Champions League Final | Travel Requirements + COVID Tests

[cptaidan88]

Champions League final: travel advice

Advice for fans travelling to Portugal for the 2021 UEFA Champions League final in May.

www.gov.uk

Just posted on the other thread but this bit contradicts the Chelsea advice. Was hoping a LFT would be sufficient.

access to the stadium can be slow - there will be ticket and PCR COVID-19 checks; searches will be carried out

Not booked anything yet so not out of pocket, but the uncertainty remains unhelpful.

 

[Da_Blu_Moona]

So.... we’ve opted for Randox green list package with a discount code (GREENRYAN) brings the price down from 240 to 120 for a pre departure PCR and day 2 PCR. Will do the predeparture on weds get the result by thurs. Have used Randox recently and have a good experience.

I understand this will mean we will need another antigen/lateral flow test whilst in Portugal to gain entry to the stadium and also to fly back to the UK. Trying to book this now near our accommodation and my Portuguese language skills are limiting me...

From Chelsea official site: “UEFA have advised that all supporters should have a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to stadium entry or negative antigen test within 48 hours prior to stadium entry.”

 

[frothy]

I managed to speak to someone from Dam Health on Saturday regarding the changing of the wording from 'same day' to '24hrs'.

The guy told me that Dam health PCR tests taken anywhere in the country are all sent to the same laboratory in Liverpool.

The increase in demand has forced them to change their promise to 24hrs because some of the tests results were missing the midnight deadline by a couple of hours.

We have a test booked with them for Thursday mid-morning and are flying out Friday morning with Spike. The guy at Dam said we 'should' be ok but obviously couldn't guarantee the results would be back in time.

We've decided to bite the bullet and have booked another test with them for Tuesday teatime which will should cover us for the outbound flight and the Thursday test will cover for entrance into the stadium and return flight on Sunday.

At this stage, with people struggling to re-schedule PCR test dates and then worry about getting a test in Porto, it was worth it for peace of mind!

Crafty fuckers, we booked with them for Friday morning because they said guaranteed by 11.59 on the same day, fortunately a friend had to phone them up today to check on something and that's how we found out they had changed to 24 hours, having to go to Liverpool now on Thursday afternoon to get it done

 

[RACHACE]

You just doing the LFT for stadium entry then? That’s what I’m doing but City’s website stated PCR! Yet Chelsea’s says LFT within 48 hours of kick-off is acceptable.

Porto airport do walk-in LFTs 7am-7pm every day. Synlabs on the 3rd floor of departures so should be easy enough, especially as the metro goes there?

Yeah going for an LFT somewhere in Porto on Friday. I think City have tried to give the daytrippers clarity but have created uncertainty for anyone else. Ultimately, if it was going to be an issue, Chelsea wouldn't have stated it was ok. Maybe we'll get clarification in the SLO email.

Good to know about the one at the airport, but waiting for someone from Spike to tell us those proposed options in the centre of Porto.

We did a complete u-turn on our trip and decided to do the day trip because of my paranoia about what test was actually required in order to gain access to the stadium.

Missus rang City and pointed out the confusion due to conflicting information and she was told by City to rest assured that it isn't them who've made the mistake in their wording and if anyone's wrong it'll be Chelsea.

Could be an attempt to get as many blues as possible on the day trip rather than doing their own thing. If so, it worked.

 

[feedthegoat27]

I just don’t want anybody to fuck up so please read what I believe to be the more specific Gov advice on page four by M18 CTID.
No probs though, hope it works out for you.

The advice on that link is good for general snippets of information, but it's not specific Gov advice.
The Government have shared the article, but the advice is from the Embassy and Consulate in Portugal.




The only place to get the direct, specific Government guidance is the respective pages for outbound travel requirements for Portugal, and inbound travel requirements for the UK.

Anything else produced by anyone else (City, Chelsea, your next door neighbour, your butcher, Nigel fucking **** Farage) is of no relevance whatsoever. And if you've noticed, they all refer you back to the official Gov website anyway for the latest and most up to date rules and regs.

 

[34yearsandstillgoingstrong]

Re : Blindspot. Because they were "recommended" by supporters club thought they'd be OK. Spoke to someone prior to booking for details -they seemed OK and so I booked on the screen last Friday ( + paid £130) Have not received any acknowledgement / instructions. E-Mailed them this a.m. ( we'll get back to you ! - they haven't ) Rang Head Office... they could confirm "the City packs were posted today" should be with you tomorrow. Asked for a local contact with whom I can talk to ensure mine was on the way . Have been given a local texting contact... duly contacted but still awaiting response. Most unsatisfactory..If this does go wrong then, and no pack arrives tomorrow, Blindspot are totally unresponsive and I guess I'll have to make last minute arrangements for another test with someone else. What a joke!

 

[RACHACE]

Re : Blindspot. Because they were "recommended" by supporters club thought they'd be OK. Spoke to someone prior to booking for details -they seemed OK and so I booked on the screen last Friday ( + paid £130) Have not received any acknowledgement / instructions. E-Mailed them this a.m. ( we'll get back to you ! - they haven't ) Rang Head Office... they could confirm "the City packs were posted today" should be with you tomorrow. Asked for a local contact with whom I can talk to ensure mine was on the way . Have been given a local texting contact... duly contacted but still awaiting response. Most unsatisfactory..If this does go wrong then, and no pack arrives tomorrow, Blindspot are totally unresponsive and I guess I'll have to make last minute arrangements for another test with someone else. What a joke!

My missus has spoken to an Irish bird at blindspot. She assured her that all packs will be sent out in time for them to be done and returned on either the Thursday or Friday between 6 & 10am. 8 hour turn around on tests apparently too.

 

[Sid C]

The advice on that link is good for general snippets of information, but it's not specific Gov advice.
The Government have shared the article, but the advice is from the Embassy and Consulate in Portugal.

View attachment 17703


The only place to get the direct, specific Government guidance is the respective pages for outbound travel requirements for Portugal, and inbound travel requirements for the UK.

Anything else produced by anyone else (City, Chelsea, your next door neighbour, your butcher, Nigel fucking **** Farage) is of no relevance whatsoever. And if you've noticed, they all refer you back to the official Gov website anyway for the latest and most up to date rules and regs.

I hope you’re right mate. Maybe I being too cautious after missing the flight back from Poznan and getting back 3 days later via Frankfurt with fucking salmonella.
And no it wasn’t the chicken from the Green Man!

 

[feedthegoat27]

I hope you’re right mate. Maybe I being too cautious after missing the flight back from Poznan and getting back 3 days later via Frankfurt with fucking salmonella.
And no it wasn’t the chicken from the Green Man!

No harm in being cautious, and if people can schedule tests that cover both the 3 days/72 hours thing then it makes sense to do that.

I'd also say to screenshot everything as well, anything you can do to cover your back is wise.

I hope everyone on here makes it there and back with little drama but I think there will be some stories to tell in the next few days.

 

[beermusic]

I know both have been quoted on this thread but does anyone have a DEFINITIVE answer to the 72 hours / 3 days ambiguity in terms of travelling out Friday to Sunday. The government site is conflicting, states 3 days and gives an example of this, but their advice on the other site says 72 hours, which also seems to be the standard.

What I am asking is whether anyone has actually managed to get legal clarification on this, or knows of anyone who might have been refused travel on a weekend break etc.

My flight is Friday 2.30 and return is Sunday 2.30.. I have been told by one pharmacy that a test ANYTIME Thursday will cover both flights, but if, say i have this in the morning then technically it would be over 72 hours before the return leg, but based on the main Gov.uk site, would be valid as taken within the 3 days before. If i take the test after 2.30 on the Thursday, its almost impossible to find a guarantee of a result that would come back before the outbound flight.

It is an important question as if this is not the case, will mean having a second test in Porto to cover the return flight. Sorry for specifics, but imagine there may be many others in a similar boat?