Using Apple Pay On the Underground

Apple Pay has arrived, and among other things, it lets you tap in and out of tube stations and London buses, using your iPhone or Apple Watch. Sounds nifty, but how does it work in practise?

We found ourselves a volunteers who's already using Apple Pay on both his watch and his phone, and got him to give us a demonstration.

The results were interesting: although they had their benefits, we found flaws with both devices. Watch the video to find out what they were.

[MarkPMus]

It would've been useful for newbie London travellers if this video had explained that you need to use the same device to tap in/out at both ends of the journey. You can't start at point A and tap in with your phone, and then tap out with your watch. So you should make sure there is plenty of charge on whatever device you use.

[erikkunchan]

Just like the Apple Watch, you can open Apple Pay on iPhone, then scan your fingerprint beforehand and tap at the gate.

[ElliotJacksonTom]

you know you can pre authenticate your fingerprint so it's just as fast as a card, right?

[therealcaldini]

I bought my watch specifically for contactless payments on the bus or tube. It makes life so much easier. So many other benefits too. I can take the bus to the park, go for a run and measure/time/track it on my watch as I run through the park back home. So easy.

[LtSerg]

and now this is the standard, how time flies.

[enzmondo]

"Are people really going to use their phones and watches instead of a contactless card."
I answered 'yes' at the same time as Jonathan said it too

[contrapunctusmammalia]

Are they trying to get rid of the oystercard? Also it takes ages for the phone to open the barrier, oyster and contactless are much quicker.

[marcel]

02:09 I think he meant "fewer" oyster cards.

[danpootato]

You can authenticate your finger before approaching the gate. At the lock screen, double press the home button, then scan your fingerprint or enter your passcode. You can now simply bring the phone to the reader without any delay.

[TheBalkenende]

Meanwhile in the Netherlands, paying with your bank cards in PT will only be launched in summer 2022. Worst of all it is presented as 'a great innovation which we must test intensively to make sure it works well' 🙄🙄🙄.

Also no Express Mode support yet, so we are still going to lag behind.

[DanielRobertspiano]

Living in Brazil, it works great here in shops etc. Can´t wait to come back to London, to use it there on the underground!

[EDINTOWN]

If your watch or phone battery dies, what happens? let's say the station has no customer service assistant. Are there sockets for charging?

[tobeytransport]

1:23 you can double click the home button whilst the phone is locked and it will bring the card up before you get to the reader, although it won’t work if your phone is in use and unlocked

[mitosho]

Tourist here. I'm glad I can just use my phone's Apple Pay. If you are concerned about security, then know this: each time an Apple Pay transaction is made, it provides a random-generated card number that links to the actual card that you are using. Does your Oyster card or Credit/Debit card's chip do that?

[typnigerrer]

Does it charge the savage price for a single journey, or the slightly lower Oyster Card price? (Sorry, having enjoyed Berlin's public transport system recently, it's difficult to feel good about TfL prices.)

[adriansavu]

Do you need to tap when you're exiting (double tap) if you're using contactless? Thx

[delboytrotter]

what happens if you use your mobile phone from oxford circus to liverpool street, then use you apple watch from moorgate to brixton - return journeys. Would you be charged more than the daily cap and will the daily cap be on your actual bank account or the method of payment used?

[Mrpepsi]

Pretty annoying that Android incorporated NFC capabilities soo long ago, yet when Apple joins the race, everyone rushes to add it to their system.
Wish you could pay with Android is what I'm trying to say...

[TransitAndTeslas]

Can I use my Us Cards in Apple Pay when I visit? My US Apple Pay already works at Starbucks and everywhere else. I heard you have trouble with certain US regular contactless cards on the tube however.

[keithrussell]

I prefer the paper tickets as I had problems with the oyster card and if the magnetic strip doesn't work you still can use the transport system. if contactless or the oyster card system is having problems you can have a fight on your hands with TfL to get refunded.