Switchealth - Pearson Airport Covid Testing

[Tomchick1970]

If anyone has first hand experience that they can share with using Switchealth at Pearson Airport for their covid 19 test prior to their flight I would love to hear.

 

I'm a little nervous going to the airport hrs before my departure without a covid test done.  I need to take a test the day we depart from Pearson for our cruise, as we are spending a couple of days in Fort Lauderdale and only want to do one test for travel and cruise.

 

Please let me know.

Thanks Karen

[Fouremco]

What time does your flight leave? Would it be feasible to get tested at a Shoppers Drug Mart before heading to the airport? 

[OVgirl]

It looks like some Wal-Mart stores are testing too. It was mentioned in another thread. Not sure how to add a link.

[Ginnyfyr]

We got our antigen tests through http://www.medionerx.com/test-covid/ They have tons of locations all over Ontario. $40, results in 15 minutes, and they're giving Air Canada guests 10% off right now!

[xcell]

if your are flying after Nov 8th, no more test for travel to US, only the PCR on return.

[thewhip]

I have been looking for info to indicate no testing would be required for air travel for our cruise in January.  Where can I access this info?  Thanks. 

[xcell]

Ah, forgot that the cruise wants the test, so I guess we still have to take a test 48hrs before unless that changes

 

[K_e_short]

6 hours ago, xcell said:

if your are flying after Nov 8th, no more test for travel to US, only the PCR on return.

 

Can you post a link for that information?

 

According to what I read and heard you still need an antigen test to FLY into the states.

 

It's only if you DRIVE across the border that an antigen test is not required.

 

 

[K_e_short]

3 hours ago, thewhip said:

I have been looking for info to indicate no testing would be required for air travel for our cruise in January.  Where can I access this info?  Thanks. 

 

You need an antigen test for air travel to the U.S. within 3 days and an antigen test for a cruise within 2 days.

So you need to decide if you want to try to find a place to test in the U.S. before you board your cruise OR get a test in Canada before you leave.

 

Here's a link to an article that explains the rules

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/us-canada-border-november-8-1.6212093 

 

 

Air travellers will need to show proof of vaccination on arrival in the U.S. but will still need to show a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of boarding their flight.

 

Non-essential travellers crossing at a land border will be required to show proof of vaccination or attest to their vaccination status upon request by a border agent — but unlike air travellers they will face no requirement to show a negative COVID-19 test."

[xcell]

Sorry my mistake -- thought when they were eliminating the antigen test, it was for everything... thanks for clarifying.

 

I hope things change...

 

[K_e_short]

1 minute ago, xcell said:

Sorry my mistake -- thought when they were eliminating the antigen test, it was for everything... thanks for clarifying.

 

I hope things change...

 

 

I agree. I mean it makes sense as it's safer to drive across the border then fly but still.

 

Hopefully by Christmas holidays they will drop some of the testing requirements.

[Tomchick1970]

11 hours ago, Fouremco said:

What time does your flight leave? Would it be feasible to get tested at a Shoppers Drug Mart before heading to the airport? 

My flight is at 9:40am so I can’t go to Walmart or SDM

[K_e_short]

2 minutes ago, Tomchick1970 said:

My flight is at 9:40am so I can’t go to Walmart or SDM

 

I just re read your posts and you said "a couple of days". You know you need an antigen test 2 days before you board your cruise right?

 

[Tomchick1970]

Just now, K_e_short said:

 

I just re read your posts and you said "a couple of days". You know you need an antigen test 2 days before you board your cruise right?

 

Correct. I can test on Wednesday morning prior to our flight and our test will still be good to use for our cruise on Friday. 
I would love to hear from someone who has used Switchhealth services at Pearson. 

[Fouremco]

2 hours ago, Tomchick1970 said:

My flight is at 9:40am so I can’t go to Walmart or SDM

Too bad. 

[broberts]

6 hours ago, Tomchick1970 said:

My flight is at 9:40am so I can’t go to Walmart or SDM

 

Shoppers has a few 24hr locations. Perhaps one of those would work for you.

[Fouremco]

1 hour ago, broberts said:

 

Shoppers has a few 24hr locations. Perhaps one of those would work for you.

I thought about that, but all of our local SDM stores that were open 24/7 have closed at midnight and not opened until 8:00 AM, ever since the pandemic started. I assumed that was an SDM Canada-wide interim policy, but maybe not. 

[Tomchick1970]

29 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

I thought about that, but all of our local SDM stores that were open 24/7 have closed at midnight and not opened until 8:00 AM, ever since the pandemic started. I assumed that was an SDM Canada-wide interim policy, but maybe not. 

I sent an email to a SDM in Oakville as they have posted 24 hrs. They replied with a link to book online COVID tests. All the hrs listed where between 8am-5pm. 

[Porkpi]

What date are you flying out?

We are flying to FLL on a Thursday and cruising on Saturday. 

We booked our tests at the airport as well. 

[Fouremco]

14 minutes ago, Tomchick1970 said:

I sent an email to a SDM in Oakville as they have posted 24 hrs. They replied with a link to book online COVID tests. All the hrs listed where between 8am-5pm. 

Looks like Switchhealth is your only choice. I wonder if the lack of replies to your question is because no one else on CC has used it yet.

[Tomchick1970]

9 minutes ago, Porkpi said:

What date are you flying out?

We are flying to FLL on a Thursday and cruising on Saturday. 

We booked our tests at the airport as well. 

We fly Nov 17 and our cruise on Nov 19. 
What date do you leave?

[AlbertaCruisers]

21 hours ago, Tomchick1970 said:

If anyone has first hand experience that they can share with using Switchealth at Pearson Airport for their covid 19 test prior to their flight I would love to hear.

 

I'm a little nervous going to the airport hrs before my departure without a covid test done.  I need to take a test the day we depart from Pearson for our cruise, as we are spending a couple of days in Fort Lauderdale and only want to do one test for travel and cruise.

 

Please let me know.

Thanks Karen

A man named Russ used Switch at the airport before flights and a Royal cruise this summer. Second page of the below. I remember him posting more details somewhere if you search his posts. Due to flight times and the drive, I believe it was the only option that worked for him. 

 

 

[Tomchick1970]

10 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Looks like Switchhealth is your only choice. I wonder if the lack of replies to your question is because no one else on CC has used it yet.

Yeah does seem like to many have used. I guess I’ll have to report back with my own experience. 

[Tomchick1970]

12 minutes ago, AlbertaCruisers said:

A man named Russ used Switch at the airport before flights and a Royal cruise this summer. Second page of the below. I remember him posting more details somewhere if you search his posts. Due to flight times and the drive, I believe it was the only option that worked for him. 

 

 

Thanks. I’ve sent Russ a message. 

[Porkpi]

15 minutes ago, Tomchick1970 said:

We fly Nov 17 and our cruise on Nov 19. 
What date do you leave?

We leave on Dec 2 and board the Apex on the 4th.