Tips for the return journey in Corona times
Traveling abroad has become complicated. This also applies to the return journey to Germany. If important documents are missing, the airline will not take passengers with it. We give tips on how to prepare to avoid unexpected costs.
ETravel rules with fast expiry dates, proof of health and vaccination status: The return journey to Germany has become much more complicated during the pandemic. There are a few points that travelers should keep in mind so that travelers are not unexpectedly faced with costs due to missed flights or invalid tests.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) currently no longer has any states or regions as virus variant areas. The following applies to all travelers aged six and over who are returning from a high-risk area: According to information from the Foreign Office presented to the carrier for review prior to travel. In total there will be over 100 countries classified by the RKI in whole or in part as high-risk areas.
Check individual conditions before traveling
Families with unvaccinated children from the age of six and unvaccinated adults should arrange for an official rapid antigen test in good time before returning. A PCR test can also serve as proof, but it is usually more difficult to organize.
Sometimes it is even compulsory. Sabine Blanke, lawyer at the European Consumer Center Germany (EVZ), therefore advises you to carefully check all individual conditions before traveling. The entry regulations are to be fundamentally differentiated from those of the carrier. Some airlines would also require a PCR test before boarding.
Lufthansa is not one of them: “Additional documents are not required,” said the carrier. Lufthansa complies with the requirements stipulated by the government and individual states. The Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry also has corresponding regulations for entry into Germany on his website on.
Responsibility for missing documents during the flight
If it is a package tour, the tour guide will help to find test options at the holiday destination, informs the German Travel Association (DRV). According to the EVZ, costs of between 25 and 100 euros for a corona test must be expected depending on the travel destination. “The range extends from free, such as in Denmark, to even over 200 francs (193 euros) in Switzerland.”
EVZ lawyer Blanke points out that responsibility for all necessary evidence and documents lies with the passenger. If this is not available before departure, “the airlines are not allowed to transport”, according to the industry association BDL. However, depending on availability, airlines would show goodwill and rebook flights: “Therefore, in such a case, passengers should contact their airline or their tour operator immediately,” according to the BDL.
In order not to be left with any costs that may arise, Blanke advises booking options that can be flexibly canceled. “That applies to both the flight and the hotels and activities on site.” Cancellation conditions should be read carefully, advises the consumer advocate. Common travel insurance policies would rule out the pandemic. Missed flights due to missing documents would not be covered.
Is the cell phone battery charged?
In order to keep the risk of infection low and to simplify the processes before starting the return journey, DRV and BDL further tips in a leaflet. This includes contactless online check-in, and health certificates can also be uploaded in advance using appropriate apps.
Travelers aged six and over returning from a high-risk area must provide the airline with proof of vaccination, recovery or testing before the flight
Quelle: Getty Images/Morsa Images
The cell phone battery should be charged, the charging cable should be available. As a back-up, it is advisable to have all of the required evidence to hand in digitally readable form, including on paper.
Don’t forget to register!
And there is one more thing that returning travelers should pay attention to in good time: the Digital entry registration (DEA), which must be filled out when entering Germany from a high-risk or virus variant area. Travelers must have their registration with them in electronic form as a PDF or in paper form when they enter the country.
Because the regulations for returning to Germany can change from day to day, travelers should, for example, open these before their return the website of the Federal Ministry of Health read up to date.
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