Difference between using Opal and MasterCard/Visa
#1
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Difference between using Opal and MasterCard/Visa
I asked at the train station and the rep said it's the same. No discount whatsoever. If that's the case, then what's the point of using an Opal?
#2
Join Date: May 2006
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- Opal is the only way to pay cash (by topping up your Opal with cash) and obviously not everyone has a credit card
- You can get concession Opal cards for students, elderly, etc which give discounts not available via credit card
- Opal was there first so even if they wanted to discontinue it, it would take time
#3
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Various reasons.
- Opal is the only way to pay cash (by topping up your Opal with cash) and obviously not everyone has a credit card
- You can get concession Opal cards for students, elderly, etc which give discounts not available via credit card
- Opal was there first so even if they wanted to discontinue it, it would take time
- Opal is the only way to pay cash (by topping up your Opal with cash) and obviously not everyone has a credit card
- You can get concession Opal cards for students, elderly, etc which give discounts not available via credit card
- Opal was there first so even if they wanted to discontinue it, it would take time
I feel stupid for getting the card now since I might not use up all of the funds on the Opal. I don't go to Sydney all that often.
#4
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I thought I was pretty clear, but unless something has changed recently, if you use a contactless credit card to pay, it pays for an Adult fare. Concessions for seniors, children, etc require an Opal card.
#5
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I guess I was and still is confused. When I did a quick search in Google, it said I get a discounted adult fare when using Opal. The train rep said the rate is the same for both Opal and MasterCard. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
#6
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Yes, that's right and obviously assuming you use the same CC you get the daily caps etc.
#7
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At SYD, the minimum top up is $35. Since going to and from the airport is A$17.49, I guess I'll use most of it up by the time I leave. Having said that, what's the best way to drain the card to A$0? I'll keep the card as souvenir.
#8
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The Opal card was introduced a long time before the system could take contactless credit/debit cards (2017~2018~2019)
Both have the daily caps limit (~discount)
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal_card
Enjoy your time in Sydney.
Both have the daily caps limit (~discount)
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal_card
Enjoy your time in Sydney.
#9
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The Opal card was introduced a long time before the system could take contactless credit/debit cards (2017~2018~2019)
Both have the daily caps limit (~discount)
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal_card
Enjoy your time in Sydney.
Both have the daily caps limit (~discount)
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal_card
Enjoy your time in Sydney.
Thank you, I think I will. The weather is fantastic! Sure beats New York at the moment!
#11
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You can use Opal card on public ferries as a way to do something 'fun'. Or you can give it to a homeless person or someone waiting in line to buy one at the airport when you leave.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,512
Just a quick comment, my understanding is you only get the discounts (caps) using a credit card if it is a credit card which is linked to an opal account, if you're using a credit card which has no linked opal account then you do not get the discounts/caps. At a point in time a while back that is what I saw happening so went back to using opal and credit card as emergency.
#14
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Just a quick comment, my understanding is you only get the discounts (caps) using a credit card if it is a credit card which is linked to an opal account, if you're using a credit card which has no linked opal account then you do not get the discounts/caps. At a point in time a while back that is what I saw happening so went back to using opal and credit card as emergency.
If wanting a student, senior, etc discount may have to, otherwise the system would not know you are eligible for the concession discount.
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-op...to-pay-content
From https://transportnsw.info/tickets-op...ts/adult-fares
Daily and Weekly Caps
With an Adult Opal card you can travel as much as you want on metro, train, bus, ferry and light rail services within the Opal network and you never pay more than $16.10 a day, $50 a week, or $2.80 on Sunday.
Please note that:
With an Adult Opal card you can travel as much as you want on metro, train, bus, ferry and light rail services within the Opal network and you never pay more than $16.10 a day, $50 a week, or $2.80 on Sunday.
Please note that:
- The Opal week runs from Monday to Sunday.
- The Sydney Airport station access fee isn’t included in the Daily, Weekly or Sunday Travel Caps however there is a separate weekly cap on the station access fee.
- Opal Daily, Weekly and Sunday Caps are also applied to contactless payments.
How fares are processed
Like Opal card fares, contactless fares are calculated according to the distance you travelled – from where you tap on to where you tap off, and are therefore calculated at the end of your journey.
After you tap on, a pre-authorisation $1 charge will appear as a pending transaction on your statement. As you travel throughout the day, fares will be accumulated and the total cost of the day’s travel will be processed at the end of each day. The total cost will replace the $1 charge.
The description on your credit or debit card statement will appear as ‘TransportforNSW Tap’ or ‘TransportforNSW travel Sydney’. The date the payment appears may vary from the actual travel date depending on your bank’s processing time.
Like Opal card fares, contactless fares are calculated according to the distance you travelled – from where you tap on to where you tap off, and are therefore calculated at the end of your journey.
After you tap on, a pre-authorisation $1 charge will appear as a pending transaction on your statement. As you travel throughout the day, fares will be accumulated and the total cost of the day’s travel will be processed at the end of each day. The total cost will replace the $1 charge.
The description on your credit or debit card statement will appear as ‘TransportforNSW Tap’ or ‘TransportforNSW travel Sydney’. The date the payment appears may vary from the actual travel date depending on your bank’s processing time.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Feb 18, 2020 at 3:41 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2006
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Just a quick comment, my understanding is you only get the discounts (caps) using a credit card if it is a credit card which is linked to an opal account, if you're using a credit card which has no linked opal account then you do not get the discounts/caps. At a point in time a while back that is what I saw happening so went back to using opal and credit card as emergency.
You cannot get discounts using a credit card. You must get the Opal card with your discount (senior, child, etc) applied.
The daily limits DO apply to credit cards (assuming you always use the same one) and there is no action required, this happens automatically.
I re-read the terms and this is what I still see. If I am incorrect please point me to the T&C.