Albertsons, Walmart provide COVID-19 testing for United travelers

More than 3,000 Albertsons Cos. and Walmart locations are participating in a COVID-19 testing network for travelers accessible via the United Airlines website and mobile app.

Customers going online to United’s Travel Ready Center can view a list of local COVID testing sites that now include selected Albertsons and Walmart stores, as well as locations from other popular drugstore chains, pharmacies and health care providers nationwide, the Chicago-based airline said yesterday. They can then choose their preferred location and schedule an appointment directly through United’s website or app. After the test is reviewed, customers will see a status indicator informing them that they are “travel-ready” and can receive their mobile boarding pass.

“At Albertsons Cos., we are always seeking convenient solutions for our customers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our partnership with United Airlines to provide access to pre-travel COVID testing is just another example of this intent,” Omer Gajial, senior vice president of pharmacy and health at Albertsons, said in a statement. The Boise, Idaho-based food and drug retailer’s stores include banners such as Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb and Randalls. “With our integrated testing solution, our customers can easily schedule their COVID-19 test at one of our convenient store locations, and results are seamlessly and confidentially delivered to United Airlines.”

Related:Albertsons reaches 6 million COVID-19 vaccinations

Overall, more than 3,800 providers in the CLX Health TrustAssure network, powered by Accenture technology, enable United travelers to book COVID test appointments. Results are delivered in four to 48 hours and directly submitted to United’s website and app to be reviewed for customers’ flights.

“Together with United, Albertsons and Walmart, we innovated at speed and scale to help implement a solution for United’s customers, creating a system designed to give them greater support and confidence to navigate the new complexities introduced as a result of COVID-19,” explained Emily Weiss, global lead of Accenture’s travel industry group. “We are proud to help with this effort and provide a solution to make meeting travel requirements easier for customers as they continue to resume flying domestically and internationally.”

The TrustAssure platform provides a “clinically sound,” interoperable solution to connect with thousands of COVID testing sites worldwide, according to Joseph Gonzalez, chief strategy officer at CLX Health. “The domestic expansion of our TrustAssure network of premier national retail partners supporting COVID-19 testing, including Albertsons and Walmart locations in the United States, will provide travelers a multitude of choices virtually anywhere in the country to help them meet their travel requirements,” he stated.

Related:Walmart providing digital COVID vaccine records for customers

United plans to expand the digitally accessible COVID testing program, including the addition of international test sites for travelers flying to the United States. The company said it’s currently the only airline that gives customers destination-specific travel requirements and enables them to upload country-specific required forms, test results and vaccination records within its app and website.

“As more Americans resume international travel, this enhancement to our mobile app and website will give our customers confidence and peace of mind, knowing they have access to all of the information and services they need right in the palm of their hand or on their laptop,” commented Linda Jojo, chief digital officer and executive vice president of technology at United.

To date, almost 3.3 million vaccination records, test results and destination entry forms have been submitted through United online platforms, the company reported.