Red Sea (Egypt) closed (covid-19 confined)

[JustSurfaceInterval]

I love to quote myselves...

There will certainly be some kind of reality checks and pragmatic approachs in the next days.

That makes absolutely sense.

 

[tridacna]

“Pragmatic approaches”?

We’re in the middle of a global pandemic and people are falling over themselves trying to beat false-positive Covid tests and airline restrictions while sitting in an enclosed metal tube for 16 hours. Whatever floats your six-pack...

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

i just spoke to the airline station manager here in Toronto [...]
so in essence you will need a negative test result where the result is no less than 72 hours before the time of flight departure.

72h are confirmed...

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

“Pragmatic approaches”?

We’re in the middle of a global pandemic and people are falling over themselves tring to beat false-positive Covid tests and airline restrictions while sitting in an enclosed metal tube for 16 hours. Whatever floats your six-pack...

agreed, any attempts to beat the airline restrictions really should make them a pariah.

 

[Dan]

At this point (IMO at least) the only valid option for people coming from USA, Canada and so on is the quick test (5h) on the Istanbul airports (which also happens to be quite cheap). HOWEVER if that comes up positive you'll be losing the $ for the overseas flights..
Pegasus has a link about the testing center at the Sabiha Gokcen airport PCR testing is now available at Sabiha Gökçen Airport There is another testing center at the bigger Istanbul Airport, but I don't have a link.

So they let you fly from USA to Istanbul without showing the negative PCR test when you are boarding the plane in USA airport?

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

So they let you fly from USA to Istanbul without showing the negative PCR test when you are boarding the plane in USA airport?

don't think so.... unless Istanbul is your end destination or you are leaving the airport. If you are checking in again ( potentially days later) in Istanbul, then you would have to show one which is in the parameters. If you are in transit through istanbul and don't leave the airport, then you will show it boarding int he us/canada and be fine : hence the reason it is not 'time of landing in egypt'

 

[P-Dog]

agreed, any attempts to beat the airline restrictions really should make them a pariah.

I wish you the best of luck and look forward to a report on your trip. I'm happily ensconced here in Mexico and even met someone from Egypt here last night! He's going to try and get home to Cairo, and then Hurghada, in two weeks. Wonder what it's like for a citizen? Same hoopla or easier?

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

Same gig for Egyptians. Let us know how it’s going in Cozumel. I haven’t been there in 7 weeks

 

[Adr1an]

So they let you fly from USA to Istanbul without showing the negative PCR test when you are boarding the plane in USA airport?

I live in Europe, we discussed that on the Red Sea liveaboard tipping thread if memory serves.

As far as I know Turkey doesn't require a mandatory PCR test for people coming from the USA or Canada (please correct me if I'm wrong here). So all you have to do if you want to risk it on the Turkish quick test is to buy US to Istanbul tickets from another company (not related with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus) and simply buy a separate ticket for Istanbul to Sharm or Hurghada. This way you will not be requested to show the PCR test until you have to board the flight from Istanbul to Egypt.

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

[...] if you want to risk it on the Turkish quick test [...]

and a quarantine or medical measures in Turkey instead of home (even in case of a false positve) ...