United Now Lets You Book a Covid Test at the Airport
United Airlines has become the first domestic airline to give passenger the option of getting a coronavirus test at the airport. This will be made possible through the United app and website.
In what could be a preview of things to come from most airlines soon, United has opened up one of its testing location at EWR in New Jersey, CBS News reports.
You can schedule your test in the app or website before your scheduled flight. The app also offers much more information as passengers still face confusion about travel requirements, and quarantine rules for their destinations. Testing is also available in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
This is all provided by the “Travel Ready Center” feature in the app, to streamline the process for customers to fulfill travel requirements, allowing passengers to upload their test results to United before they reach the airport. Travel information is also tailored based on the destination for every passenger.
“We created a customized platform for customers based on their itinerary so that they can see what they need to do pertaining to the Covid regulations in the place they are traveling to,” Michelle Brown, the vice president for digital products and analytics at United, told NY Times.
As for the airport testing program, here’s how it works. Once you book a ticket, you can locate it in your United app, or the website. Then scroll down to the Travel Ready Center section. Here you can see the testing requirements, and schedule an appointment at one of the available locations. Once tested, passengers can upload the rapid test results into their booking profile.
Testing is provided by XpresCheck, who entered into a partnership with United late last year. In that press release it was announced that the cost of the rapid test is $200 per passenger and results are available in 15 minutes or less.
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Agree with earlier comment. $200!!!!! That’s insanely expensive…. which is why I’m waiting to travel for a few more months. What’s a few more months when I haven’t traveled in a year? … I have two small kids at home, so my situation doesn’t apply to everyone. But even if I had no kids and more time on my hands to get on a plane and travel, I still wouldn’t pay that much to get tested.
$200 per passenger???? That’s ridiculous!