Paperwork and Testing
To Stuttgart and Schwabisch Hall
In this trip report:
- An Invite to Germany
- Testing and Paperwork
- Off to Heathrow, Terminal 5, and the South Galleries Lounge
- BA920 London Heathrow to Stuttgart (Club Europe)
- The joy of German Immigration, Into Stuttgart and the Novum Hotel Rieker, Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof
- Off to Schwabisch Hall, qubixx stattemitte Hotel
- Economy Class and Beyond at Recaro Aircraft Seating
- Back to Stuttgart and the joy of pigeons
- Off to Stuttgart Airport
- BA921 Stuttgart to London Heathrow (Club Europe)
- Welcome to Brexitainia, The Premier Inn Heathrow
- Off Home again
- Innovation is the driver
Editors note: This was the criteria at the time I went over to Germany in early September. Requirements have changed (least of all the UK dropping a pre-arrivals test and changing the PCR Test for a Lateral Flow Test).
It’s important you check before you go, and comply with a country’s entry requirements – else you may be denied boarding or entry to that country.
Let’s be honest. Travel is filed under “Downright odd” right now, due to the circumstances we’re in (nothing like a pandemic to foul things up).
As such, there were several things to line up. That includes:
- Departure test
- Arrivals Paperwork in Germany
- Proof of Vaccination paperwork
- Pre-departure test from Germany to the UK
- Passenger Locator form to return to the UK
- Day 2 PCR Test
This trip was done in September, so the testing regime has changed significantly since then. As usual, check the country’s entry requirements before you even book
It’s important to note that if you’re living in the UK, you cannot access the “free” NHS Test and Trace resources for this. You must go private and start paying out (be it the paid version or something else).
You can’t use these for the purpose of travel.
And then there’s the confusion of what rule applies to what. Whilst I’ve been saying check before you travel, it’s absorbing those rules, so you understand what is expected, as well as the entry requirements.
It makes travel less than fun at the moment from a personal perspective.
For outbound testing, I went with ExpressTest – as they had a testing site at Birmingham Airport – a short skip and a jump from home.
For inbound testing, I went with Chronomics, with a Lateral Flow Pre-departure test and Day 2 PCR test for £79.
We’ll cover the departure test, as it was the day before travel
ExpressTest thankfully has a walk-up testing centre where you can book in to be tested. I booked my test online a few days before.
Of course, that meant heading to the airport. Thankfully, it’s a bus and a train ride to the airport.
Although the stupidity in rail fares between Birmingham City Centre and the Airport hasn’t changed one iota.
Avanti my son!
Birmingham Airport has suffered during the downturn, with a lot of the retail closed pre-departure.
I headed to the ExpressTest booths at the back of the EuroTerminal, where they have taken some of the check-in areas.
There was a short wait to be seen, but once I confirmed what test I was present for, my booking was processed through, and I was directed to the test.
Gotta queue for anything in life.
Many nose swabs were taken, and I was then free to go, and told my results should come back around 30 minutes later (i.e. the standard time of a Lateral Flow Test).
With that done, I made my way back through the terminal and pootled back into Central Birmingham.
Ah. The Alitalia of Airport Retail. WH Smith.
Not just any Voyager, a Super Voyager.
By the time I hit the city – a test result showing I was negative had arrived in my inbox, clearing me for travel.
With that, I could complete my German Entry paperwork. upload my results to British Airways and once they were verified – THEN check-in.
This is just complex for complexities sake at this point. But with everything uploaded and verified, check-in opened, and I finally got a boarding pass.
Next: Off to Heathrow, Terminal 5, and The South Galleries Lounge
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