Oyster Card Question

I don't live in London, but once in a while spend periods of a few days to a week there, as my MIL has a flat there.

Would it be worth it for me to get an Oyster card? How long before they expire?

Sure, get one.  You just have to pay the 3 quid deposit, then you put on whatever amount of cash you want and use it when you need to travel.  You save a lot using Oyster rather than paying cash for each fare.  They don't expire, as far as I know?  You are talking about just a card rather than a weekly pass or whatever, right?

I have a related question, would my husband and I each need our own Oyster card?  Or can you use one card to pay for two people?  This is probably a lame question, but I've only taken the tube once in London and that day was a blur, so I can't remember how it works.  Do you swipe it?  Thanks.

Would it be worth it for me to get an Oyster card? How long before they expire?

I don't live in London, either - I'm up north in Redcar - but I visit London every few months and I've found that having an Oyster card makes travel sooo much easier.  If the credit expires, I don't imagine it does so for quite some time - I think I've gone for eight months or so between trips, and never lost any stored credit.  I'd definitely recommend spending the £3 to get one!

I have a related question, would my husband and I each need our own Oyster card?  Or can you use one card to pay for two people? [...] Do you swipe it?

You'll each need your own Oyster card - like mulit-passes in other cities, you can't share the pass with a travel companion (when you're traveling together, that is - you can loan your pass to a friend if you're not traveling!).  There are touch card-readers on the front of each turnstile - just tap in and then tap out again when you exit the station.

In Chicago you can use a travel card for more than one person on the CTA - it's way cool.  Only when you're doing pay as you go I mean.

In Chicago you can use a travel card for more than one person on the CTA - it's way cool.  Only when you're doing pay as you go I mean.

Really?  I had no idea! 

If only Boston/NYC/Atlanta/London/etc. would take the hint....

Yeah it is cool!  From the CTA website:

Up to 7 full fare individuals can use one Transit Card with transfer eligibility maintained for each individual.

If only Boston/NYC/Atlanta/London/etc. would take the hint....

NYC does it.

Question
     Can I pay for others with MetroCard?
     Answer
     With Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard you can pay for up to four people at one time and all four can transfer together free. Unlimited Ride MetroCard cannot be used to pay for others' fares.

NYC does it.

Question
     Can I pay for others with MetroCard?
     Answer
     With Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard you can pay for up to four people at one time and all four can transfer together free. Unlimited Ride MetroCard cannot be used to pay for others' fares.

Aha!  I've never used a Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard - I've always had an Unlimited Ride one, as has my sister (she's the one that lives in NYC).  That would explain it! 

The other cool thing is that the Oyster card will even allow you to over spend by a few pence if the journey costs a little more. There have been several times that when I touch to exit my card will read something like -40p.  Obviously if I top it up with £10 I will only get £9.60 worth.  We ended up getting a couple extra Oyster cards when and if people come to visit us.  That way, they don't have to end up paying the expensive fares and they can top it up themselves.

Legal point - only pay as you go is technically legally transferable...season tickets are not.....




(everyone does it though!)

Vicky

I meant pay as you go.

I assume season tickets would only be cost-effective for people who commute daily.

I would need something that doesn't expire for months and months.

I meant pay as you go.

I assume season tickets would only be cost-effective for people who commute daily.

I would need something that doesn't expire for months and months.

Oyster card pay as you go doesn't expire as long as you use your card at least once every two years.

Definitely get an Oyster card.  You get super discounted travel on the entire London transport network and when and if you're done with the card, you get your deposit back! 

I'm reviving this thread! I have an Oyster card question. I know you pay a £3 deposit (refundable) for a card, then you top up as much as you want. Right? And then the fare drops to something like £1.50? Do I have that right? So what's the advantage over a 1-day pass thing? I mean, if you're sightseeing and are going to be taking 4-5 tube rides over the course of the day, wouldn't it cost more to use an Oyster card? Or am I missing something? Help!