Oyster Cards
Dec 9, 2017, 11:33 am
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
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Oyster Cards
i was digging around the oyster website to purchase one. I have an upcoming visit there and will need one for London. It appears you can only buy one online and then have it mailed to you. Is this accurate? Can I not buy one at LHR tube station? If not will they mail to the US? I"m leaving here on the 18th so not sure if that's enough time.
Dec 9, 2017, 12:27 pm
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
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Look here London: Oyster and Contactless Card FAQ
Click to open the wiki
Click to open the wiki
Dec 9, 2017, 4:38 pm
#3
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Location: San Diego, CA
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You can buy one at the Underground ticket machines in Heathrow and most other stations. That said, I just used Apple Pay instead with no issues on my most recent trip (most US cards never used to work on the fare readers until this year).
Dec 10, 2017, 12:27 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 1,546
You may have stumbled on the website for the "visitor oyster" card, which has frankly misleading information - presumably to encourage you to buy through them,
You can buy oyster on arrival (or at thousands of other outlets across London). That said, oyster is almost yesterday's technology, and using contactless bank card or phone-pay is recommended if you have those.
You can buy oyster on arrival (or at thousands of other outlets across London). That said, oyster is almost yesterday's technology, and using contactless bank card or phone-pay is recommended if you have those.
Dec 10, 2017, 10:57 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,636
I forgot my Oyster card on my last trip and set up Android pay, which worked well. First use of Android pay for anything, but touching in and out was convenient. Bottom line, Apple Pay or Android Pay apps on phones may be a good alternative.
Dec 11, 2017, 8:12 am
#7
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Oysters can be bought at Tube stations including LHR. I prefer using an Oyster over contactless cards. Losing an Oyster is a much smaller issue than a credit card particularly when overseas.
Dec 11, 2017, 8:33 am
#8
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Thanks for the advice. I'll buy the oyster at LHR.
Contactless doesn't work with my iphone and citi MC. I tried it several times--what a waste. Even called Citi and they said sorry we can't offer help as to why.
Contactless doesn't work with my iphone and citi MC. I tried it several times--what a waste. Even called Citi and they said sorry we can't offer help as to why.
Dec 11, 2017, 9:02 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
Agree. Must have six or seven Oyster cards on my account and will continue to use them until they make me change.
Dec 11, 2017, 9:44 am
#10
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Weird, I tried Visa, AmEx and MC with my phone while I was over there and only AmEx had issues. It could very well be a Citi problem as the MC I tried wasn't issued by them.
Dec 11, 2017, 11:48 am
#12
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I'd amassed a collection too. You can with more recent cards get a refund from the machines if the balance is less than £10. I got rid of a couple on my last trip but the older Oyster although still working didn't qualify for a refund from a machine and the process to get the money back wasn't worth the bother.
Dec 11, 2017, 12:31 pm
#13
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I haven't really noticed a difference. When I was there, however, it did fail once--but using the adjacent gate worked without issue. (I also pre-authenticated before arriving at the gates, if that helps.)
Dec 12, 2017, 12:42 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
I'd amassed a collection too. You can with more recent cards get a refund from the machines if the balance is less than £10. I got rid of a couple on my last trip but the older Oyster although still working didn't qualify for a refund from a machine and the process to get the money back wasn't worth the bother.
Dec 12, 2017, 5:20 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,402
I'd amassed a collection too. You can with more recent cards get a refund from the machines if the balance is less than £10. I got rid of a couple on my last trip but the older Oyster although still working didn't qualify for a refund from a machine and the process to get the money back wasn't worth the bother.
