On a flight earlier this month from Amsterdam to JFK in New York on Delta, my wife and I were required by the airline to have a negative Covid-19 test before boarding the plane. We obtained the test at a site just outside the airport, at a cost of 69 euros per person. We complained to the ticket agent that, as of June 1, New York State was allowing anyone to enter, either on domestic or international flights, with a vaccination card showing two vaccinations, with the last one at least two weeks prior to flying. We complied in all respects, but we still were required by the airline to have a negative Covid-19 test.
The regulation, at least for U.S. citizens returning to New York State, remains as it was when we flew – only a vaccination card is required. The requirement for a negative Covid test only applies to those who have not been vaccinated, or those who come from certain countries like India, where infections from the virus are soaring. The airlines, or at least Delta, have imposed their own additional requirement of a negative test before boarding, even though they know that customs and immigration officials are looking only for a vaccination card (as in our case, when the officials said they were only interested in the vaccination card and ignored the test results altogether).
I filed a complaint with Delta but so far received no acknowledgement. If other passengers are being treated similarly, I can understand why it may take some time to reach even pre-pandemic levels of demand for airline travel.
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