Rules change so quickly that I don’t think this will be of any help to anyone, it’s just a note to my future self, to be surprised at how hard it was to travel during this summer… or how easy, depending on what the future will bring.
Part one: from London to San Martino del Carso
I had to take an antigen test 48 hours before flying (cost £39.00)
Had to fill up the EU Digital Passenger Locator Form
Once I had the PDF files for the two things above, I was able to check-in online with British Airways (when you check in there’s a dreadful message suggesting that the document must be verified, but I received a confirmation seconds later that everything was okay)
At the airport everything was pretty much as usual, no additional checks were performed before boarding.
Once on our way to Venice, flight attendands distributed two horrid forms, on paper, 37th generation of photocopy, typical Italian bureaucracy language: one titled “Self Declaration Form Covid-19” and one “Formal Statement Pursuant To Law DPR N. 445/2000 ART. 46,47”. The whole plane scrambled to fill up the forms using the only three pens available (if there ever was a super-spreader event…).
Before landing, they collected the first form.
Once landed in Venice, everything was pretty much normal, quick passport control at the automatic gates, and I was out.
Nobody ever asked to see or collect the second form. Typical.
Once home I had to self isolate for 5 days and notify the local health authorities that I had arrived. After some googling I found the right form on a web site and submitted it. Italian health care is managed at regional level, so every region spends some stupid amount of money to build exactly the same thing 20 times… but at least this worked.
The next morning I got a phone call from a very nice operator who booked for me a 5th day PCR test, which is provided for free by the healthcare system (even if I’m not registered). Wonderful!
Part two: in Italy
In Italy there’s a requirement for a “Covid Pass” or, as everybody call it “Green Pass”, to eat inside in bars or restaurants and to attend other public events. You get a 48 hours Covid Pass after a test, or a more permanent one after vaccination.
I contacted the local authorities to ask what did I have to do to get my vaccination in the UK recognised by Italian authorities, but got no reply.
After a few days it emerged that the latest version of the Covid Pass verification app would correctly decode the QR code provided by the NHS app (the one in the Travel section). I downloaded the app from the store, and indeed it worked perfectly! I even found a nice little web app which converts any qr code to a nice card for my Wallet on iOS.
I was all set… but I never visited any location requiring a Covid Pass.
Once I got back to the UK, I received an instructions email on how to request an Italian covid pass in my region (need to send a copy of the UK vaccination certificate and passport to an email address).
Part three: back to the UK
48 hours before leaving for the UK I had to take another antigen test, €35 from a local private provider.
Then I had to order a second day PCR test from a British provider (since I’m double jabbed I don’t need to quarantine on my way back), another £43.00
Once I had both results, I was able to fill up the UK Government Passenger Locator Form.
Nothing was required to get the BA boarding pass.
Once at the airport, before boarding they checked if I had the Passenger Locator Form (which, of course, they call “PLF” just to keep you confused) and the negative test result. At that point they gave me another paper form to fill up, and a printed boarding pass. They collected them both while boarding.
Rest of the trip was nice and uneventful, again no controls whatsoever leaving the airport, once I got home I found the “test at home” kit.
Got my fourth test in two weeks on the second day, shipped it back to the provider, got my result in 24 hours… back to the usual life.
Can’t say that it was too hard, but testing is more expensive than actual flight tickets, and I wouldn’t be doing this once a month as I used to.