London zone 1 travel - Oyster/contactless set-up help!

[CallipyJean]

Honestly I’m embarrassed about this as I used to be in and out of London most weeks and knew my way around easily; felt like a veteran user of the underground etc. I now haven’t been in for a meeting since before Covid and have no idea about using Oyster or contactless and I have to leave by a different station as I’ll be coming in from work but going back home. I’m all in a tizz

Is it correct that to use an Oyster card I’d need a photo card, which I won’t have any opportunity to get (it’s tomorrow afternoon/evening I have to do the journey)? Is there a way of setting up an account on my phone so I can just swipe it or something?

i have gone all helpless and don’t know where to look or what I need to so. I have an iPhone with Apple Pay and have cards in my wallet but I don’t really use it; can anyone advise what I can download/set up to make it all easier?!

If you have a contactless credit or debit card then just use that. You have to tap in and tap out using the same card to make sure that you don't get overcharged. It doesn't matter how many trips you do in the day - you won't get charged more than the daily charge for the zones used.

Just the card itself? I don’t need to register it anywhere? That would be clever!

Yes, just contactless, no need to register. Most people use their phones now tbh. Just make sure you use the same card every time (eg you can’t use the physical card one time and the phone the next even if it’s the same account).

No photo card needed with an Oystercard unless you use a travel card (I think). Most people don’t bother with Oyster any more, I do because I can run reports from it to claim my expenses

Oh great - I stupidly didn’t realise it was that simple (duh!) Thank you both

I know how you feel! I spent 15 years working everyday in Holborn, zipping around on the tube/train/bus, sometimes with a toddler, but work took us away and suddenly it’s been six years since I was in London and now I’ve got three kids and I can’t remember how it’s supposed to work 😱

but actually it was fine, as pp said just use your debit card, shove any small children in front of you or use the luggage gates, and you’ll be back glaring at the idiots standing on the wrong side of the escalator in no time 😄

You don't need to set up an Oyster account as you can just use any contactless card (but stick to the same one to benefit from capping) but you can register your card with TfL which will keep a journey history should you need to claim work expenses etc. oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/link/0004.do

That is my aspiration @2tired2bewitty , to be tutting at tourists and rolling my eyes at people getting stuck in the barriers, like the good old days I feel like a novice again!

You can also register your card on the tfl site and get a record of your journeys/cost - you can do this retrospectively and it’ll still be there. No need to do this but I’ve found it useful in the past.

I think it's better to register - if you miss a swipe you can easily see it and update journey online to get refund (as it will have overcharged)

Use Apple pay! No need to do anything else! In fact you don't even need to unlock your phone.

If you have Apple pay set up on your phone go to settings/wallet and Apple Pay and select your card for ‘express travel’.

that’s it! Then just use your phone like you would an Oyster card.

Agree with a PP, definitely register whatever card your Apple Pay uses on TFL in case there's an issue and you end up with an incomplete journey (which will cost you....)

Well this is a welcome eye-opener - thank you for all the info/advice

TFL tells me I already have an account with them (I think from paying congestion charge) but won’t let me log into register a card due to maintenance. I’ll have to be super-careful about tapping in and out unless I can get my card registered by tomorrow!

You don’t need to register to use Apple pay!