or may not cover some or all of the additional expense if one does test positive.  When we were returning home from Mexico (after 10 weeks) we had no insurance to cover any extra costs (other then medical expenses).  If DW or I had tested positive we would have stayed in Mexico for another week or two (at our own expense) until a local physician said we were good to fly home.

 

Hank

[Babr]

Depending on the cruise line and when you are going, the cruise line may offer you some help with this. Check their website for their Covid protocols and see if they have something like Cruise with Confidence or Covid Assistance plan. Most of these assistance plans apply to people who booked in a certain window and will expire.

 

After that, it will be up to the passenger to deal with and pay for any Covid related delays. The cruise line may offer their own redesigned travel protection policies that will cover Covid medical and quarantine. Royal Caribbean has such a policy because they are requiring unvaccinated passengers to purchase insurance, but anyone can buy it.

 

Post your question on the Cruise/Travel Insurance board. There is a broker who answers questions there - or give him a call. As people resume travel, I’m sure there will be lots of interest/inquiries about travel insurance that will cover all things Covid.

[Joseph2017China]

On 6/29/2021 at 9:58 PM, favoritevacation said:

Does anyone know what happens if you test positive for COVID when being tested to fly back to the US? Where do you stay? How do you change your airline ticket? Who pays the cost? Does insurance cover any of the expenses? What type of insurance? Who offers it? Can you get retested for false positives? We are fully vaccinated US citizens considering a Greek island cruise. Any advice would be helpful. Has anyone had this experience? 

Based on third person discussion, two people in a small group traveling toghether tested positive, and were left behind in Morocco.  I don't know what happed after that, but they were sent to a specific hotel....The issue is not so much not being allowed to come back, but being on an airplane, when you can't isolate.  Make sure you have insurance to cover your extended stay. 

[CareyHamel]

A US citizen cruising on Holland America Aug 22-29 in Greece. Flying AirCanada from US through Montreal to Athens. Curious if any other travelers have completed this type of travel through a country to another. I checked the Canada regulations and even though we are vaccinated, we will need a negative COVID test before boarding in Boston. I'm just nervous that we will get to Montreal and Canada customs won't allow us to continue to Athens. If anyone can share some wisdom, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[CruiserBruce]

@CareyHamel, just an FYI, if you have an issue in Montreal, it's going to be to be with Immigration and Health officials,  not Customs. Normal transit or not, it's highly unlikely you will deal with Customs.

[CareyHamel]

Yes, apologies. Customs was not the correct term.

[rkacruiser]

6 hours ago, CareyHamel said:

A US citizen cruising on Holland America Aug 22-29 in Greece. Flying AirCanada from US through Montreal to Athens

 

I am curious.  Why did you choose to fly on Air Canada?  

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I am curious.  Why did you choose to fly on Air Canada?  

Probably United frequent flyer. United frequently uses AC as an option. However,  United is flying non-stop IAD and EWR to Athens. 

[CareyHamel]

15 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Probably United frequent flyer. United frequently uses AC as an option. However,  United is flying non-stop IAD and EWR to Athens. 

Yes, United frequent flyer as well as I booked via Holland America. And for flight times, etc. the Air Canada worked better for us coming from Boston. 

Edited July 15, 2021 by CareyHamel

[rkacruiser]

7 hours ago, CareyHamel said:

the Air Canada worked better for us coming from Boston.

 

I appreciate your response to my question.  Thank you.