- Introduction: An Open-Ended Journey To Oman
- Review: Iberia Business Class Airbus A330 (MIA-MAD)
- Our COVID-19 Testing Mess At Madrid Airport
- Review: Four Seasons Hotel Madrid
- Review: Iberia Lounge Madrid Airport (MAD)
- Review: Iberia Business Class A320neo (MAD-MXP)
- Review: Sala Montale Lounge Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Review: Qatar Airways Business Class Boeing 787-9 (MXP-DOH)
- Review: Qatar Airways A320 Business Class (DOH-SLL)
- Oman Entry Requirements: My Experience
- Traveling As A Gay, Married Couple: My Philosophy
- Review: Alila Hinu Bay, Oman
- Review: Oman Air Lounge Salalah Airport
- Review: Oman Air A330 Business Class (SLL-MCT)
- Review: W Hotel Muscat, Oman
- Review: Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman
- Review: The Chedi Muscat, Oman
- Review: Primeclass Lounge Muscat Airport (MCT)
- Review: Turkish Airlines A321neo Business Class (MCT-IST)
- Review: Turkish Airlines 737 MAX Business Class (IST-CPH)
- Review: AC Hotel By Marriott Copenhagen Bella Sky
- Copenhagen Airport’s Awesome COVID-19 Testing Center
- Review: SAS Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Review: Eventyr Lounge Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
- Review: SAS Business Class Airbus A350-900 (CPH-MIA)
I recently flew from Copenhagen to Miami on Scandinavian Airlines (which I’ll be reviewing shortly). Since I was taking a US-bound flight, I needed to get tested for coronavirus within one calendar day of travel. I’ve written in the past about some of the struggles I’ve had with COVID-19 testing for travel, so I wanted to highlight a positive experience, for once.
In this post:
Copenhagen Airport’s efficient testing center
Denmark has lifted most coronavirus restrictions, as the country is trying to return to a pre-pandemic way of life. As a result, a lot of the coronavirus testing centers around town have closed as well.
When trying to research options for the best places to get tested, we saw that Copenhagen Airport offered testing in the departures hall, and we decided getting tested the morning of our flight just seemed most efficient.
After my awful experience with getting tested at Madrid Airport, I was a bit apprehensive about this, but intentionally left plenty of time (so that worst case scenario we could still go into the city and get tested, in the event there were issues).
Well, I have to say, the COVID-19 testing center at Copenhagen Airport was possibly my most pleasant testing experience to date. I was worried it would either be closed or have hundreds of people in line, but neither was the case.
When I arrived at the testing center there wasn’t a single customer there. I requested a rapid antigen test for 199DKK (~$29). I could use the contactless feature to pay by credit card, and my passport was scanned. No pre-registration or paperwork was required.
In less than a minute I was handed a little slip of paper with a number. I just walked a few feet away to the guy performing the tests, handed him the paper, and that was it. I was told to just wait outside the testing center, and I’d have my results soon.
10 minutes later I was handed a printed copy of my negative test result, and sent on my way. It’s really sad that paying someone $29 at the airport to swab your nose is something to get excited about, but compared to my other experiences, it was incredibly pleasant.
Hopefully testing requirements will be eliminated soon
I’m sure this will happen sooner or later, but it sure would be nice if the United States would scrap the travel testing requirement, already. Of course testing as such is important, and is key to battling the pandemic. However, the reality of how testing for travel works is problematic:
- You have all kinds of shady operators doing COVID-19 testing at major tourist destinations, and the methods are sometimes highly questionable (IDs aren’t checked, results are “negative” before the tests are even analyzed, etc.)
- The cost of testing in some places is simply outrageous
- For places that require PCR tests, there’s the whole issue of actually getting test results in time for travel, especially in the United States
- Often I feel like my risk of getting coronavirus is increased by getting tested, as it often requires going to a crowded indoor setting
We’re increasingly seeing countries eliminate testing requirements for travel, as they move to a stage where they’re just living with the pandemic. I hope the United States can take a similar approach soon as well.
With the transportation mask mandate having been extended until mid-April, my hope is that maybe we’ll see the mask and testing requirement eliminated around the same time. But that’s purely speculation on my part, and probably wishful thinking.
Bottom line
I’ve written about some frustrations with coronavirus testing for travel in the past, so I think it’s only fair to give credit where it’s due. Copenhagen Airport’s COVID-19 testing center is the easiest testing I’ve ever had for travel — the test was reasonably priced, there was no wait, and the entire experience took under 15 minutes from start to finish.
Now here’s to hoping that these testing requirements are soon eliminated altogether…
Grim experience at Copenhagen Airport getting pcr test results to travel on to China. Loads of people, unbelievable cost: £430 UK sterling EACH PERSON. Even at it's worst, it wasn't that expensive in the UK. The results delivered hours later, between 3 and 6 in the most haphazard fashion, with someone shouting out names and handing out paperwork. A true scam and a disgrace to the Airport, which endorses this practice.
I am currently on a cruise in the Baltic. Glad I found your article about the ease of the testing center at Copenhagen airport. Actually saw the facility (huge tents set up across the street from Terminal 2) during taxi ride into the city. (Check off that box in my head) My biggest worry now is..is there a shuttle or some easy way to get from the testing center to the International Terminal when we go back to the US?
You walk. It's not far.
The huge tents is the PCR testing facility. If you just go inside the terminal (between Terminal 2 & 3) you will find the Falck Testing center where you can get a quick test at USD 29. This is the one the author has written about.
Thanks for info as I will be in Copenhagen next month .
Thank you so much for this update and for sharing your experience at CPH airport. I will be traveling to the States through CPH next month and this information will assist me greatly. So thanks again.
"Often I feel like my risk of getting coronavirus is increased by getting tested, as it often requires going to a crowded indoor setting"
If you're willing to risk it by spending time at airports...you know, a good example of crowded indoor setting ;)
Still believe Vienna has the best PCR program (alles gurgelt!) in all of the major cities.
It is free for all (including tourists). You simply register for an account to get a QR code, which you then bring to any of their numerous BIPA outlets to get 4 or 8 PCR kits (you can get more if you want). Then you just perform the test by rinsing the saline water in your mouth for a...
Still believe Vienna has the best PCR program (alles gurgelt!) in all of the major cities.
It is free for all (including tourists). You simply register for an account to get a QR code, which you then bring to any of their numerous BIPA outlets to get 4 or 8 PCR kits (you can get more if you want). Then you just perform the test by rinsing the saline water in your mouth for a minute (no nose pokes of any kind) on camera. You then drop off the sample at any BIPA (or a few other chains, I don't remember which ones). You will then get your verified results in your e-mail within 24 hours (in practice it has never taken more than 12 hours for the results to arrive) which you can use to travel.
It's fast, convenient, comfortable, free and useful for travel. Can't really beat it.
Somehow, under the current administration, it is reasonable to believe that the USA will be the last country to remove restrictions and testing.
If someone could explain to IAD that charging US $250 for a rapid PCR test is robbery, I’d really appreciate it.
In regards to the eMed Abbott Binaxnow self-test kits, the eMed recommendation is to carry 2 per person. The boxes are pretty big for such a little kit. 4 of them for 2 people takes up quite a lot of carry-on-bag space. From my call to their support, you shouldn't (can't) put them in your checked-bags (they'd take up a lot of space there too) as the baggage hold would take the kits below their...
In regards to the eMed Abbott Binaxnow self-test kits, the eMed recommendation is to carry 2 per person. The boxes are pretty big for such a little kit. 4 of them for 2 people takes up quite a lot of carry-on-bag space. From my call to their support, you shouldn't (can't) put them in your checked-bags (they'd take up a lot of space there too) as the baggage hold would take the kits below their minimum temp for validity. Also the last hotel I stayed at the Internet was wobbly and I was concerned that the Internet might drop while the test was being supervised.
They are a good option but you will need great Internet and I wish eMed would package the kits in travel-size boxes.
We skipped the self-test option despite bringing the kits and used the test center in our hotel. I personally view the kits as a last-resort back-up option not as a first choice option. My experience only.
That was my reaction too when I got the tests. Why design such a large box when the contents inside rattle when I move the box?
I don't understand why you don't just travel with an "Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card Home Test with eMed Telehealth Services" that you can do from the comfort of your hotel room in 15 minutes. You can also do them a full 24-48 hours before traveling to reduce the likelihood of testing positive vs. at the airport (less exposure since your departure test).
Whois gonna tell him the Covid scam is over?
Idiot. Take your trolling elsewhere.
Abbott Binaxnow AG mitigates all of this. Buy a few and throw them in your luggage.
Or they can just remove testing requirements as it does nothing. But then again how else would US politicians get kickbacks from the testing companies.
CPH is one of my fav airports. It's efficient (pre-covid), has a plethora of chairs throughout the airport, has long extended tables (pre-security) to rearrange your bags AND they actually give you free plastic bags for your liquids. Who does that!? Top that with nordic minimalistic chic vibe of the airport and several great restaurants, and it's gold.
Curious - why aren't you using the self tests with the webcam that you can do from your room? You certainly excel at making sure you have stable internet, which is usually the issue!
Self tests are not recognized as valid for travelling as a Medical Certificate has to be issued by the test provider for the airlines to accept you on board.
Completely agree with you on the testing and mask mandates. They need to end in April.
The midterms arent until November so most likely it will be October before these mandates are lifted once the dems see their shocking poll numbers and need a quick boost right before voting.
I was connecting through Abu Dhabi on Etihad (on a separate ticket, so I had to go landside) which requires a PCR test to fly. What's truly wonderful that when you arrive to Abu Dhabi, they give you a FREE PCR test automatically. I needed it to get to the USA, so they quickly did the test and 1.5 hours later I had my results. Amazing!
Was this recently? When did you fly on Etihad? This is great information that I have been looking for.
Curious why you don't just travel with a kit you can do over webcam. That's the approach we've taken to avoid having to go out our way at all