oyster pay as you go or annual travelcard

cazs

Hello

I was wondering what others' approach to buying travel tickets was for those who travel in London...

Specifically, does anyone else choose Oyster PAYG over a annual travelcard because PAYG actually works out cheaper?

I need to make a journey to work each day and back, both stations within zone 5. I currently walk but am moving so investigating options.

However, it seems to me, by my calculations, that for someone who uses the tube just for a trip to work and back, the annual travelcard is not in fact cheaper.

I worked it out as such.

I work 6 days a week for 38 weeks of the year and 5 days a week for the other 14 weeks of the year.

That's 298 days of travel per year.

If each journey there and back costs £2.80 a day, then that's £834.40 by PAYG.

Annual travelcard is £832.

But take into account that you might take holidays and bank holidays from work and therefore you wouldn't pay on those days anyway on PAYG, I am not sure that therefore the travelcard works out the cheaper option which it should really and particularly most commuters only do 5 days a week so it's even worse value.

What do others think?

yorkie2

cazs wrote: »

Hello

I was wondering what others' approach to buying travel tickets was for those who travel in London...

Sorry it has taken a day to reply, I'd recommend posting any query like this at a dedicated Rail Fares forum for a speedy, and well-informed, response! (I see topics there a lot earlier than here, and there's a lot of experts on there who can help, especially when it comes to Oyster PAYG & Travelcards!)

cazs wrote: »

Specifically, does anyone else choose Oyster PAYG over a annual travelcard because PAYG actually works out cheaper?

Many people do, yes, e.g. people who work less than 5 days a week or who can't afford to pay for a Travelcard up front, don't have job security, etc.

cazs wrote: »

I need to make a journey to work each day and back, both stations within zone 5. I currently walk but am moving so investigating options.

However, it seems to me, by my calculations, that for someone who uses the tube just for a trip to work and back, the annual travelcard is not in fact cheaper.

I worked it out as such.

I work 6 days a week for 38 weeks of the year and 5 days a week for the other 14 weeks of the year.

That's 298 days of travel per year.

If each journey there and back costs £2.80 a day, then that's £834.40 by PAYG.

Annual travelcard is £832.

If you actually work that many days then the Travelcard is better, and even if you don't, a Travelcard gives you a lot more flexibility!

cazs wrote: »

But take into account that you might take holidays and bank holidays from work and therefore you wouldn't pay on those days anyway on PAYG, I am not sure that therefore the travelcard works out the cheaper option which it should really and particularly most commuters only do 5 days a week so it's even worse value.

What do others think?

Ah, if you are actually working less than 298 days, then as you say PAYG is cheaper.

But...

A Travelcard for any Zone is valid on all bus services throughout the Zones (and, on some routes, even beyond the zones as far as places like Leatherhead and Watford).

An annual Travelcard acts as a Gold Card - getting you 1/3 off certain fares in the South East of England, and cheaper 1st class upgrades on some routes.

Providing you touch in/out correctly, the Travelcard will be taken into account when you use PAYG beyond your valid zones for any ad-hoc additional journeys that you make, and you will be only charged for the additional Zones you use.

An annual Travelcard can be bought before the new fares start in early January and give you discounted travel for a whole year, irrespective of what happens to the price. PAYG fares could go up in January (or at one of the other fare changes).

I would go for the peace of mind and additional flexibility of a Travelcard, personally, but then I would use it for more than just my journey to work each day.

If you are reasonably sure that the only journeys you make by public transport in London will be your journey to work and back each day, then go by PAYG and you may save a small amount, I wouldn't take that option but it's entirely your choice!

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What if you ever take another fare or want to use a bus ?

If you look at recent annual changes, you'll see PAYG has gone up way more than travelcards.

In any event, a travelcard costs about 10.5 months and if you have to get a refund it is done pro rata on that basis. Thus, if you'd used 7 months, you'd get back 3.5 months minus a £10 administration fee.

There are some anomalys but in general an annual travelcard is the better bet. However, your usage pattern might make it borderline. My guess though is that it will still prove the best overall and give you additional flexibility.

cazs

Thanks for the thoughts so far.

Using it for a trip to work, makes it work out roughly the same either by PAYG and travelcard.

I had thought about the possibility of taking 'social journeys on the tube/bus too which would be part subsidised by/included in the travelcard but on the other hand, I'd equally be paying for jouneys to and from work on holiday days where I would not pay on PAYG etc.

Very little in it it seems.

I am surprised as I thought that it would be better value automatically but it seems unless you use it a lot for non-commute jouneys, it's not definitely worth it particularly if like most people you only do 5 days a week....

Interesting point about PAYG fares going up versus the travelcard. Will have to see if I can find out if they are going up, in that case, possibly getting the travelcard before Jan might work out cheaper...

Humphrey10

cazs wrote: »

Using it for a trip to work, makes it work out roughly the same either by PAYG and travelcard.

Then get the annual travelcard, due to it acting as a Gold Card as yorkie2 mentioned.