United Airlines Makes COVID19 Tests Available to Customers

From 15 October, customers traveling on United Airlines from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Hawaii will have the option to take a rapid COVID19 test at the airport or a self-collected, mail-in test ahead of their trip.

The rapid Abbott ID NOW COVID19 test – administered by GoHealth Urgent Care and their partner Dignity Health – provides results in approximately 15 minutes and will be available to United customers on the same day as their flight departing from SFO.

The mail-in test option will be administered by Color and it is recommended that customers initiate testing at least 10 days prior to their trip and provide their sample within 72 hours of their trip.

The airline worked closely with officials in Hawaii to ensure that any United customer – both visitors and Hawaiian residents returning home – who tests negative on either test would not be subjected to the state's current 14-day quarantine requirement.

"Our new COVID testing program is another way we are helping customers meet their destinations' entry requirements, safely and conveniently," said Toby Enqvist, Chief Customer Officer at United. "We'll look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year to complement our state-of-the-art cleaning and safety measures that include a mandatory mask policy, antimicrobial and electrostatic spraying and our hospital-grade HEPA air filtration systems."

United first partnered with GoHealth Urgent Care in July to test its international flight crews at SFO. United has now expanded that testing infrastructure to include customers who wish to be tested for COVID19 pre-flight. Customers can schedule their visits online in advance for the on-site testing facility that is located at the international terminal and will receive their results in approximately 15 minutes. GoHealth Urgent Care's dedicated COVID19 testing area will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT daily.

"We are excited about expanding our partnership with United and continuing to support their proactive safety measures," said Todd Latz, CEO of GoHealth Urgent Care. "Our on-site, real-time testing for passengers is yet another example of GoHealth's nationwide efforts to fight the spread of COVID19 and ensure a safer return to normal activities and business operations."

United will email customers traveling from San Francisco to Hawaii an invitation to purchase their physician-ordered Color self-collection kit at least 10 days ahead of their departure, collect their own samples at home 72 hours prior to their departure and return their test via overnight mail or to a drop box at SFO.

Color then processes those tests at their local, CLIA-certified COVID19 testing laboratory and returns results via text and/or email within 24-48 hours. Color's self-collection kit includes a plastic collection tube, a non-invasive nasal swab and instructions on how to properly collect a specimen.

"Convenient, widespread COVID19 testing with fast and reliable results is critical to a return to normalcy and to accelerate the economic recovery," said Caroline Savello, Chief Commercial Officer at Color. "We are proud to partner with United to support the safe and responsible return of travelers to the skies."

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