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Just a quick reminder that tomorrow, Monday 29 February, is the first of three Mondays where UK MasterCard holders can enjoy free travel on the whole Transport For London Network just by using their UK MasterCard with Apple Pay.
The terms and conditions state:
To redeem the offer, cardholders must use their MasterCard card with Apple Pay to travel on London Buses, London Underground, London Trams, Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, and most National Rail services in London (where a yellow card reader is present) during the Promotional Period.
Note that you can’t go travel crazy just because MasterCard is picking up the tab…they have put a cap on how much they’re prepared to pay:
The offer entitles cardholders to receive a refund against their travel costs made with a MasterCard card with Apple Pay […..] to a maximum value of £28.10 per cardholder, per Promotional Period. The offer is as stated and nothing else is included.
Still, you can do quite a bit of travel within London for £28.10.
Be aware that if you’re up to your limit on your MasterCard you won’t be able to take part thanks to this clause in the T&Cs:
Cardholders who use MasterCard with Apple Pay must have an active account, with the requisite funds to cover their TfL travel costs during the Overall Promotional Period.
Promotional Period
The promotional period that keeps getting mentioned runs from 04:30 on 29/02/2016 to 01:00 on 01/03/2016
This offer will be repeated for the next two Mondays too:
- Promotional Period 2 (“PP2”) – 04:30 on 07/03/2016 to 01:00 on 08/03/2016
- Promotional Period 3 (“PP3”) – 04:30 on 14/03/2016 to 01:00 on 15/03/2016
How To Use Apple Pay
The main page of the promotion gives quite a good breakdown of how to get your MasterCard on to Apple Pay:
Add your card to Apple Pay in three simple steps.
iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus
- Open the Wallet app
- Tap the plus sign in the upper right corner
- Enter your card’s security code to add your credit or debit card from your iTunes account. Or, select “Add a different card” and use your iSight camera to enter the card information.
Apple Watch
- Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone
- Tap “Wallet & Apple Pay” and select “Add a Credit or Debit Card”
- Enter your card’s security code to add your credit or debit card from your iTunes account. Or, select “Add a different card” and use your iSight camera to enter the card information.
iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, and iPad mini 3
- Go into Settings
- Tap “Wallet & Apple Pay” and select “Add Credit or Debit Card”
- Enter your card’s security code to add your credit or debit card from your iTunes account. Or, select “Add a different card” and use your iSight camera to enter the card information.
Now that your card is stored on your handheld device you’ll need to know how to use it:
- Prior to boarding a bus or approaching a gate double-click the Home button of iPhone, when iPhone is locked.
- Select your MasterCard and place your finger on Touch ID until you see “Hold near Reader to pay” on the display.
- Touch the top of iPhone near the yellow card reader within one minute of completing “Step 2” listed above.
- You will see “Done” on the display, feel a brief vibration, and hear a beep, letting you know payment has been sent. A green light will also be displayed on the card reader.
Bottom Line
It doesn’t get better than free and, considering how expensive it can be just going just a few stops on the London Underground, this could be a nice money saver for anyone in London over the next three Mondays.
The terms and conditions clearly state that this is only going to work for UK MasterCard holders and, as it’s very easy for MasterCard to differentiate between cards from different counties, I suspect that non-UK MasterCard holders will not be able to take advantage of this – no harm in trying, just don’t be disappointed if/when you don’t get the rebate.
