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> where you have an app and/or a contactless card London gets this (mostly) right, because there "contactless card" includes Visa/MasterCard/Amex/Maestro credi

> where you have an app and/or a contactless card London gets this (mostly) right, because there "contactless card" includes Visa/MasterCard/Amex/Maestro credit and debit cards, and smartphones with equivalent contactless payment. The local transport card (Oyster) is only needed for other fares (e.g. child-rate tickets) or season tickets of a month or longer. Travel from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports is included in this. (The only thing they could improve is the signage at Heathrow. They promote the expensive Heathrow Express train, when many people would be better taking an Elizabeth Line train on the same rails — 15 minutes slower and ¼ the price.) (One more thing, last month they seem to have introduced a £5-£7 cost to get an Oyster card, which seems needlessly extortionate for visitors that do need them. Years ago it was a small deposit, which you could get returned in cash at the machine.) [1] https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets-and-oyster/pay-as-you-go/contactless-and-mobile-pay-as-you-go https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets...

_visgean 4y ago
is stansted included? I always buy ticket through traveline and I dont think you can get through the train gates with card payment.. > Passengers are not able to use Oyster cards or contactless payment cards on the Stansted Express services to Stansted Airport. It is advised that passengers book tickets in advance or, alternatively purchase tickets at the train station. By booking in advance you are able to save money on their journeys. https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-stansted-express/ https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-stans...
- Symbiote 4y ago
  You are correct. I read "The addition of Luton Airport Parkway to stations accepting pay as you go means that four of London’s airports are now accessible by simply using contactless." [1]. The other is London City Airport, not Stansted. 1] https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/pay-you-go-contactless-takes-luton-airport-parkway-station-923992 https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/pay-you-go-contactless-tak...
AshamedCaptain 4y ago
> London gets this (mostly) right, because there "contactless card" includes Visa/MasterCard/Amex/Maestro credit and debit cards Lyon and many other French cities do this already anyway. I dislike it because it's about the opposite of anonymous.
ghaff 4y ago
>They promote the expensive Heathrow Express train For that matter something like the Piccadilly Line is more convenient depending upon where you're going to. I have an Oyster Card but there seem to be a lot of options these days.
ghaff 4y ago
I noticed last time I was in London there seemed to be more choices; I already have an Oyster Card anyway. Systems do seem to be getting more standardized in general although the user experience for a first time visitor to a city--especially if they haven't checked things out ahead of time--isn't necessarily great because they can't really depend on just tapping a credit card on a reader.

_visgean 4y ago

is stansted included? I always buy ticket through traveline and I dont think you can get through the train gates with card payment.. > Passengers are not able to use Oyster cards or contactless payment cards on the Stansted Express services to Stansted Airport. It is advised that passengers book tickets in advance or, alternatively purchase tickets at the train station. By booking in advance you are able to save money on their journeys. https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-stansted-express/ https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-stans...

Symbiote 4y ago
You are correct. I read "The addition of Luton Airport Parkway to stations accepting pay as you go means that four of London’s airports are now accessible by simply using contactless." [1]. The other is London City Airport, not Stansted. 1] https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/pay-you-go-contactless-takes-luton-airport-parkway-station-923992 https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/pay-you-go-contactless-tak...

AshamedCaptain 4y ago

> London gets this (mostly) right, because there "contactless card" includes Visa/MasterCard/Amex/Maestro credit and debit cards Lyon and many other French cities do this already anyway. I dislike it because it's about the opposite of anonymous.

ghaff 4y ago

>They promote the expensive Heathrow Express train For that matter something like the Piccadilly Line is more convenient depending upon where you're going to. I have an Oyster Card but there seem to be a lot of options these days.

ghaff 4y ago

I noticed last time I was in London there seemed to be more choices; I already have an Oyster Card anyway. Systems do seem to be getting more standardized in general although the user experience for a first time visitor to a city--especially if they haven't checked things out ahead of time--isn't necessarily great because they can't really depend on just tapping a credit card on a reader.