On Tuesday American Airlines announced that it is planning to offer at home COVID-19 tests to domestic travelers in order to help them meet various state travel restriction requirements.
The airline is partnering with direct to consumer home testing company LetsGetChecked, which will sell the tests for $129 on top of the cost of travel.
The at-home tests help travelers check off one of the most common travel restrictions that states have implemented, which is a negative test result either before departure or upon arrival. It will also help customers get reliable access to testing.
LetsGetChecked’s test kits use a nasal swab, so customers will have to take a sample at home and send back through the mail (using UPS) to be run through a Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR, test. That whole process takes a few days, so LetsGetChecked says travelers should be sure to order their tests at least five days before their flights.
American Airlines is the first to offer access to at-home testing for domestic flights.
