Buyer Beware

[netpj]

Just in case there are not enough other issues to consider concerning cruising or any out of Canada travel in the foreseeable future, here is something else to think about if planning to use the Switch Health self test kits.  Yes, this could just be a fluke but one you will not know about until you need to use the kit.

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/11/25/at-home-covid-19-test-malfunction/

[Fouremco]

There are numerous posts on other boards related to malfunctioning test kits from a variety of manufacturers, and many people are now ordering two kits, just in case. Or making "Plan B" appointments with testing facilities. These days, no one should travel without a "Plan B" or "Plan C".

 

The Air Canada situation was a very different story, completely inexcusable. I really feel sorry for the mother and daughter, and can't imagine the stress they felt at the airport.

[K_e_short]

I think this is a very bad PR story for Air Canada.

 

I think I'm going to be travelling with a binder with all my documents and I guess I will add the print out from the Government website of approved tests.

 

 

[broberts]

It's sad that the AC agent didn't know how to use the internet. Had they been able to, a quick check of the GOC web site would have informed them just how wrong they were. (It took me less than 30 seconds to google the correct page and find the appropriate section. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#pre-entry-test) It is also sad that AC apparently does not provide agents with a support phone line. 😋

 

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by broberts

[Andy&Louise]

We were going to order the Switch kits for our upcoming trip to Geneva. Luckily they were out of stock. We then read all of the terrible reviews about their travel PCR test kit. We reserved at  a lab at the Geneva airport that will purportedly give results the sane day. Then I watched this City News report and am pretty sure we made the right decision.

[eyeseeu]

We used Switch kits in November travelling from Las Vegas to Vancouver.  No problems.  Going through Customs we were “randomly chosen” for airport testing.  Again, no problem. 
 

Early January 2022 we are going on a cruise.  Our concern is whether Canada will let us back in after being to any of the Caribbean islands.  

 

With the rules changing often, we will hope there is not a problem, but are checking daily to see what changes are made. 
 

[broberts]

1 minute ago, eyeseeu said:

Our concern is whether Canada will let us back in after being to any of the Caribbean islands.  

 

If you are a Canadian citizen you will be allowed in regardless of where you have been or your covid status. You may end up in quarantine for a while, but you will be allowed in.

[Fouremco]

13 hours ago, eyeseeu said:

We used Switch kits in November travelling from Las Vegas to Vancouver.  No problems.  Going through Customs we were “randomly chosen” for airport testing.  Again, no problem. 
 

Early January 2022 we are going on a cruise.  Our concern is whether Canada will let us back in after being to any of the Caribbean islands.  

 

With the rules changing often, we will hope there is not a problem, but are checking daily to see what changes are made. 
 

Visiting Caribbean islands isn't an issue. Canadians are visiting daily, whether on a cruise or flying in. The only difference from your November return is the likelihood that in January, instead of a random test, you may be subject to a mandatory test and isolation while waiting for the result.