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Money Hacks How young people can cash in on discounts... or go free
The Guardian
|October 26, 2024
There are regional schemes that offer cheap or free travel to young people. In London, travel on buses is free with a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, rather than £1.75 a trip, and you get 50% off adult pay-as-you-go fares on the tube, DLR and London Overground until 30 September in the year after your 18th birthday. If you are 19 and turned 18 before 31 August, live in Greater London and are in the sixth form, college or training, you are still eligible for the concession.
Travel
You would usually need to apply for a card, provide a photo of yourself and pay a £15 admin fee. However, Transport for London has suspended applications for discounted travelcards because of a cybersecurity incident.
When the suspension is lifted, if you are 18 or over, a student and living in a London borough, you can get 30% off adult-rate travelcards and bus and tram pass season tickets with an 18+ Student Oyster photocard. However, you don't get the discount for pay-as-you-go fares. It lasts three years. There is a £20 administration cost for the 16+ zipcard and 18+ photocard.
System One membership lets you buy discounted Greater Manchester travel tickets on buses and trains if you are aged between 16 and 21. Membership is free and lasts until the day before your 22nd birthday, and you have to upload a photo of your passport to qualify. Through the scheme a 28-day Bee AnyBus Young Person pass costs £61.90, whereas for adults it is £85.40 - a £23.50 saving.
In Scotland, if you are under 22, you are eligible to apply for free bus travel across the country under the Free Bus Travel Scheme. You need a National Entitlement Card or Young Scot NEC to qualify.
The My Travel Pass card will get you 30% off bus fares in Wales if you are 16 to 21. You need to apply for a pass but it is free to sign up.
To travel cross-country, you can use a National Express young person coach card if you are between 16 and 26. It offers 15% off travel for £15 a year, or £35 for three years, plus £3 for postage and packaging. You can use it to travel at any time as there are no restrictions on peak and off-peak tickets.
This story is from the October 26, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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