Leonardo Express using contactless cards.

I am curious what happens when the conductor comes to check your ticket?

I am curious what happens when the conductor comes to check your
ticket?

For places that have tap and pay for public transportation, when the conductor comes around to check tickets, you show your credit card. They have a little machine that can read it to check that you have tapped in. They do not have access to your personal bank info.

Simple, just did this yesterday! You hand him the card you used, he scans it and sees that the fare was paid. Last time there was in September 2024 FCO into town, I do not recall there was any check of our tickets. Perhaps they felt that no one could fare jump at FCO. At Termini the card readers had been added to all the entry gate machines in front of Platforms 23 and 24, which are exclusively the LE's platforms. Since no tap out was required, I did not notice what this looked like at the FCO end, but I imagine it is the same.

I just open my Trenitalia app on my phone as I get close to the gate to buy & scan the QR ticket code. It’s been like a 20 second pause as I’m walking.

I never pull out a credit card in a busy station.

Roma Termini had code readers to enter the train area. Either a paper ticket UPC or the QR code in the app will get you through the gates when I used them the last three years.

Hate to be a curmudgeon, but some of us oldsters would rather not be trying to access something on a phone with one hand while wrangling luggage in a crowd. Nor dependent on apps that save our credit info and can be hacked.

Either a paper ticket UPC or the QR code in the app will get you through the gates when I used them the last three years.

Well, let me add the third option ... no paper ticket and no QR code, just scan your bankcard (physical or digital via Google Pay or Apple Pay) at the readers in front of platform 24.

Hate to be a curmudgeon, but some of us oldsters would rather not be trying to access something on a phone with one hand while wrangling luggage in a crowd. Nor dependent on apps that save our credit info and can be hacked.

That’s your absolute right. But never forget that you were young once too, and back then you did things your parents would never have done...
The future always lies with the young and their ways... whether you’re old or not 😉.

I have a luggage tag clipped inside of my purse. Actually, I got the idea from a purse that came with a luggage tag on the outside that tucked into a pocket. I have purses that I like better now for travel, but I loved that feature. So I just found a luggage tag and clipped it to the inside of my purse. When I get on a metro or other forms of transportation that are tap in tap out, all I need to do is flip the luggage tag out without even unclipping it. I use it and tuck it back inside. This way, I won't drop it, and someone else can't grab it. When I have a hotel key in the form of a card, I also put that into the luggage tag.

Now, my husband is loving the idea. He is going to get a luggage tag he can attach to a belt loop and then tuck into his pants pocket.

No more fumbling thru a wallet.

I assume one could tap an Apple watch too?

”… some of us oldsters would rather not be trying to access something on a phone with one hand while wrangling luggage in a crowd.”

Wow, thanks for the compliment, Larry! I’m younger than I thought…….almost 70. : ). I guess it does make a difference that I just bring a Cotopaxi backpack bag & a crossbody purse, so neither of my hands are busy with luggage or a purse.

"Yes" to the Apple Watch (my go-to tap-and-go since I don't have to fumble for a wallet or phone).