Free Covid tests are the new business class perk

Priority checkin, airport lounge access, a fast track through security and a more generous luggage allowance are some of the long-standing perks when you're flying up front.

Now, some business class travellers can add a free Covid-19 test to that list.

American Airlines and British Airways will begin issuing complimentary Covid test kits to business and first class flyers darting between the USA and the UK from early 2022, as part of their joint push to rebuild the premium trans-Atlantic route.

The rapid antigen test kits from healthcare provider Qured will be available to any business travellers who book "premium seats on American Airways or British Airways between the United States and the United Kingdom, departing from either country," through American Express Global Business Travel.

Results from the Qured swap tests are ready within 20 minutes, with electronic verified results shared with the patient two hours after their remote consultation.

The customer can download a 'fit to fly' certificate if the test is negative, which can be shown at the airport during check-in or uploaded through the VeriFLY app used by American Airlines and British Airways.

To connect premium customers with access to the complimentary Covid-19 testing kits, Amex GBT will provide travellers with a unique promotional code after travel is ticketed.

This code can then be used to order a kit from the Qured website, with the kits delivered to the traveller at a location specified based on their itinerary.

The test itself is conducted remotely with a supervised video call "scheduled with and administered by a professional health advisor".

The idea is to make it easier for road warriors to step away from Zoom and hop onto a plane, especially at short notice, according to Andrew Crawley, chief commercial officer at Amex GBT.

"There's incredible pent-up demand for business travel, but coordinating the logistics of testing can sometimes be a challenge," he said in a statement.

"By providing every premium customer traveling for business on a flight ticketed with American Airlines or British Airways with access to a test kit as part of the travel booking, we're streamlining one critical step to making sure today's business leaders can return to the skies and conduct their important work face to face."