Hi All, especially those who have returned from France recently:

A negative test is required to board airlines to return to the USA. I understand that special proctor-verified tests are available. But what format does the proof have to be in? (obviously the test strip won't suffice).
In order to use these proctor-verified tests, one has to sign in to the test site, create an account then proceed with the test. Does this mean I have to carry my laptop around during my entire vacation?
Has anyone used their phone for this? If so, were there any problems with connection/signal etc?

Thank you for your help!
Peppermint

Yes, you can use your phone. The results are sent to your phone via the app. It's a piece of cake. We used the Binax proctored tests when returning to the US from Switzerland in October.

Details of our experience here:

Our experience with using Binax COVID 19 AG home test

We did the same flying back from Belgium.
Day before our flight, logged in on our iPad. They must witness you opening the package, taking the self-test, then waiting for the results while still onliine.
Test reuslts emailed right after.

Thank you! I would love to read your link, but appears it has expired. Binax isn't being sold right now, but have you heard of e-med? that's what's coming from the optum store (link from United). So the app shows your test result?

I called United today and they told me I need to get a medical provider in France to certify the negative result!!! Did showing the result on the app satisfy requirements at boarding/passport processing when you returned to US?

I've never heard of Fodor's links expiring.

It works for me.

Yes, we purchased the Binax tests from Emed, then downloaded the Navica app. They certainly look available to me.

https://www.emed.com/
https://www.globalpointofcare.abbott...ls/navica.html

Yes, showing the results at the airport was all that was required.

The gist of the thread copied from the link:

We just returned from a month long trip to Switzerland.

Because a negative COVID test is needed prior to returning to the US, and because Switzerland charges 195 francs for a PCR test and 80 francs for a rapid antigen test, we opted to order a six pack of the Abbot BinaxNow Covid 19 AG card home tests that are proctored online and take them with us - $150 for a six pack plus shipping - we plan to use the other tests when we travel to Europe again in late November.

We didn't take the tests until the day prior to our flight, and while there was some faffing about on our part trying to figure how it all worked (we'd downloaded the Navica app before leaving the US), once we got our act together, the process was very smooth.

We had to take the tests separately, which involved logging in twice from two different devices, but we were both connected to a proctor within minutes (we signed in around 9 am in Switzerland). We followed the instructions given to us by the proctor, kept the line open for 15 minutes and voilà, we were done. Our negative tests appeared on the Navica app within minutes and we were also sent results via email.

At the Zurich airport we showed the negative results when we checked in for our flight and we were good to go. We also provided our printed attestation forms that are supposedly required by the US, but no one seemed interested in those.

This, and digitally submitting our passenger locator forms to both United (first leg of our trip, domestic) and Swiss (international portion) made checking in for our flights quick and stress free.

We also obtained the Swiss COVID certificate from a pharmacy in Zurich upon our arrival (30 chf each). We provided our double jab certificates plus passports; they provided a paper QR code which we then transferred to our phones. The Swiss COVID certificate enabled us to dine inside restaurants and museums, etc.

And, the best bit, the Swiss COVID certificate is also recognized in the EU in lieu of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, so we'll be able to use it again when we visit Italy, Germany and Austria in late November, December.

There are Antigen testing centers all over Paris. Most all pharmacies do it, even those at CDG. It is very easy to obtain the needed test for flights to the US. Cost is only 25€ and results are available in minutes.

Ditto Sarastro. There are pharmacies all over Paris that will perform the antigen test. There were 3 pharmacies within 3 blocks of our rental in the 7th that could do it. However, I think it is necessary to register the day of the test. We went to the pharmacy, read the big QR code posted outside with our i-phone, stood outside for about 10 mins to fill out all the needed info on the web site we were directed to, then went inside to receive the paperwork, then outside in a tent to get the test. About 15 mins later we receive an e-mail from them indicating that we tested negative. We wanted a paper copy to use because we are not adept at downloading things to the i-phone, so we went back inside and they printed ones for us. We actually we did this 3 different times (test run for us, helped friends, then our "day before" final test). We took this test in mid Dec last year.

Other friends could not get an e-mail when they did the test (I think they had a crummy internet plan). So they had to go to a different pharmacy, got tested, then waited for a paper test result.

I recommend a test run to make sure all of your "elements" work OK.

Stu Dudley

Seems like an awful lot of time & effort for a pharmacy test.

When we returned to the US from Naples, Italy, the hotel directed us to a nearby pharmacy. We didn’t need an appointment for an antigen test, so we walked right in, took the test, and, 10 minutes later, we were handed a piece of paper with our negative results. We didn’t get an email with our results. This didn’t have a QR code so we had to show the paper at check-in as we couldn’t upload it prior to the flight. It was no big deal and it worked out well.

We here traveling a long time and I didn’t want to carry the test kits around with us. There was something about the idea of having the test kits with us for 5 weeks that just made me feel a bit anxious, as if I was constantly being reminded of the darn thing! I might order it for our next trip, though.