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Yes -- another Oyster / paper ticket question from a newbie

Hello! We are heading to England for the first time and will be joining the Rick Steve's London in 7 days tour. Wohoo!

I've read about the Oyster and pay as you go cards in both the Rick Steve's book and online, and have reviewed several forum posts here, but i am still very confused. Any advice you can provide would be appreciated!

  • Travelers will be 2 adults and a 10 year old.
  • Saturday: Arriving at Heathrow and need to get to Green Park station (Zone 1), then would like to head to Hyde park (probably walking)
  • Sunday: Would like to travel in Zones 1 and 2 before meeting the tour group that afternoon
  • Wednesday: Free afternoon, travel in Zones 1 - ?
  • Thursday: Free afternoon, travel in Zones 1 - ?
  • Friday: Free afternoon, travel in Zones 1 - ?
  • Saturday: Travel from Green Park to Watford station (friend picking us up there)
  • Monday: Travel from Watford to Heathrow

My friend has 2 Oyster cards that she can leave at the hotel for us to pick up on Saturday afternoon. My questions are:

  1. What is the least expensive way to get from Heathrow to Green park? Should I just buy my own Oyster card for that? It looks like Heathrow is Zone 6, but I've seen statements that "Heathrow connections" are not part of the capped fare ... ?

  2. Are Oyster cards good for ALL zones, or a set of zones? Or do you have to specify when you buy/load the card?

  3. Based on this chart: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tube-dlr-lo-adult-fares.pdf?hc_location=ufi I think I would be in the "Zones 1-9 + Watford Junction** " row to get to Watford junction. Does that mean that if I load the Oyster card and use it, the capped rate is $9.20 peak? But if I'm travleing from Zone 1 to Watford, what rate would that be?

  4. What happens if I go to tap out and there are not enough funds on my Oyster card? Can i load them at that point? Is there a penalty? I don't want to overload the card ... so trying to figure out how to best manage that.

  5. Do rates that are "Euston - X" mean for travel that starts in Euston? Or any travel through it?

  6. I understand that travel to and from the stops on the London in 7 days tour is covered, including travel around the city. Do we get paper travelcards for those days? If so, can i just use that for my "free afternoons?"

Thanks,
Michelle

Posted by
660 posts

Good first post Michelle... lots for us locals to work on :o) If I'm stating the obvious anywhere, forgive me.

  • You need an Oyster Card each.

1) Heathrow to Green Park is a direct, 17 stop, Piccadilly Line (dark blue) trip, taking around 45mins, there is a quicker, but far more complicated way, stick to the simple, longer way. Cash fare about £6, assume you won't have your Oyster Cards by then.

2) PAYG Oyster is good for all Zones. If you add a 'Travel Card' to your Oyster, then you purchase only the zones you need. Travel cards really only make sense if you're travelling a similar route each week or month, etc. My wife, for example, buys a monthly zone 2-5 Travel Card to go to work, loaded onto her PAYG Oyster. All tube travel within zones 2-5, and all buses in London, are free during that month. If she goes into zone 1 for any reason, TFL take the 'additional fare' from her PAYG balance, usually a pound or two.

3) Based on that chart, as I understand it, the Zone 1-9+WJ daily cap (peak/off peak) is £22.40/£16.80. Watford on the Met. Line is Zone 7, so Zone 1-7 daily cap (peak/off peak) is £20.00/£11.80. You are considered to be travelling in Peak times from 06:30 to 09:29 and from 16:00 to 18:59 Monday to Friday.

4) You can sometimes add funds before tap out if your Oyster doesn't have enough on it, but it's not always possible, and can be hassle, and a ticket inspector COULD claim you were trying to avoid the full fare (unlikely). Some tube barriers are left open at weekends, so travelling with no money on your Oyster COULD save you money, and I'm sure some people do it, but most people use the system honestly. Honest people can run out of credit too, so if you do, your unlikely to get a penalty, just depends on how reasonable the ticket inspector is, which usually they are, especially with tourists. If the barrier is open when you get to it, still tap in/out, don't assume it's somehow now free. Best to avoid running out. You can get any remaining credit on your Oyster refunded.

5) Don't know this one.

6) Don't know this one.

Hope you have a great time Michelle.

Posted by
5311 posts
  • 3. Peak / off peak distinction is unusual with Watford Junction - it is only peak if in the direction of main commuter traffic. So morning journeys to Watford Junction are considered off-peak, similarly journeys back to London in the evening. There is a discrepancy between TfL and national rail as to whether this journey is free for an under 11, as discussed in another thread.
  • 4. You have travelled contrary to the terms and conditions if you arrive with insufficient credit to pay for your journey. Anything could happen from being let off altogether to being interviewed under caution for a possible criminal court case. Most likely would be paying the fare or a penalty fare which currently is £80 (reduced to £40 if paid in 21 days). You can't get through the entry barrier if you have less credit than the minimum fare. On the bus you are allowed one journey into negative balance, and are given a warning ticket when doing so.
  • 5. Yes is the simple answer. Travel through would start with a zone number. Price only differs if going to Watford Junction.
Posted by
3428 posts

Don't worry about 'over loading' the Oyster. If there is cash value left at the end of your vacation, you can get it back at any manned ticket counter. You might want to investigate whether the paper travel cards issued by National Rail would be appropriate for you. They allow you to take advantage of the 2-for-1 admissions at many attractions and some discounts at certain restaurants, etc. Check this website: [http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london][1]

Posted by
94 posts

I liked Michelle's questions. The more I read about that darn Oyster card (which I've done throughout the travel forum and various books), the more confused I am! I'll probably be asking my own redundant questions in the near future. Argh!

Posted by
660 posts

The Oyster Card is simple. Fill it up with £50, travel as much as you like wherever you like, get a refund of the remaining balance at the end of your trip.... easy. Yes you could do hours of research and monitor your travel times and make sure you reduce the zones you use, etc. and you might save a few quid... but at the cost of stress. Relax and enjoy your visit, try not to get hung up on small details for small change. :o)

Posted by
5311 posts

Even better is get a contactless Amex card and use it directly. (Other USA contactless cards, even Apple Pay may also work.) No worrying about topping things up or claiming things back. TfL is strongly pushing this method as ultimately it is less costly for them.

Posted by
660 posts

Agree Marco, but, I've used my Barclays Connect Debit Card a few times recently, and each time the barrier has said 'Seek Assistance'. The first time I did, and the ticket office said they couldn't help as it's a bank card, not an Oyster Card.

Faced with little option, I tried the card again on a few barriers, and eventually it worked. I've had to try multiple barriers every time I've used my 'Contactless' card... ok for an emergency, but I'll continue to use my Oyster Card.

Posted by
5311 posts

Worked every time for me but as always YMMV. Thinking back I used to have an Oyster card that was hit and miss and had to get it changed.

Posted by
1067 posts

"I've used my Barclays Connect Debit Card a few times recently, and each time the barrier has said 'Seek Assistance'. The first time I did, and the ticket office said they couldn't help as it's a bank card, not an Oyster Card."

It's possible the "ariel" (flexi-circuit) inside the card may be damaged.

Posted by
43 posts

Is there a place to get the refund at Heathrow on departure? Maybe obvious?

Bill in Pasadena

Posted by
5311 posts

Easiest if the PAYG credit is no more than £10 as this can be done simply many underground station ticket machine. Touch the card on the reader on the ticket machine, select 'Oyster refund' and follow the on screen instructions. Over that requires going to the manned office and filling out a form, and showing your passport if over £15.

There used to be an issue if you had credited the Oyster by more than one method (cash or card). Not sure whether that is still the case.