United will officially become the first airline in the U.S. to offer COVID-19 testing programs to its passengers. Travelers will get to choose between receiving an at-home testing kit ($80 plus shipping) or reserving a time to undergo a rapid test in the airport ($250). If opting for the former, the airline suggests you request the at-home kit about 10 days before your flight and submit your sample within 72 hours of departure. If going with the latter option, you can expect to receive results in about 15 minutes.
The effort will kick off on October 15 on a flight from San Francisco to Hawaii, where new testing requirements begin the same day as United's. The airline also happens to have more flights to Hawaii than any other U.S. carrier. If testing negative, you'll be able to skip Hawaii's mandated 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
"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, in an official press release. "We'll look to quickly expand customer testing to other destinations and U.S. airports later this year."
Other airports have reported working with private companies to come up plans that will allow passengers to undergo testing before boarding.
Airlines in particular have been leading the way in the COVID-19 era. Mask requirements, creative seating adjustments and heavy-duty sanitizing solutions have become the modus operandi across all sorts of carriers and United's new testing offering might be the key to a renewed sense of safety when flying.
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