zone one to four travel card

London Travelcard

The London Travelcard is a transport pass which entitles you to unlimited travel on London’s public transport. You can use a travelcard to travel on the London Underground, overground, public buses, DLR (docklands light rail), TFL rail and other trains, as long as you travel within London’s travel zones.

It is designed for people who are planning on using London’s public transport a lot when visiting London or for people who commute into London on a daily basis. Still, a London Travelcard may sometimes not be the cheapest option even if does entitle you to unlimited travel.

London Travelcard: What do I need to know before I buy one?

When buying a London Travelcard there are three things that you need to know:

1. The duration of the card:

You can buy a travelcard for one day, 7 days, one month or annual.

2. The travel zones of London that will be using:

When you buy a travelcard you need to choose what travel zones you want use. If you are going to travel between zones 1 and 2, you will need a travelcard that is valid for these two zones, but if you are going to travel between zones 1 and 5 every day, you will need a travelcard that covers zones 1 to 5. This does not apply to travelling by bus, as any travelcard will allow you to travel on buses to and from any zone within London’s travel zones. So for example, if you have a travelcar for zones 1 and 2, you can still use a bus to get to zone 3 or zone 5 with that travelcard at no extra cost.

Most of London’s tourist attractions are located in zone 1, and only a few of the most popular attractions can be found outside zone 1, such as Camden Town Market which is in zone 2. Make sure you know what zone your hotel is in before you buy a travelcard.

3. Off-peak or Anytime

If you are buying a 1 day travelcard  (which we don’t normally recommend as an oyster card has a daily cap that is cheaper than a one day travelcard – see below) you will have to choose if you want it to travel anytime of the day, or just during off-peak times (Monday – Friday from 9.30 am; all day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays).

This does not affect 1 day travelcards for zones 1 to 4, so if you are visiting London you probably don’t need to worry about this at all as you are unlikely to be travelling to zone 5, 6 or beyond.

Which Travelcard to buy if you are planning a trip to London

1 day travelcard.

The price of the 1 day London travelcard for zones 1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 costs £15.20. We don’t normally recommend using the 1 day travelcard, as it is actually cheaper to use an oyster card, a visitor oyster card, or a contactless card as these payment methods have a daily cap. The daily cap applied to these zones are: £8.10 for travel within zones 1-2; £9.60 for zones 1-3 and £11.70 for zones 1-4. Once you have reached this daily cap you will be able to travel within the same travel zones for free. It is still necessary to tap in and tap out on the yellow reader with your oyster card, visitor oyster card or contactless card when using public transport.

Find out more about choosing between an oyster card, a travelcard or using contactless on London Transport here: Oyster card, Travelcard or Contactless .

7 day Travelcard

The 7 day travelcard for London travel zones 1-2 costs £40.70. When comparing oyster card/visitor oyster card/contactless fares to a 7 day travelcard, I would probably say that it is convenient to get a 7 day travelcard if you are going to be travelling around London for more than 6 days. If you are going to be in London less than 6 days then I would recommend using an oyster card (vistor oyster card or contactless if you are a UK resident).

Where to buy a London travelcard

Buying a London Travelcard at an underground station

It is possible to buy a London travelcard at any underground station in London, by either using a ticket machine at the ticket office or a manned desk in a the ticket office (if available). When you buy a 7 day, monthly or annual London travelcard at an underground station you will normally get an oyster card with the travelcard incorporated in it. So your oyster card will be pre-loaded with the travelcard you have chosen. This way you can also use this oyster card with pay as you go for any trips that are not included in the travelcard.

So, as an example, if you have a 7 day travelcard for zones 1 – 4 in your oyster card, you will be entitles to unlimited journeys within these  travel zones for 7 days, and you can use your oyster as you normally would, by touching in and touching out. But, if one day you need to go to zone 6, you will be able to use the same oyster with pay as you go balance. One example when this might happen, is if you arrive at Heathrow airport (zone 6) but you want to buy a 7 day travelcard for zones 1 – 4. It will be much cheaper to use they oyster card with pay as you go for the journey from Heathrow to central London and the journey from central London to Heathrow Airport on your last day and adding a 7 travelcard for zones 1 – 4, than using a 7 day travelcard for zones 1 – 6.

Buying a London Travelcard at a train station

It is possible to buy a London travelcard at any train station located inside London’s Travel Zones . When you buy a travelcard at a train station, you will normally get a paper travelcard and not an oyster card.

Stansted, Luton or Gatwick airports are all outside London’s Travel Zones so these stations won’t normally sell London travelcards.

Buy a London Travelcard online

One of the easiest ways to buy a London travelcard is by buying it online. The price is exactly the same as what it would cost you to buy it in London but you will pay a little extra for delivery.

Buy a London travelcard at Heathrow airport

London travelcard fares from 5th march 2023, travelcard for children.

Children under the age of 11 travel free within London travel zones. Children over 11 can also benefit from reduced fares; you can learn more about this in our article: Travelling in London with kids .

Find out more

For more information, visit London’s official transport website: Transport For London

Related Posts

London underground, london travel zones, travelling in london with kids, contactless payment on london transport.

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London Travelcard Prices 2024 - One Day, Weekly & Monthly Pass

Travelcard prices for children, what is a travelcard.

London travelcards come in two different types. The cheapest version just covers buses and trams, whilst the more expensive one includes the trains as well.

Travelcards bought at a National Rail station (the big overground hubs like Waterloo , shown with a symbol on the London underground map ) are printed on orange paper. Travelcards bought at an underground station are printed on pink paper. Other than the colour of the paper, there is no difference between the two. It’s also possible to load a travel card onto a blue Oyster card . (Note: It is not possible to load them onto a Visitor Oyster card or contactless card .)

If you buy a pass that includes the trains then you will also have to choose which fare zones you want it to cover. If you buy a one day travelcard then you’ll only have three options: zones 1-4, zones 1-6 or zones 1-9. If you buy a weekly, monthly or annual travelcard then you can choose a combination of different zones between 1-9.

Important note: there are no trams in central London, only in zone 3 and beyond (in places like Beckenham, Croydon and Wimbledon). So if you buy a zone 1-2 travelcard then you won’t find any trams to travel on.

What are the benefits of a travelcard?

• London travelcards can cover one day, one week, one month or one year, depending on how long you’re staying in London
• They’re very easy for tourists to understand: you simply choose the zones and dates you want it to cover, pay once, and then you can make an unlimited number of journeys between those dates
• Depending on which one you buy, travelcards can be valid on the tram, bus , Docklands Light Railway, London Underground , London Overground, TFL Rail and National Rail
• You can also benefit from a discounted fare on the cable car and Thames Clipper riverboat

What are the downsides of a travelcard?

• Depending on how many journeys you make, you might find that Oyster prices and contactless prices are cheaper than travelcard prices
• You’re only allowed to travel in the fare zones you chose at the start. If you later decide to travel outside the zones then you’ll have to buy a completely separate ticket
• Two people are not allowed to share one travelcard
• If you lose a paper travelcard then there’s no way of replacing it, or getting your money back

How long does a travelcard last?

A travelcard lasts for one day , one week , one month or one year , and you choose which one you want when you buy it. You can then travel as many times as you like during that period.

You always have to choose a start date when you buy it. The date can be in the future, but it’s not possible to buy a dateless card.

One Day Travelcards (Anytime) – Valid for the date shown on the ticket, plus any journeys that start before 4.30 AM the next morning

One Day Travelcards (Off-peak) – Valid for the date shown on the ticket, but only after 9.30 AM on Mon-Fri, plus any journeys that start before 4.30 AM the next morning

Weekly, Monthly & Annual Travelcards – Valid between the start date and end date shown on the ticket. And they all have to be consecutive days (it’s not possible to buy a 7 day travel card that skips a day in the middle, for example).

Can two people share one travelcard?

No . Two people are not allowed to share one travelcard between them. And you can’t share an Oyster card that has a travelcard loaded on to it either.

What time is Anytime and Off-Peak?

Anytime – Anytime is valid for the dates shown on the ticket, and up to 4.30 AM the following morning. (So if your travelcard expires on the 10th, you can actually travel up to 4.30 AM on the 11th.)

Off-Peak – Off-Peak travelcard holders are restricted to travelling after 9:30 AM on Mon-Fri, but can travel at anytime during the weekend or on a public holiday.

Is it cheaper to use a travelcard?

Travelcards are not always the cheapest way to travel in London.

1-Day Travelcards – The Oyster daily cap and contactless daily cap are always cheaper than a one day travelcard (by around two-thirds).

Weekly Travelcards – Weekly travelcards are always cheaper than buying seven one day travel cards, but whether it works out cheaper than the Oyster card weekly cap depends on how many journeys you make. If you make two or more journeys on each of the seven days, or three or more journeys on six of the days, then a weekly travelcard is likely cheaper. But the only way of knowing for sure is to add up all your journeys on a calculator (sorry!).

Monthly Travelcards – Monthly travelcards are always cheaper than buying four weekly travel cards.

Annual Travelcards – Annnual passes give you 12 months travel for the price of ten and a half.

Where can you use a travelcard?

Buses – All travelcards are valid on TFL buses , regardless of which zones they cover. That’s because buses don’t have zones. So if you buy a zone 1-4 travelcard then you can ride the trams and trains in zones 1-4, but you can ride the buses all the way out to zone 6.

Trams – Bus & Tram travelcards don’t have zones, so they’re valid on all the buses, and all the trams. But Train, Bus & Tram travelcards are only valid on the trams if they cover zones 3 and beyond, because there aren’t any trams in zones 1-2.

London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, TFL Rail, National Rail – A Train, Bus & Tram travelcard is valid on all of these trains as long as it covers the right zones (you choose which zones you want when you buy it). The exceptions are the Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express and Stansted Express, Heathrow Connect to Hayes and Harlington, and high-speed Southeastern services between St. Pancras and Stratford .

IFS Cloud Cable Car – You can’t actually use your travelcard to ride the cable car , but if you present it at the ticket window you’ll get a 25% discount off the price.

Thames Clipper – You can’t use it on the Thames Clipper river boat service either, but if you show it at the window you’ll get a 33% discount off some of the fares.

Where can you buy a travelcard?

Day Travelcards (for Bus & Tram only) – It’s not possible to buy a day travelcard for the Bus & Tram from the TFL website. It’s not possible to buy one in advance either. You can only purchase them on the day of travel from a train station or London Visitor Centre.

There are seven Visitor Centres in London: Euston station , King’s Cross , Liverpool Street , Paddington , Piccadilly Circus , Victoria and Heathrow airport.

These will always come as a paper ticket.

You can also buy a Bus & Tram pass from an Oyster Ticket Stop, but these ones will be put onto an Oyster card instead. Oyster Ticket Stops are just normal shops (usually newsagents) which have a blue Oyster sticker in their window. (Note: The usual £7 deposit will apply if you need to buy a new Oyster card, which will come on top of the day travelcard price. It is not possible to load a travelcard onto a London Visitor Oyster Card .)

Day travelcards do not require a photocard.

Day Travelcards (for Bus, Tram & Train) – Paper tickets for the Bus, Tram & Train are available to buy online from the TFL website and from train stations and Visitor Centres.

Group Day Travelcards – Group Day Travelcards can be ordered from the TFL website . They only last for one day and you need to be travelling in a group of at least ten people during off-peak hours (after 9:30 AM Mon-Fri, or any time during the weekend).

Weekly Travelcards – Weekly Travelcards can be bought online at TFL’s Visitor Shop , You can also have it loaded onto your Oyster card at a train station, Oyster Ticket Stop, London Visitor Centre or TFL’s Oyster website (but you need to set up an Oyster account with them first).

Weekly travelcards do not require a photocard.

Monthly Travelcards – Monthly Travelcards can be loaded onto your Oyster card at train stations, Oyster Ticket Stops, London Visitor Centres and TFL’s Oyster website .

Annual Travelcards – Annual travelcards can be loaded onto your London Oyster card at TFL’s Oyster website , and most London Overground, TFL Rail and National Rail stations… but not London Underground stations, London Visitor Centres or Oyster Ticket Stops.

What zone travelcard do you need?

Most tourists will choose a travelcard that covers zones 1-2, which covers the touristy heart of London.

Zone 3 is for places like Highgate Cemetery , Kew Gardens , Wimbledon and London City Airport . Zone 4 will take you to Wembley Stadium . And if you’re flying into Heathrow then you might need a zone 1-6 travelcard.

How do you use a travelcard on a bus?

Using a travelcard on a London bus is easy. If you have a paper travelcard then just show it to the driver as you board the bus.

If you have an Oyster travelcard then touch it against the big round yellow reader by the front door (some buses also have Oyster readers by the middle door and back door). There’s no need to touch the travel card down again when you leave the bus – you only have to do that for trains.

How do you use a travelcard on a train?

Using a travelcard on the London Underground is easy. If you have a paper travelcard then just insert it face-up into the slot at the front of the barrier. The same ticket will then pop out of the slot on the top. The gate won’t open until you remove your travelcard from that slot.

If you have an Oyster travelcard then all you have to do is wave it in front of the big round yellow reader and the gate will open automatically.

Which is better: Travelcards or Oyster?

TFL travelcards are very easy to understand – you simply choose the starting date, the duration, which zones you need (probably just zones 1-2 if you’re here on holiday), and then you pay just once and can make an unlimited number of journeys until the travel card expires.

The downside is that travelcards are only available for fixed periods – either one day, one week, one month or one year – so if you’re visiting for a different number of days then you’re better off buying an Oyster card .

Train travelcards are also limited to the zones you buy it for, so if you decide to make an extra journey out of the blue then you’ll have to buy a completely different ticket, whereas the pay-as-you-go credit on an Oyster card can be used in all zones.

Your comments and questions

CC Hi, I want to know if I buy the one day card does it means it lasts 24 hrs? Or just till midnight of the day I purchase it?

Staff Hi CC. It actually lasts until 4.30 AM the next morning. So if it's dated for the 1st, it will last until 4.30 AM on the 2nd.

Leanne Hi there, I am travelling to London with 3 children aged 8, 10 & 11 and will need a travelcard that will cover us all. We have a few things planned but im not sure of which travelcards I need and for which zones? We will need to travel from Paddington station to Waterloo, and will be visiting the Cambridge Theatre and also Knightsbridge. Is it possible to buy a 3 day ticket that will cover those areas? Ive not been to London before so would like to plan as much as I can in advance. Thank you

Staff Hi Leanne. It's not possible to buy a 3-day card unfortunately - they only come as 1-day or weekly cards (or monthly). And the only travelcard that covers multiple people is the Group Day Travelcard, but that's for a minimum of ten people. The good news is that your 8 and 10 year old will travel for free on the tube, so I recommend that you use your contactless bank card, and you get an Oyster card for your 11 year old. That's because contactless and oyster fares are cheaper. The most you will pay each day is the 'daily cap' for zone 1, which is less than the cost of a 1-day travelcard (all of the places you mentioned are inside zone 1). Unfortunately you will also have to pay a £5 deposit the first time you buy a new Oyster card - but you can claim that back at the self-service ticket machine at the end if you want.

Leanne Thank you very much, that's very helpful

Csaba Is it possible to buy a new Oystercard and put a 7-day Travelcard on it at the newsagents generally? Do I have to have a minimum pay-as-you-go balance on it if using a Travelcard loaded onto my Oystercard?

Staff Hi Csaba. You can just have the travelcard on your Oyster card if you want. There's no need to have any pay-as-you-go credit on there as well, but you can do that as well if you want. You should be able to do it at any newsagent displaying the Oyster symbol in their window - not all of them have it.

Lafont If I have a travelcard on my Oyster card for zones 1 and 2, and I want to visit Hampton Court, how to proceed.

Staff Hi Lafont. Hampton Court is in zone 6, so you just need to add some pay-as-you-credit onto the same card to cover zones 2-6. You can see that fare here - londondrum.com/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php . When you tap it down on the gate the computer will recognise that the travelcard already covers zones 1&2 and just use the credit for the extra bit.

Pamela Laurie I need only a paper 1 day Oyster ticket, is it over 24 hours from when you buy it? ie. 12am one day till 12 am next day ?

Staff Hi Pamela. You buy it for a particular date. It will then last for the whole of that date, and up to 4.30 AM the next morning.

Ch What time can you use your travelcard from on a Sunday?

Staff Hi Ch. If it's a 1-day card then it's all day Sunday, right up to 4.30 AM Monday morning. If it was a midweek one then it would be different, because there are two cards available midweek: anytime and off-peak. The off-peak ones wouldn't start until 9.30 AM

Awi If I buy a zone 1-6 travelcard from Vauxhall rail station will that entitle me to the National Rail 2for1 promotion? Thanks

Staff Hi Awi. You have to be careful because you need a National Rail paper ticket for the 2for1 offer. Don't buy it from the underground station because then it will be a TFL ticket. That won't be valid. Buy it upstairs from the National Rail windows, and make sure they give you a paper ticket rather than putting it on an Oyster card, because that won't be valid either.

Diane Can you use a one day travelcard on any of the London tour buses?

Staff Hi Diane. No, sightseeing tour buses have got nothing to do with normal buses, so you'll have to buy a ticket from them.

Cathy If I buy a weekly travelcard from a train station, will the start day to use to card be the day I buy it? Or can I tell the counter staff which day I would like to start to use the travelcard? For example, I want to buy the paper travelcard at London Paddington Station on July 1st and I would like to start using it on July 6th. Is it possible? Thanks for your help.

Staff Hi Cathy. Sure. You can tell them which date you want it to start. It doesn't have to be the same day that you buy it. Paper tickets will then have the start date printed on the front.

Elle Hi, With weekly travelcards, do I need to get an identity card to go with it? Thanks

Staff Hi Elle. Not if you're an adult, no. You only need to provide a passport photo for monthly and annual travelcards, but not weekly ones. And a child would need a photocard

Ray Does the one day travelcard include journeys to Heathrow? Thank you Ray.

Staff Hi Ray. You have to choose the zones when you buy it. If you choose the one that covers zones 1-6 (or 1-9) then it will.

Cozzieanne Hi there, I'm soon going to be travelling four times a week from Ealing Broadway to Leytonstone station on the Central Line. If I buy an annual Zones 2-9 travelcard, does that mean that I can get on and off at literally any stop, on any line, at any time, as long as I'm within those zones? And does it include buses? Thank you! Cozzieanne

Staff Hi Cozzieanna. A zone 2-9 travelcard won't get you from Ealing Broadway to Leytonstone on the central line, because that journey goes straight through zone 1, so you'll need a zone 1-9 instead (actually, you only really need a 1-3 for that journey, unless you've got some other plans out to zone 9 that you haven't mentioned). A zone 1-9 travelcard will let you get on and off at any stop within zones 1-9, at any time, as many times as you like. And you can use it on the bus as well.

Graham Can a London Travelcard be used on both the Underground and on Network Rail trains? I'm planning to travel from Baker Street to Monument on the Circle Line, then from London Bridge to Waterloo East on normal Network Rail. Is the Travelcard valid for both journeys?

Staff Hi Graham, It works on both the underground and National Rail trains within the zones you buy it for. So assuming your travelcard covers zone 1 (which all those journeys are in), then it will be fine

Harmeen I just want to know that if I opt for a weekly travelcard for Zone 1 and 2, how many trips am I allowed in a week?

Staff Hi Harmeen. As many as you like. There's no limit with travelcards

Lailiyah McInnes Can I buy weekly travel card to London zone 1-2 and5? And how much the cost weekly and monthly .I just from Bromley south to Victoria to Fulham

Staff Hi Lailiyah. You can buy one for zones 1to5 (price is in the table above), but not zones 1,2+5. They don't sell one for just zone 5 on its own either. If you really wanted to then you could put a zone 1-2 travelcard on your oyster card, and then top it up with some pay-as-you-go credit as well. Then every time you tap it down on the gate the computer will recognise that you have a travelcard for zones 1-2, and only take the fare for zones 2-5 from the pay-as-you-go credit

Heather Is there a student discount on Oyster cards.

Staff Hi Heather. There is a discount, but you have to apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard to get them. All the details are here - tfl.gov.uk/​fares/​free-and-discounted-travel/18-plus-student-oyster-photocard

amar Can I use oyster card on traine

Staff Hi Amar. You can, yes. But it depends what train you’re talking about. It has to be within the Oyster zones. If you're talking about putting a travelcard onto an oyster card, then the train will have to be in the zones you buy the travelcard for

Jerry I need Travelcard from zone 2 to 8. How can I get one?

Staff Hi Jerry. It sounds a bit bonkers, but they don't sell travelcards for zones 2-8. You can get one for zones 1-8, or zones 2-9 instead which is a bit cheaper

Jerry I don`t understand why I have to pay more for something what we don`t need.

Staff Maybe you could try using a contactless card instead, because there's a cap for zones 2-8 on that. But if you want the weekly cap then it only works from Mon-Sun (not Tue-Mon, or any other combination of 7 days) - londondrum.com/​transport/​contactless-cards.php

Bob Scrivener Where do you find a zone map?

Staff Hi Bob. Here's one - content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf

Nigel Hi, I plan to come to London in the Autumn. It looks as if I’ll need to travel in zones 1-3 between my University and accommodation. Can you advise what the weekly cost is for a travel card

Staff Hi Nigel. All the prices are shown in the table above - at the moment it's £43:50 for zones 1-3

Karen Wilce Are there any concessions

Staff Hi Karen. If you mean senior concessions then you can get something called a Freedom Pass or a 60+ Oyster card, but you need to live in a London borough to qualify. If you live outside London then you can get a Senior Railcard. There are more details here - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-train-fares.php

Theresa I have a monthly travel card zones 1 to 4, but i need to get to zone 6, what do i need to do.

Staff Hi Theresa. Assuming that it’s on an Oyster card, all you have to do is go up to a ticket machine and load some pay-as-you-go credit on to it. When you tap down on the gate the computer will recognise that the travelcard already covers zones 1-4 and just charge for the extra zones. You can see the price on our Oyster card page - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

Anita Ganea My daughter is a 2nd year university student living in London, travelling to university and also to her place of work. She has now got a student oyster card and also has a 1/3 16-25 railcard. Does she have to link these to get the full benefits of the oyster card. I said that her travel will be a 1/3 cheaper if she gets the oyster card but obviously if she uses it as a pay as you go it is still the same, why is this?

Staff Hi Anita. She needs to get the railcard loaded onto her Oyster card, then she can use the Oyster card like normal and it will charge the discounted fares. She needs to take both cards to a London Underground station and then ask a member of TFL staff to load it on. You can usually find one standing behind the ticket barriers. Bear in mind that she doesn't get a discount on all Oyster fares, just off-peak ones, and zone 1-9 travelcards (if bought together with another National Rail ticket) - full details here 16-25railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

Steven Gatting Hi folks,,, returning uk resident arriving with Family from US for 7 day visit covering all areas on tube. Kis are 10. 14 and 16 . Shall I just get 7 day travel cards.Will be making plenty travel around the tube on all days. Thanks Steve Gatting

Staff Hi Steven, if you’re staying seven days then a weekly travelcard usually works out cheapest if you’re making at least two or more journeys on each of the seven days, or three or more journeys on six days, but it depends what zones you buy (most people only need zones 1-2). Your 10 year old will travel for free, but bear in mind your 14 and 16 year olds will have to pay for adult passes because it won’t be worth paying out extra for photocards to qualify for the kid prices.

Michael Just to make sure it will work: I want to buy a weekly 1-2 zones paper travel card at Paddington railway station. All I need is to bring £37 and paper-sized photo, right? No need to buy Oyster card or something like that?

Staff Hi Michael. You can only get a paper travelcard if it’s a 1-day travelcard. Weekly ones will go onto an Oyster card. If you don’t have an Oyster card you’ll have to go to an Oyster Ticket stop shop (newsagent) in the National Rail part of Paddington (and pay £5 deposit for a new card on top). The underground bit only has self-service machines. If you do have an Oyster card then you can load it on at a self-service machine. You don’t need a photo

Selina Rahman Hi, If I want to travel from Woodford to Bermondsey by train and then bus from Bermondsey to Bricklayer's Arms by bus, can I buy a weekly oyster card from zone 2-4? If not, please suggest how I can make this journey with the most economical option? Thanks,

Staff Hi Selina. Thats okay for Woodfood to Bermondsey (assuming you don't choose a route that passes through zone 1). theres more than one bricklayers arm’s in london so we don't know which one you're talking about, but it should be alright because buses don’t have zones. all travelcards are valid for bus travel in zones 1-6, regardless of which zones they cover

Polya Genova Why when I transfer via Wimbledon from Streatham to Fulham Broadway I am overcharged for zone 1.??? I notice 3 times on my way going but mot charge in my way back. The pink rider was no clear sound.

Staff Hi Polya. You're only supposed to tap down on the pink readers if your journey would normally take you across London through zone 1, and you're changing trains to bypass zone 1. But the journey you're doing wouldn't normally go through zone 1 anyway, so I would stop tapping down on the pink reader and see if that helps - just tap down at the beginning and end of your journey instead

Lorraine I am travelling to london from Leigh on sea going to Wood Green station / Shepherd’s Bush there are 6 of us all together 2 adults 4 chikdren under 11 years we have bought the Kidszania tickets What would be the cheapest fares to travel on the tube

Staff Hi Lorraine. your national rail tickets would be separate, but if all four kids are under 11 then they travel for free on the tube, and the adults should just use their contactless cards to pay (oyster is the same price as contactless, but you have to pay a £7 deposit to get hold of the cards)

MR JOHN ROZNOWSKI Is there any discount for ENCTS pass holders who live outside London?

Staff Hi John. Not if you want to buy a travelcard, but you should be able to use it to travel for free on TFL buses (with time restrictions) if it has the red rose symbol on it. Theres some more information here - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-bus-fares.php

Engrid Hello, Do children travel for free with a parent who purchases a travel card?

Staff Hi Engrid. Only if they’re under 11. They travel for free with a fare paying adult - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Pauline My partner and myself are travelling on Avanti train from Lancaster for the day.Can we buy I day travel cards when we buy our train tickets in Lancaster. Thankyou

Staff Hi Pauline, we cant really help with what’s for sale in Lancaster, but we doubt that the train company will sell them. But you’d be better off just using your contactless card to pay anyway (assuming that you both have one), because the ‘daily cap’ for contactless is half the price of a 1-day travelcard - londondrum.com/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php

John Evans RAIL CARDS OR SENIOR BUS PASS Are they valid with one day travel card off peak

Staff Hi John. A senior bus pass with the red rose symbol lets you travel for free on TFL buses, with time restrictions, but you cant use them to buy a travelcard, A Senior Railcard will give you a discount on “Anytime Day Travelcard Zones 1-9 when bought as part of ticket to London from outside London (subject to minimum fare)” - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-train-fares.php

James allison Is their a pensioner discount

Staff Hi James. Not for travelcards, no, unless you have a senior railcard as mentioned in the comment above. But you can travel for free on the buses and trains if you have a freedom pass or 60+ oyster card (with time restrictions). More info here - londondrum.com/​transport/​senior-train-fares.php

Paul Hoelzley Good afternoon, We are Canadian seniors (82 & 76) and will be in London for 5 days early January 2023. Could you kindly help us and advise us on what is the cheapest card to use during our stay. There seem to be so many different choices and fares and this is very confusing to us. Thank you for taking the time to answer our question (s). Regards, Paul H.

Staff Hi Paul. A Visitor Oyster card will be the cheapest, and you can buy it online before you go and have it delivered to you in Canada - more information about that here: londondrum.com/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php . You’ll have to choose how much credit you want on it, so just work out which fare zones you’ll be travelling through each day (most tourists just need zone 1), and look at the ‘daily cap’ for that zone in the fares chart. That will be the maximum you will be charged that day. Add up all the daily caps for the five days, and thats how much credit you’ll need. Alternatively… you can just buy a weekly travelcard when you arrive in London. You’ll lose a little bit of money, but its a lot less complicated because you can make unlimited journeys for the whole week

Mark Hi, we will be travelling to London from Melbourne in September. Four adults For five full days. We are flying into Gatewick. What is the best way to get to accommodation near Hyde park and where should we get recommended pass?

Staff Hi Mark. I would buy tickets for the Gatwick Express into Victoria on their website, and then get Visitor Oyster Cards for everyone and have them delivered to Australia before I travel. Oyster cards have the cheapest fares, and you can use them on the tube to wherever it is you're staying around Hyde Park. Info about where to get Visitor Oyster cards here - londondrum.com/​transport/​visitor-oyster-cards.php

Ali Need a travel pass ticket in London for tube and buss

Staff Hi Ali. We've explained how you can get one on this page

Jordi Hello, I'm going to travel to London for a 7 days in July. 2 adults and 1 of 14 years. We move for zones 1-3. Wich is the best option? and Where can I buy better?

Staff Hi Jordi. It depends how many journeys you're making. If you make two or more journeys on each of the seven days, or three or more journeys on six of the days, then a weekly travelcard should be cheaper. Otherwise the adults should use their contactless cards if they're from the UK, or Oyster cards if they're from abroad (which have the same fares as contactless, but you have to pay a £5 deposit on top). The 14-year old should get an Oyster card and have the 'Young Visitor Discount' applied to it, as explained on this page - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Keith Morgan How much will a 1-6 zone one day travelcard for 2 adults and two children with a family railcard

Staff Hi Keith. You dont get a discount if you buy the travelcard on its own. You need to be coming into London on another train. According to their terms: “With your Railcard you can get 1/3 off Anytime Day Travelcard when bought as part of your journey to London from outside London Zones 1-9 (subject to a minimum fare which is currently £20,30)” - familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/​help/​faqs/

DEREK SPELLER Good afternoon.......we are travelling into Heathrow from Canada in August and staying in Paddington. The London Transport Travelcard will allow us onto the Tube at Heathrow but NOT the Heathrow to Paddington Airport Train.....am I correct?

Staff Hi Derek. That's correct, yes. You can use an Oyster card on the Heathrow Express, but not a travelcard. If you want to use a travelcard on the tube from heathrow to paddington then you'll have to get one covering zones 1-6

Muraleedharan vp Which are the places covered by differrnt zones?

Staff Zone 1-2 covers the central touristy part of London, which is good enough for 99% of tourists. but maybe you'll want zone 3 for kew, and zone 6 for heathrow

Reda Weekly travel card zone 2 to zone 4. Travelling from zone 4 to zone 4 without crossing zone 1 , why I got charged £2.50 at the end of the day.

Staff Hi Reda. Is the travelcard loaded onto an Oyster card? £2.50 is a zone 1 fare, so the only thing I can think of is that you didn’t tap out at the end.

B Walker Can I purchase a weekly anytime travel card as ticket? Not plastic oyster

Staff Hi B Walker. Only if you buy it online from the TFL shop - visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/​en/​london-travelcard . If you buy it anywhere in London then it will be loaded onto an Oyster card.

Veronica We are a family of five traveling into London Kings Cross on 7th Oct children are aged 15,15,14, We are staying for 9 nights at Twickenham and will be travelling in/out London and going to attractions. What would be the best travel option?

Staff Hi Veronica. We always recommend that adults use their contactless bank card. (oyster cards have the same fares, but you have to pay a deposit on top.) and then get oyster cards for the kids. but get the ‘young visitor discount’ applied to the oyster cards when you arrive in London, which is explained here - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Veronica Which zone is Twickenham in. Should I order the child oyster card before we arrive and do they require a photo

Staff Its in zone 5. you can order it in advance if you want to, they don’t require a photo. its all explained on our oyster card page - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

PEDRO Do foreign children between 11 and 15 have a discount with the one-day travelcard? I think no...

Staff Hi Pedro. They can do, but only if you get them an Oyster Zip photocard as well. But you have to pay extra for those, which will wipe out any savings you make. So we dont recommend getting one if its just a one-off visit - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Alex If I buy a travelcard at Heathrow and need to travel to Hammersmith but only on the next day do I need to make another journey (in zones 1 and 2), can I buy a 7 day travelcard at the same time as buying some PAYG but somehow POST-DATE the 7 day travelcard so it is only active from the NEXT day?

Staff Hi Alex. You can do. You always have to choose the start date when you buy a travelcard so i would do that first, then load some credit on after. Another way is to just buy a zone 1-2 travelcard at heathrow, from the first day, and load some extra credit on to cover the zones 2-6 bit

Alex Hello again. Travelling from Buckhurst Hill to Hampton Wick with a Zone 1-2 Travelcard and PAYG. I see this necessitates a National Rail Journey from Zone 1 to 6. Will it cost a Zone 1 to 6 fare from PAYG despite the travelcard because it's National Rail and not Overground/Underground? Does one have to check in/check out at a station on the border of zones 2-3? Pink card reader or something?

Staff As long as the National Rail station is within the oyster zones (which your stations are) then you can pay with a travelcard and oyster - theres no difference. you dont have to tap down on a pink reader. you only use those if you're making a detour to avoid zone 1, on a journey that would normally go through zone 1. you just have to tap down at the beginning and end of your journey like normal

ELHAMUDDIN ZAHID Hello I am student and have class two days a week and live in zone 5 which option will be cheap for me. Many thanks

Staff Hi Elhamuddin. The easiest and cheapest thing to do is to just use your contactless card - londondrum.com/​transport/​contactless-cards.php

Alex Hi. I just phoned up TFL and got my PAYG balance refunded (£8:70) from my oyster into bank account. I'm no longer on London and couldn't do it at machine in London as I still had a valid travelcard on my last day! Now the oyster card has been removed from the app! Is the card still valid should I return to London in the future? Or did refunding the PAYG balance cancel the card? I paid £7 for the card. Perhaps they canceled the card and refunded the £7 as well as the £8:70?

Staff Hi Alex. The card gets voided at the same time as the refund, so you wont be able to use it anymore. The deposit would have been converted into PAYG credit after 12 months, but if you've had it less than that then you don't get it back.

JOHN Hello everyone, I have a crucial to me question that puzzles me when I try to buy online a London weekly anytime travelcard for my planned trip to London next month, i.e. November 2022, landing at Heathrow airport. As far as I understand, a 7-Days (weekly) London anytime travelcard does not have a peak, or, off-peak option (As 1-day travelcards do). They are valid throughout the whole day (And, if I am not mistaken valid until 04:30 am of the next day after their expiry). I am trying to buy the card from abroad (within EU) prior my arrival & ordering it to be mailed to my home country. I choose adult, Ticket Duration = 7 Day (only option), Ticket Zone = Zones 1-6, Then it requires me to choose (Under: “Admission)” an option, BUT, the only option available in the: “Peak”. Then date of first use which I provide and then the total price is £70.30. Question is, in the field entitled: “Admission” the only option being: “Peak”, What do they mean by the word: Peak ? If I choose Peak (the only option available) will I purchase a weekly anytime travelcard that I will be able to use throughout the whole day, OR, will I be able to ONLY use it during Peak hours (i.e. prior 09:30 am) which does NOT make any sense as a 7-Days (weekly) anytime travelcard (As the name clearly states) is valid throughout the whole day ? I am at a loss. What do they mean by the option: Peak ? Can somebody please help me ? Many thanks in advance for your time & effort. Looking forward to your reply/assistance. Many thanks & Best Regards

Staff Hi John. The way they've worded it does look a bit confusing (they should have called it 'anytime') but it will definitely be valid for an entire week, both off-peak and peak hours. That's the only version you can buy for a weekly travelcard.

JOHN Many thanks for your reply ref London weekly anytime travelcard. Much appreciated. If I land to Heathrow during weekend will I be able to buy a London weekly anytime travelcard from Heathrow Visitor Center, OR, from a Heathrow ticket machine ? In this case do I need an oyster card ? Can I use the very same card to travel (By tube and/or overground rail) from, AND, to Heathrow airport (E.g. Heathrow to Waterloo)? In the latter case, are there any specific tube/overground trains I cannot use, i.e. express ? Many thanks in advance for your time & effort. Looking forward to your reply/assistance. Many thanks & Best Regards

Staff You won't be able to buy a paper travelcard at Heathrow, but you will be able to get one loaded onto an Oyster card. Assuming that you haven't got an Oyster card already, that will add another £7 deposit on top. But if you do get an Oyster card then you may as well forget the travelcard and load some credit onto it instead, and pay normal Oyster fares, which might work out cheaper depending on how many days you're staying. Oyster credit can be used on buses and trains in all the zones, including Heathrow. But if you catch the Heathrow Express then the credit will be used to pay the normal Heathrow Express fare instead (rather than a cheaper Oyster fare - you'd have to catch the tube for that). More info about all that here - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php - If you want a paper travelcard then your only option is to get it from the TFL site and have it posted to you.

Matt Greer Are weekly travelcards discontinuing in January 2023? If so, what is replacing it for tourist weekly travel?

Staff Hi Matt. There was talk about scrapping them last year as well, but nothing has happened so far. If they do disappear then people will have to use the weekly cap on Oyster and contactless instead (which is the same price as a weekly travelcard). So tourists will have to buy an Oyster card.

Eva Ticket type Hi, I found Super Off-Peak Day Travelcardincludes London Travelcard with Travel conditions Same day return off-peak travel including unlimited bus, tube, tram and DLR journeys around London. I would like to use with the 2 for 1 promotion wisiting London Eye. I would like to be sure that this train ticket is accepted by them. thank you

Staff Hi Eva. It has to be from a National Rail station rather than an underground station (so it has to be printed on orange paper), and you have to book the London Eye in advance rather than turn up on the day. You can check the ticket here - daysoutguide.co.uk/​travel-by-train/​is-my-ticket-valid-for-2for1-and-other-offers

Muhammad Athar Masood I am coming to London on March 29 and shall stay here upto April 11. During my stay, I intend to travel in almost all zones of the city using bus, tube, tram or train whichever convenient. Please guide me if should buy a Travle Card or an Oyester Card.

Staff Hi Muhammad. Price-wise you're probably going to be better off with an Oyster card rather than a travelcard, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Have a read of this page which explains them all - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-contactless-travelcard-comparison.php

Sandr Hi, Me and my husband are coming to London with our kids age 8,15,16.We will be there one week.Is the seven days travelcard best options for us?

Staff Hi Sandr. Travelcards usually work out cheaper if you make 2 or more journeys on each of the 7 days, or three or more on 6 of the days. Otherwise you’ll be better off with Oyster cards (unless you have UK bank cards, then you can just use contactless instead)

Sandra Thank you very much for your answer.We surely will be using it more than 2 times a day.And my daughter age 8 doesn't have to have a travelcard?My daughter age 15 has a child travelcard?Does it have to be with a photo? Thanks for your help.

Staff You can only get a child travelcard if you have a child photocard, but you have to pay extra money for those which means you’d wipe out all the savings. So its not worth it. Your 8 year old travels for free. Its all explained on our child fares page - londondrum.com/​transport/​child-train-fares.php

Kathe Conway Hello, riding here i am curious, i will be in london for seven days thinking it is best to get a travel card, can you buy this at Heathrow ? Also if for one day I am traveling to zone four does it make more sense just to buy a single trip that day? sorry so confusing :)

Staff Hi Kathe. You can get it loaded on to an oyster card, but youll need the oyster card first. You can have a paper one posted to you if you order it online (even abroad - its all described in the ‘Where can you buy a travelcard?’ section above). If you want to use it from heathrow into central london that would be zones 1-6, which would also cover zone 4. You wouldnt be travelling zones 1-6 all week though, so it would be a bit of a waste of money. I would probably recommend getting an oyster card instead, which you can get from heathrow - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-cards.php

Giuluano Hi there, how much cost me a travel card zone 1to 6 on Sunday?

Staff Hi Giuluano. Sunday is off-peak so get the off-peak one - 15,20

Richard Can I buy the 1 day Travelcard at any national trainstation (planning for Knockholt)? As this is a requirement for 2for1

Staff Hi. Richard. You can, yes (assuming you mean one of the stations in London). But you have to get it from the windows/machines upstairs, in the National Rail part of the station. If you go downstairs to the London Underground part then it will be printed on different paper, which is no good for the offer.

Richard Thanks. Indeed we drive from SevenOaks to Knockholt national railstation, with our Diesel from the Netherlands, which I want to leave outside LEZ. Thus parking in Knockholt (which is in Zone 6) and then use for the Saturday and Sunday the 2 day paper travelcard. This should allow our group of 6 to have the cheapest means of transportation into London, benefitting from 2FOR1, as long as we purchase the cards at Knockholt national Railwaystation (Can we purchase them at this station!? ). Can you confirm this is the best strategy? Thx

Staff Knockholt is in zone 6, so they should sell them. Its not the cheapest way of travelling (using contactless/oyster would be cheaper) but you’d make all the money back and more from doing the 2-for-1 offer, so it sounds like a good plan. You can buy the off-peak ones if youre travelling at the weekend. And its definitely a lot cheaper than driving into london. If youre talking about this saturday and sunday remember the coronation is on, so everywhere will likely be packed

JOSE CARVALHO If I have a travelcard card for zones 1 and 2, and I want to go Canning Town (zone 2/3) and return, how to proceed.

Staff Hi Jose. if you coming from the direction of zone 1 or 2, and get off at Canning Town, then you're fine, your travelcard will cover the whole journey. If you’re going into zone 3 and your travelcard is on an oyster card, then you can just load on some extra pay-as-you-go credit to cover the fare for zone 2-3 (which can be seen here - londondrum.com/​transport/​adult-train-fares.php )

Lynn I am arriving in London from overseas and need just one train ticket from Paddington Station to Kings Cross Station. What is the best way to pay for this trip please

Staff Hi lynn. If it's just a one-off then I would buy a single ticket from the self-service machine in the station

Derek Scriven Is there still a concession on 1 day travelcards with a senior railcard?

Staff H Derek. There is, but only this specific one - "Anytime Day Travelcard Zones 1-9 when bought as part of ticket to London from outside London" - senior-railcard.co.uk/​using-your-railcard/​travel-times-tickets/

Richard I want to find out about the cheapest weekly cost for travel card from Brockley station to Reading.

Lala If I want to travel to London zones 1-6 and I need the weekly travel cards, how much is it and how do I buy it? I also have a 16-25 Railcard, can it be applied when buying?

Staff Hi Lala. the prices for zone 1-6 are all shown in the table at the top. The different ways to buy it are described under ‘Where can you buy travelcards’. The railcard wont get you a discount on a weekly travelcard. The only travelcard you can get a discount on is a “one day travelcard, zones 1-9, when bought together with a National Rail ticket to London (when coming from outside London)”

ALAN Can I use a Rail Travel Voucher issued by Transport for Wales for a cancelled journey to buy a TFL Travelcard?

Staff Hi Alan. I wouldn't imagine so, but it's probably best to ask Transport for Wales - tfw.wales/​help-and-contact/​rail/contact-us

Edward Gould Do I need a photo for an annual season travel card

Staff Hi Edward. You’ll need to get an oyster card and register it on the TFL website. You’ll then be able to buy the annual travelcard through that website and load it straight onto your card

Malcolm Oates What is price of off-peak one day travelcard zones 1-6 for a senior railcard holder. it was 34% off.

Staff Hi Malcom. The normal price is £15,20 and the discount would only apply if you bought the ticket as part of a longer National Rail journey from outside zones 1-9 - senior-railcard.co.uk/​about-the-railcard/​using-your-railcard/

Tahira If I bought a Train, Bus & Tram Travelcard covering zones 5-6, what buses would be covered? Will it always be buses up to zone 6? Or is my case different?

Staff Hi Tahira. Buses don't have zones, so whichever train travelcard you buy it will always cover buses in train zones 1-6

Steve Hi, I’m traveling to Leicester square on the Friday bank holiday from Bedford with two adults and two 15 year olds just for the day. Do we just get the one day travel card or is there a better option. Tia

Staff HI Steve. The fares will be cheaper if you just use your contactless card. But you’ll have to have one card each. if your kids don’t have one then I would get them one day travelcards - londondrum.com/​transport/​oyster-contactless-travelcard-comparison.php

Steve Thank you for your help

Ron Travelling from Richmond to Stratford using Overground line Do I need to use pink reader anywhere to get cheaper fare using contactless? Thanks

Staff Hi Ron. You need to avoid zone 1, so it will make the journey a lot longer. If you want to do it then you could change onto the Overground at Gunnersbury and tap the pink reader there (don't go through any ticket barriers, because that would end your journey)

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London travelcard cost for each zone and fare caps for individual journeys in 2023

Fares rose by 5.9 per cent back in March

• 12:37, 17 APR 2023

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Back in March 2023, London travelcard prices and rail fares saw a staggering 5.9 per cent increase - the biggest rise in over a decade. Fares across the country have seen hundreds of pounds added to the cost of many annual season tickets, and individual journeys or day travelcards now cost significantly more.

In London, TfL prices all went up with pay-as-you-go fares rising by an increase of 10p to 30p. The price increase also impacted bus and tram fares, daily and weekly caps, daily and weekly travelcards, river bus services and the IFS cloud cable car. The adult peak pay-as-you-go fare for a journey in Zone 1 is now £2.80, while for off-peak it is £2.70.

Before March 2023, a pay-as-you-go single fare was £1.65 on buses, now it is £1.95. The daily cap for zones 1 & 2 used to be £7.70 and a weekly cap of £38.50. Now, it is £8.10 daily and £ 40.70 weekly. In case you've lost track of the new costs, we've compiled a list of the cost of every single travel card in each TFL Zone as well as the maximum fares for a single journey.

READ MORE: Drivers warned of '20p hack' which could save you from being slapped with huge £10k fine

For a one-day anytime or one day off-peak journey it would cost you a maximum of £8.10. For a Monday to Sunday 7-day travelcard, it would cost £40.70 A one-day anytime travelcard would cost £15.20, the same for off-peak journeys. While a 7-day travelcard would cost £40.70, monthly it is £156.30 and annually it is £1,628.

Zone 1 and 2

A Zone 1 & 2 one day anytime journey costs a maximum of £8.10, the same as off-peak. It costs the same amount for a Zone 1 & 2 travelcard as it would for one covering just those individual zones, so £40.70 weekly, £156.30 monthly and £1,628 annually.

Zone 1, 2 and 3

In Zones 1-3 it costs a maximum of £9.60 for a one-day anytime and off-peak journey as if you are travelling within those three zones. It is £47.90 for a 7-day Monday to Sunday ticket. One day anytime or off-peak travelcards cost £15.20, or they are £47.90 for a 7-day, £184 monthly and £1,916 annually.

Zone 1, 2, 4 and 4

A one-day anytime ticket costs a maximum of £11.70, the same as off-peak. A 7-day Monday to Sunday travelcard costs £58.50. One day anytime or off-peak travelcards cost £15.20, or they are £224.70 monthly and £2,340 annually.

Zone 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

One day anytime journeys cost a maximum of £13.90, the same as off-peak and for a 7-day Monday to Sunday ticket it's £69.60. A one-day anytime travelcard costs £21.50 while an off-peak costs £15.20. While a 7-day costs £69.60, monthly it's £267.30 and annually it's £2,784.

Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

One day anytime costs a maximum of £14.90, the same for off-peak journeys. Monday to Sunday 7-day travelcards cost £74.90. A one-day anytime travelcard costs £21.50, while off-peak costs £15.20. A monthly travelcard is £285.70 and annually it's £2,976.

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Travelcards explained

A Travelcard gives you unlimited travel (in the zones it’s valid for) on all National Rail services in London, including Southeastern  (except highspeed services unless combined with a rail ticket which states ‘plus highspeed’), as well as Transport for London (TfL) London Underground, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, all London Buses and, if valid in zones 3, 4, 5 or 6, on all London Trams. 

When can I use a Travelcard? 

Travelcards can start on any day of the week and can bought for 1 day, 7 days, 1 month and any period between 1 month and 1 year. The One Day Travelcard can be printed on a paper ticket or added to our contactless smartcard, The Key (you may also want to consider using pay as you go (PAYG) on Oyster or Contactless instead, with daily capping that can work out cheaper.) Travelcards for 7 days or longer can only be added to The Key or to your TfL Oyster card. Season Travelcards and Anytime Day Travelcards can be used at any time, whilst Off-Peak Travelcards can only be used at certain times in the day. Find out more on the National Rail Oyster Card page

What if I want to travel beyond the zones permitted on my Travelcard? 

You will need to purchase a Boundary Zone ticket to or from stations outside of London. For example, if you have a 7 Day Zones 1 to 3 Travelcard and wanted to travel to Dover Priory, you can buy a London Boundary Zone 3 to Dover Priory Day Return from a ticket office or ticket vending machine. The train you are on does not need to call at a station within Zone 3 to be valid. Find out more on the National Rail Travel Information page

Can I combine a Travelcard with my rail ticket to or from London? 

Yes. If you are travelling on one of our services between Kent or East Sussex and London, you may be able to buy a rail ticket which also includes a One Day Travelcard. Check our Journey Planner to see if this option is available.

I’ve heard that One Day Travelcards were due to be scrapped – is this true?

In April 2023, the Mayor of London proposed to withdraw One Day Travelcards. In October 2023, the Department for Transport, TfL and rail operators including Southeastern struck a deal to save the Travelcard. This was subject to a one-off price increase of 3% on One Day Travelcards for travel from stations outside Zones 1 – 6 as part of a rail ticket from March 2024, which is in addition to the Department for Transport’s announced regulated fares increase of 4.9%. Unfortunately, this additional price increase means that the One Day Travelcard as part of a rail ticket may not always be the best value, depending on the number of journeys you intend to make within London. It may cheaper to buy your ticket from stations outside Zones 1 - 6 separately and then use PAYG contactless or Oyster to travel within these zones.

How can I get the best value when buying my ticket?

You can check individual journeys and compare both options by using our Journey Planner as well as the TfL Single fare finder . As an example, if you buy an Off-Peak Day Return from Dover Priory to London St. Pancras International valid on highspeed services  for £54.40 and used PAYG contactless or Oyster twice within Zones 1 – 6, you will save £1.50 compared to buying a One Day Travelcard for the same journey for £61.30.

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Oyster Fares Central

Zone 1 to 4 extension fare (with 2-3 travelcard & Gold Card)

Home › Forums › Fare and Capping Queries › Zone 1 to 4 extension fare (with 2-3 travelcard & Gold Card)

• Author Posts

Just got off a long, long call with TfL

Was charged £4.60 for London Bridge Mainline to Richmond Mainline via Waterloo / East at 5pm weekday peak. This is the full fare as per Single Fare Finder. TfL agent verified, after much calculation and checking with supervisor, that this is correct

However, I have an annual Z2-3 travelcard, so I was expecting a lower fare – i.e. a maximum of £2.50 (Z1-2 peak extension) plus £1.60 (Z3-4 peak extension) = £4.10. No dice apparently – “because you didn’t enter or exit in Z2 or Z3, your ticket is not included in the calculation”… So, I could have saved 50p by literally getting off at, e.g. Putney, and tapping out and in again. This is bonkers! (the agent agreed)

In fact, according to National Rail, a paper ticket for the same journey, but without any Travelcard credit, with Gold Card discount is only £3.95, so I would have saved 65p by buying a piece of paper instead of using my Oyster… I thought Oyster was always guaranteed to be cheaper than paper!

On a separate note, does that mean no Gold Card discounts at 5pm, even if the journey is “off peak” by National Rail criteria, and despite the TfL website saying “anytime after 9:30am Mon-Fri”?

Quick answer is that you were charged correctly, but not for the reasons given.

Where a travelcard plugs a hole between two extension fares you are charged the cheaper of the whole fare without the travelcard or the two extension fares. In this case the fares are National Rail rather than Underground so zone 1 peak is £3.10 which covers London Bridge to Vauxhall. Then the zone 4 extension is £2.60 which comes out at £5.70. As this is more than the £4.60 whole fare you are charged the whole fare.

The gold card discount applies to off-peak fares and the off-peak cap, but you didn’t reach the discounted off peak cap of £7.25. This is one of the drawbacks of travel in the afternoon peak which is included in the page When Not To Use Oyster.

I hope this helps you to understand what happened.

Ah thanks for that – ok, I had assumed that NR and Underground fares were the same if they covered the same zones, but they’re clearly not! I guess my calculation would have been right if I had used purely Underground from London Bridge to Richmond, as the extension fares are cheaper and below the cost of the through ticket (£4.30)

Out of interest, is there a published list of extension ticket prices, as it all seems to be a black box of mystery, and not available on the TfL website?

And next time I’ll remember to do paper tickets for the evening peak on NR, as that’s cheaper with Gold Card in this case – should’ve read your article first!

Thanks again Mike

Generally the extension fares are the same as the single fares for the zones required at the scale applying to the journey. The Fares Guide page attempts to explain what fares apply for each sort of journey. In your case you needed the zone 1 and zone 4 fares because zones 2 and 3 were paid for. Extension fares work from the boundary between zones so you don’t pay for a zone twice. On National Rail routes the extension fare might be 5p or 10p more for reasons best known to them.

Yes, if you’d used Jubilee or Northern and District to get to Richmond you would have been charged the sum of the two extensions.

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How do travel credit cards work?

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• • Credit cards
• • Travel loyalty programs

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Key takeaways

• A travel credit card offers points or miles for the purchases you make with the card that you can redeem for future travel.
• Travel credit cards come in all shapes and sizes, from co-branded hotel or airline cards to general travel cards that allow points and miles transfers to partner brands.
• In terms of redemption, you'll typically get the most value by redeeming toward travel in your issuer's portal or by transferring rewards to hotel and airline loyalty programs.
• Before applying for a travel card, consider its fees, ongoing rewards structure and first-year welcome bonus opportunity.

Travel credit cards make it easy to earn rewards — usually offered in the form of points or miles — for certain types of purchases. You can typically redeem your travel rewards for the big expenses associated with your next trip such as flights, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages. Some issuers also let you redeem travel rewards for statement credits and other non-travel options.

Some travel credit cards are associated with a specific airline or hotel loyalty program, whereas others let you earn rewards within a credit card’s rewards program . At the end of the day, you’ll want to understand the type of travel rewards your card offers, as well as available redemption options before you sign up.

Regardless of which type of card you choose, becoming a savvy travel rewards credit card holder can help offset travel costs and enhance your overall travel experience.

Types of travel credit cards

No matter your spending habits and rewards preferences, there’s likely a travel credit card that fits. Top travel credit cards include flexible rewards cards and those that are co-branded with another program, such as hotel credit cards and airline credit cards.

Flexible travel credit cards

Hotel credit cards, airline credit cards, how to redeem points and miles.

Once you’ve met the requirements for a hefty welcome offer or earned enough miles to cover your next flight or hotel stay, how do you redeem them? The kind of travel card you have and its respective rewards program determine how you can apply those rewards. If you have a hotel or airline credit card, you can typically only redeem those points with their respective loyalty programs, with a few exceptions. However, there are more ways to redeem flexible travel rewards , like booking through your card issuer’s online travel portal or transferring your points or miles to an issuer’s travel partners.

Redeeming rewards on an issuer’s online portal

Your card issuer will typically have a portal on its website that lists redemption options and points values. Examples of redemption options include statement credits, travel purchases, gift cards and cash back.

Rewards programs typically use a 1 point:1 cent conversion rate, meaning every 100 points or miles is worth $1. Some issuers, like Chase, also offer boosted points values or other perks for travel purchases made through their online portal. To get an idea of how much your points and miles are worth, take a look at Bankrate’s points and miles valuations page for an in-depth look at airline, hotel and credit card program rewards values.

To redeem your rewards on an issuer’s online portal, simply log in to your account and locate the appropriate rewards or travel section.

Redeeming rewards by transferring to a travel partner

Some travel rewards cards let you transfer points or miles to the issuer’s travel partners, which may include frequent flyer programs or hotel loyalty programs. This is often how to get the most value out of your travel rewards.

You can redeem travel rewards by transferring to an eligible travel partner through the issuer’s online portal. Transfer times can range from instantly to a few days — so plan ahead. Note, once you transfer points or miles from an issuer to a travel partner, you won’t be able to transfer them back to the issuer.

After you’ve transferred your points, you can book travel directly through the airline or hotel’s own loyalty program. Your credit card issuer is no longer involved in the process.

Other ways to redeem points and miles

Some credit cards allow you to redeem your points and miles for things like statement credits, cash back, gift cards or other merchandise. This is usually the least valuable way to redeem your points and miles so you’d be better off using them towards travel most times.

What’s the best way to maximize travel rewards?

When you want to make the most of your rewards, there’s no shortage of ways to spend a stockpile of points or miles. But here are some of the best ways to use your travel rewards :

• Book luxury accommodations
• Cover or lower the cost of your next flight
• Reserve a rental car at your destination
• Upgrade a flight or hotel stay

Be sure to check your card issuer’s online portal and travel partners for deals — such as a travel portal redemption bonus or transfer bonus to a specific hotel or airline — to help stretch your rewards further. In many cases, you can also choose to exchange your travel rewards for cash or a statement credit. But keep in mind that doing so usually dilutes the value of those rewards. Once you get the hang of using your travel credit card, you can maximize those rewards on bigger, better travel plans.

In general, the best value for flexible travel rewards will come from transferring them to various loyalty programs. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back, 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel portal and 2 cents each on average when transferred to a travel partner (according to Bankrate’s valuations ).

However, the value you get out of transferring points ultimately depends on how you redeem them. If you transfer 10,000 points from your travel credit card to an airline partner to book a flight that would’ve cost $300 in cash, your points would be worth 3 cents apiece in this case. However, if you used those same points to book a flight worth $100, your points would only be worth 1 cent apiece.

How to maximize your travel rewards

As we’ve mentioned, the best way to redeem points or miles is to transfer your rewards to one of the issuer’s airline or hotel partners and redeem them for accommodations or airline tickets. But making good use of a travel rewards card is about more than just earning and redeeming rewards — it’s also about managing the card itself well.

Whether you’re trying to get the best possible redemption value or want to know which pitfalls to avoid, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your travel rewards.

Use your card responsibly

The most important rule of using a travel credit card is to always pay your bill on time and in full and never carry a balance if you can help it. To do this, make sure you never charge more than you can afford to pay off each month, and don’t let the prospect of rewards cause you to overspend. Credit card rewards aren’t worthwhile if you’re going into debt or racking up interest charges and fees to get them.

Don’t miss out on a sign-up bonus

Many travel credit cards come with generous sign-up bonuses requiring you to spend a certain amount within the first few months of opening the account. Although these bonuses are often an attractive incentive to apply for a card, make sure the spending requirement is realistic for your budget and travel plans before you choose a travel credit card . You don’t want to end up in debt for the sake of earning extra rewards.

Don’t ignore the card’s fees

Credit card fees don’t directly affect the rewards you earn, but the cost of the fees does affect a card’s overall value to you. Take note of all the fees associated with any card you’re interested in getting.

One of the biggest fees to watch out for with travel credit cards is the annual fee some cards charge. Not all travel cards come with an annual fee, but those that do can range from an approachable $95 to $695 (or more). If you’re interested in a travel card that has an annual fee, be sure that the rewards and benefits will offset the cost. Otherwise, consider our list of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee .

Watch out for foreign transaction fees

Some credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee for purchases made abroad or in a foreign currency. This fee is usually around 3 percent of a purchase, and you’ll pay this fee for every transaction you make overseas. If you travel abroad frequently, you should consider getting a credit card with no foreign transaction fees .

Luckily, many of the best travel rewards cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but it’s always a good idea to verify that before applying.

Make sure you have the right card

It’s important to find the right travel card for your needs, which you can do after comparing options and considering all their pros and cons . For example, if you’re partial to a certain airline or hotel chain, a co-branded credit card can offer better rewards rates, discounts and perks related to that specific airline or hotel compared to a generic travel card.

Additionally, pay attention to a travel credit card’s rewards categories. For example, earning points or miles at restaurants won’t deliver a lot of value if you rarely dine out. But if you use services like Lyft or Uber a lot, you may want to look into a card that offers points or miles for rideshares.

How to choose a travel rewards card

Choosing the right travel rewards card is a highly personalized decision. Ultimately your spending habits, goals, finances and credit history will determine which travel card works best for you. This may require some self-reflection and an assessment of your financial situation to find the right travel card. Review these factors in your financial life to get clear on which travel card you need:

• Travel preferences. Do you prefer using one specific airline or hotel chain when you travel? Or would you rather have the freedom to use your points on whichever hotel and flight you choose? For loyalty-based rewards, go for a co-branded travel card. If you prefer flexibility, generic travel cards will give you more options.
• Spending habits. What do you spend the most money on? One of the best ways to choose a travel card is finding one that offers the highest rewards for the categories you spend the most in.
• Welcome offers. You may find welcome offers for travel credit cards where you can earn extra rewards by meeting purchase requirements within a certain timeframe. As long as you’re able to comfortably meet the spending requirements, a bonus offer could be a deciding factor.
• Credit history. Like most credit cards, applying for a travel rewards card means a hard credit check to determine eligibility. If you know where your credit score stands, it’s best to choose travel rewards cards that fit your credit profile to avoid unnecessary denials and credit inquiries. For cards that match your credit, use Bankrate’s CardMatch™ tool .
• Annual fee. There are plenty of travel credit cards with no annual fee if that’s what works for your budget. However, some cards with annual fees are worth it thanks to extra perks and benefits.

Travel rewards cards for beginners

When you’re ready to earn rewards, it’s best to start with a beginner-friendly travel card so you can get the hang of things. Here are our picks for beginner travel rewards credit cards:

• Discover it® Miles . Earn unlimited 1.5X miles on all of your purchases without an annual fee. With a simple rewards structure and a mile-for-mile match on all of the miles you earn at the end of your first year, you’ll find plenty of ways to make the most of this flexible travel rewards card.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . Get flexible travel rewards that are easy to use and understand, for a modest $95 annual fee. Earn 2X miles on all purchases and 5X the miles on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal.
• Bilt Mastercard® . If you want to earn travel rewards by paying your rent, the Bilt Mastercard has you covered. Earn 1X points on rent (up to 100,000 points each year) without any transaction fees, 2X on travel and 3X on dining. Plus you’ll access exclusive benefits on the first of every month as part of Bilt’s monthly “ Rent Day ” promotions.
• Chase Sapphire PreferredⓇ Card . If you’re looking for your first travel credit card, but it’s not your first time using a credit card, the Sapphire Preferred offers tons of cardholder perks and high rewards on travel and everyday categories like dining. For $95 per year, you’ll benefit from a $50 annual hotel credit through the Chase Travel portal, a solid lineup of travel protections and 25% more value when you redeem your points through Chase Travel.

These might not be your forever cards, but they’re a good starting point for learning how travel credit cards work. They’ll also help you get familiar with earning, redeeming and eventually maximizing travel rewards.

The bottom line

Using a travel rewards credit card can help you elevate your travel experiences by earning points or miles from your purchases. When you choose a travel card that aligns with your budget and goals, it can significantly reduce your travel costs or provide perks that enhance your trip. There’s a learning curve to using a travel card, but once you get the hang of it, you may be surprised by how much you can accomplish with your redemptions.

To make sure a travel credit card is ultimately worth it for you , be sure to select a card that rewards you for the type of purchases you make most often or the categories you spend the most in. Ideally, it won’t charge a fee that costs more than you’ll earn in rewards. If you’re ready to jump into the travel rewards lifestyle and start earning points toward your next trip, take a look at the best travel rewards cards to make your decision a little easier.

A guide to earning and redeeming frequent flyer miles

Do I need credit card travel insurance?

5 benefits you need from a travel credit card

Are travel credit cards worth it?

The pros and cons of travel credit cards

Should I get a travel credit card that earns points, miles or both?

5 steps to choose the best travel card

Best Travel Credit Cards of 2024

Yes, You Can Use Points and Miles to Book Travel for Someone Else. Here’s How

Many airline and hotel loyalty programs allow members to use their points to buy someone else a flight or an overnight stay—and it’s easier than you think..

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Follow our guidelines to book flights and stays for family and friends using your points and miles.

Photo by NicoElNino/Shutterstock

While some people are protective of their hard-earned points and miles, others may be inclined to share their riches with friends or family. One way of doing so is through sharing points and miles via transfers or pooling . Another is by booking an award ticket or hotel night directly for others using your own points. Because the world of points and miles is complicated, the latter option often gives pause and begs the question: Can you use points and miles for someone other than yourself? Generally speaking, you can, and it’s easy to do so. Airline loyalty programs are rather straightforward with redeeming miles for another passenger, while hotel loyalty programs are slightly trickier. Here’s how to redeem points and miles for a friend or family member, across all major programs.

Redeeming airline miles for someone else

Earning miles in frequent flier programs can be complex, but redeeming them is simple. Once you have enough miles, booking an award seat is as easy as a few clicks on the airline’s website. After finding your desired award seat, you can enter the details for any passenger. That’s right, the passenger doesn’t need to be you. Note that if you’re logged into your frequent flier account, your information may automatically fill into the passenger fields, so be sure to clear that and enter the right info if you’re booking for someone else.

The truth is: All domestic carriers allow you to book mileage tickets for anyone—a family member, friend, or even a friend of a friend. So do most major international carriers’ frequent flier programs, including favorites like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, British Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. (Several Asia-based airlines restrict redemptions to family members, but these are smaller programs.) When booking for someone else, it’s crucial to adhere to program policies; trading or selling miles is prohibited and could lead to account termination. (Read: Don’t go on Reddit and offer your miles to the highest bidder and book a ticket in their name—you will likely get caught.) Mileage tickets should be only for others you know and viewed as gifts. Remember that you’ll also be responsible for paying taxes and fees for these award tickets because many airlines only accept credit card payments for taxes and fees from the frequent flier account holder.

I personally have booked dozens of airline tickets for family members and friends over the past several years—it’s almost tradition that I gift award tickets for birthdays or milestones. (In one case, I paid for a $21,000 family trip using mostly points and miles .) Let your giftee know that once you enter their details, such as their email and phone number, all further communication regarding the ticket will go to them. If they want to make a change or cancellation, they’ll need a record locator to ensure that the change goes smoothly or that the miles are redeposited to your account promptly—and the record locator is usually only on the ticket. You can try to look it up on your profile yourself, but most programs don’t include the record locator when deducting the miles from your account so you’ll need to get it from the ticket. The solution is to keep your own digital copy of the gifted ticket and record locator to avoid any issues.

Redeeming hotel points for someone else

Redeeming airline miles for someone else generally follows a uniform process across all airlines, but redeeming hotel points varies by program. So does redeeming free-night certificates, which are usually given as part of welcome offers on hotel-branded credit cards or as incentives for spending and keeping the credit card each year.

The IHG One Rewards program offers the simplest method for redeeming hotel nights for others: You can book rooms using points or free-night certificates directly through its website and add a name to the reservation field. Your beneficiary can then check in using the reservation number—easy-peasy. Your name will still be the primary one on the reservation but the other person will now be there, too. Note that this feature is available only on the desktop version of the IHG One Rewards site, not on the app.

In contrast, Hilton Honors , Marriott Bonvoy , and World of Hyatt operate differently. Hilton Honors requires a phone call to fulfill a points booking for someone else, although my preferred approach is to transfer Hilton Honors points directly to the recipient’s Hilton Honors account, which is free of charge and can be completed online through the website (Tip: The transfer doesn’t always work on Safari, so use Google Chrome.) Up to 500,000 Hilton points can be transferred annually between members, with a limit of six transfers per calendar year. A Hilton Honors account takes 60 seconds to open but it must be open for 60 days in order to make or receive a transfer. While transferring points with Hilton Honors is a cinch, Hilton Honors Free Night Award certificates cannot be transferred between members.

Marriott Bonvoy allows members to transfer up to 100,000 points per year for free, and recipients can receive up to 500,000 points annually. Since 100,000 Bonvoy points usually don’t go very far (a night at the Miami Beach Edition, for example, goes for 91,000 points in mid-December), it’s better to contact Bonvoy customer support to book the reservation with your points. Ask them to notate the reservation as a gifted room to a friend or family member. You will be the primary name on the reservation, but the giftee will also be listed and can check in under their name. (In the unlikely event your giftee has an issue at check-in, tell them to provide your name and there should be a note in the system that perhaps did not copy into the hotel manifest.) Such gifted reservations are limited to five per account per calendar year. In terms of free night Bonvoy award certificates, they cannot be used on behalf of anyone except the certificate holder, and the program can be quite strict about this.

Unlike other major hotel loyalty programs, World of Hyatt does allow an outright transfer of free-night certificates from one account to another. This can be accomplished online once you are logged in and provide the recipient’s account information. To make a reservation for someone else using your points, call World of Hyatt customer service to complete the transaction. Alternatively, you can transfer the hotel points to them. However, unlike Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors transfers, which are often instantaneous, World of Hyatt transfers can take a few weeks. Any World of Hyatt member can transfer points to another member at no charge, in any increment with no annual limits on giving or receiving; however, transactions are limited to once every 30 days and require emailing some paperwork.

It’s possible—and often very straightforward—to use your points and miles for others. For mileage tickets, this just requires putting in the passenger’s information in the correct fields when booking but understanding that you are gifting these miles and must use your own credit card for taxes and fees. For hotel points bookings, procedures vary by loyalty program, but each ultimately allows program members to book hotel nights for others (albeit often requiring a phone call).

Top Credit Cards With Priority Pass Lounge Access

Enhance your next trip by spending time in a lounge before your flight.

Credit Cards With Priority Pass

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There is a Priority Pass credit card for each type of traveler.

Some of the links on this site contain offers from our partners .

Key Takeaways

• Priority Pass has over 1,500 airport lounges around the world.
• Select travel credit cards offer a complimentary membership with free entrance for the cardholder and up to two travel companions.
• Travelers receive complimentary drinks, food, Wi-Fi and more inside the lounge.

Waiting at the airport for your flight can be an uninviting experience. Seats at the gate are often uncomfortable and crowded, while food options are typically overpriced. However, if you have access to an airport lounge, you'll enjoy comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, and free Wi-Fi.

Priority Pass credit cards allow travelers to enjoy the amenities inside more than 1,500 lounges around the world. Learn more about Priority Pass lounges, which credit cards offer Priority Pass membership and which factors you should consider before applying.

Priority Pass Lounge Benefits

Benefits can vary, depending on the location. You may find multiple Priority Pass lounges at the same airport that offer different amenities. However, most Priority Pass lounges offer the following complimentary benefits:

• Meals or snacks
• Beverages, including alcohol
• Comfortable seating

According to Zac Hood, founder of Travel Freely, a points and miles app for beginners, "International lounges typically stand out as more upscale with better food," than U.S. lounges.

The Priority Pass website or mobile app provides an overview of the benefits available inside each lounge. A third-party service called LoungeBuddy also shares highlights and user reviews.

How Many Times Can You Use Your Card's Priority Pass Benefits?

Complimentary access to participating airport lounges is often unlimited for people with a Priority Pass credit card. However, not all credit cards that offer this benefit include unlimited access for free. Some cards include just a handful of complimentary visits per year and charge for each additional visit. Other credit cards do not include any free visits and charge every time you want to enter the lounge.

Ben Komenkul, a travel points and miles educator at Ben's Big Deal, says, "Priority Pass cardmembers get full access to Priority Pass airport lounge for up to two guests when flying any airline the same day." However, there can be some exceptions to the rule.

5 Best Credit Cards for Priority Pass Lounge Access

There are numerous Priority Pass credit cards to choose from, so we narrowed down the list to our favorites for each type of traveler.

For Luxury Travelers: The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card from American Express is well-known for its premium travel benefits and top-notch customer service. In addition to Priority Pass lounges, cardholders also receive complimentary access to Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges. (Enrollment required.) It features numerous benefits, including more than $1,500 in value with its cardholder credits. Cardholders receive Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status for no charge, and they'll earn five points per dollar when booking flights through American Express Travel or directly with the airline. Membership Rewards points can be used to book travel, get statement credits and more, including transferring to 21 airline and hotel partners. You'll pay a $695 annual fee for this card. ( See Rates & Fees )

For Best Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Savvy travelers love the Chase Sapphire Reserve for its benefits and flexible rewards. The card earns three points per dollar on dining and travel worldwide and up to 10 points per dollar on purchases through Chase Travel. Points are worth 50% more when booking travel through Chase, or you can transfer to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs. The card also features an annual $300 travel credit that automatically applies to eligible purchases. You'll pay a $550 annual fee for this card.

For Hotel Elite Status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hotel elite status provides numerous complimentary benefits, including upgrades at check-in, late checkout and higher earning power on hotel spending. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes automatic Hilton Honors Diamond elite status, which is the loyalty program's highest tier. Cardholders also receive a $400 Hilton resort credit and a $200 flight credit every year. Plus, the card includes an annual free night that can be used at almost any Hilton property worldwide. For big spenders, you can earn an additional free night by spending $30,000 and a second free night by spending $60,000. You'll pay a $550 annual fee for this card.

The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

For Sharing Benefits: Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card

The Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite Credit Card includes Priority Pass memberships that can be shared by up to four people. While other Priority Pass credit cards allow cardholders to bring up to two guests with them, this card allows cardholders to give Priority Pass benefits to other people. The card also earns two points per dollar on travel and dining plus 1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases. Customers who qualify for Preferred Rewards can earn up to 75% bonus points. The card also includes $550 in fee credits to offset its annual fee of $550.

The information for the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

For No Annual Fee: Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo

Travel credit cards have significant annual fees that are hard to justify for some travelers. The Signify Business Cash Card by Wells Fargo is a business credit card that includes Priority Pass access without charging an annual fee. The card earns an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase and includes a 0% introductory annual percentage rate offer on purchases for 12 months. Whenever you want to visit a Priority Pass lounge, simply pay an entrance fee to use all of its benefits.

The information for the Signify Business Cash℠ Card by Wells Fargo has been collected independently by U.S. News and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.

Tags: credit cards

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

Credit Card Portals vs Transferring Points: What You Need to Know

Earning points and miles is the best way to fly more for less. It’s the way I’ve been able to stay on the road for so long — and I’ve seen what a difference it’s made for my readers too.

I write a lot about the best credit cards to get depending on your travel goals, but I’ve talked less about how to use those points.

Today, I want to change that because I keep getting emails from people talking about how it takes too many points to book a flight. When I follow up, it is because they are booking through the credit card’s travel portal and that’s something you should rarely, if ever, do!

Travel rewards cards offer two main ways to use the points that you earn to book trips:

• By transferring points to their travel partners
• By using a card issuer’s booking portal

For those who are new to earning and using points and miles, there’s a lot of confusion about which is the better option. Travel credit cards position their portals as the best option for using your points. But, in reality, they rarely ever are.

So let’s talk about why this is.

Table of Contents

The Low-Down on Travel Portals

The low-down on transfer partners, comparing partners vs portals: which one is best for you.

The main difference is that these travel portals are connected to your credit card. This allows you to use your points and miles when booking. You can also choose to pay partially with points and partially with cash.

Using travel portals is basically like using your points as cash back. You get a fixed value per point and you will also earn points/miles on your booking.

Credit card companies position their portals as the best way to use points. They want you to use the portals and stay within their ecosystem so that they can make money off of you.

To keep you on their site, they offer incentives that you can only get when using their portal. These incentives include the following:

• Travel credits – If you use the portal, many cards offer statement credits to offset your purchase. For example, the card_name offers $50 USD hotel credit when booking through Chase Travel SM , and the card_name offers a $300 USD annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel.
• Increased rewards earning power – You’ll earn extra points when using the portal. For example, the Capital One Venture X and the card_name cards both offer 10x on hotels and rental cars and 5x on flights when booked through their portals.
• Increased point value – You’ll get a small boost in the number of points/miles you can cash in just by using the portal. For holders of Chase Sapphire cards, for example, 1 point becomes 1.25 or 1.5 points (with the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve, respectively) when booking through the portal. (While that seems like a great deal, you can usually get a much better value per point when transferring to travel partners, as I’ll get into below.)

Travel portals are easy and convenient. However, using them is usually not the best value for your points. What you get in simplicity and convenience you lose in the fixed redemption value that usually isn’t the best.  

On the flip side, you can transfer points from your account directly to the place where you want to book (such as an airline or hotel). While transferring your points to travel partners is a bit more work, you can get much more value out of your hard-earned points this way.

Only certain cards earn you transferable points though. For example, airline- and hotel-specific cards (such as the card_name or the card_name ) only earn you points that can be used at that airline or hotel. They’re less valuable, because they’re less flexible. Transferable points are valuable (and what you should aim to get), because they’re so flexible.

Here are a few types of transferable currencies and some cards that earn them:

• American Express Membership Rewards: The Platinum Card by American Express, the American Express Gold Card, the American Express Green Card.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
• Bilt Rewards: Bilt Mastercard®.
• Capital One miles: All Capital One Venture cards.
• Citi ThankYou Rewards: Citi Premier® Card.

Each transferable currency has different travel partners (many overlap). Here are some of Chase’s travel partners, listed at the Chase Travel SM site:

While the actual value you can get varies greatly based on the flight or hotel, a good benchmark is The Points Guy’s monthly valuation chart , which values most transferable currencies at over 2 cents per point when used as transferable points. That’s double what you’ll get on travel portals, and often you can get much more.

That’s because when transferring your points, you can also take advantage of transfer bonuses offered by credit cards and flash deals (such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue promo awards, which are monthly deals on award flights). These can be incredible deals, up to a 50% discount!

While finding award availability directly with airlines can seem overwhelming, the good news is that tools like Point.me (an award flight search tool) make it easier than ever.

Generally speaking, I always transfer my points. Doing so provides the best value and booking direct ensures that there is no third-party involved should there be an issue with my flight. Moreover, it takes a lot fewer points for a redemption this way. Let me tell you why in the next section.  

For example, a business class flight from New York to Paris in peak season is 88,000 points on United each way (both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards transfer to United). Those flights usually cost about $2,400 (though they can get as high as $5,000). If you had the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Bilt Rewards Card and booked through their respective portals, you would need 192,000 points (each point is worth 1.25 cents in either of these portals). That’s over double what you’d need when transferring your points to United booking directly.

Since most flight redemptions for economy start at 20,000 points (when transferring directly to airlines), you need to find a flight that’s less than $250 for it to be worth it to use the portal. This is when using the Chase Sapphire cards or the Bilt card, which offer you more than 1 cent per point when booking via their portals. For Amex or Capital One cards, you only get 1 cent per point/mile. That means you’d need to find a flight for $200 or less for it to make sense to use their portals.

For hotels and rental cars, it’s a little less black and white because you don’t always have transfer partners.

For example, I am booking hotels via the Chase Travel portal on an upcoming trip to Barcelona because there are no rooms bookable with points available. (You can only transfer points from credit cards to chains like Hyatt or Marriott.) Since hotels are $300 and up per night, I’m just using my points to save me money by booking with a non-chain hotel. I wouldn’t be able to book with points otherwise. This is the exception to the rule.

Here are some other cases in which using the portal is your best option:

• There are no award seats available on your desired flight (such as if you’re flying in peak season or during the holidays) or hotel (such as if you want to book a boutique hotel that is not bookable with points).
• You’re booking a rental car and want to use points (you can’t book rental cars directly via points).
• You’re chasing airline status and want to earn points on your booking.
• You simply won’t use your points otherwise.

About that last item: always consider your travel goals and determine whether the ease and convenience of using the portal is worth it to you. Using your points, regardless of how, is better than letting them sit around! Never stockpile your points. They get devalued all the time. So use them rather than lose them!

Travel portals can be an enticing way to use your points. They’re convenient, and banks give you incentives to use them. If you’re new to points and miles and just want a simple way to cash in your earnings, they are definitely an option.

However, you can usually get much better value out of your points by transferring them directly to airlines or hotels. The fewer points you use per trip, the more points you have for more travel (or more points to fly/stay in luxury).

But the great thing is that you don’t have to choose either the portal or transferring to partners. You can mix and match depending on the best option at the time. So do a quick comparison and use points to book your next trip!  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Advertiser Disclosure: “Nomadic Matt has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Some or all of the card offers on this page are from advertisers and compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Nomadic Matt and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.”

Editorial Disclosure: “Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. This page does not include all card companies or all available card offers.”

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, See Rates and Fees .

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles(R) Gold American Express Card, See Rates and Fees .

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Child Fares on London Transport

Last checked: 3 June 2024 Discounts for children on London transport are straightforward for children aged 10 and under. For children aged 11-15 it’s slightly more complicated.

Children under 5

Children under-5 travel free on all types of transport in London when travelling with an adult.

• up to 4 children are allowed per adult on London buses, the underground (tube), DLR and London Overground.
• up to 2 children under-5 travel free per adult on National Rail (trains)

Children aged 5-10

All children aged 5-10 travel for free on:

• the underground (tube), DLR, London Overground and some National Rail services within London as long as an adult accompanies them. Up to 4 children can travel per adult
• London’s buses with or without an adult

Children aged 11-15

Children aged 11-15 travel for free on London’s buses and at child-rate Pay as you go Oyster fares on the underground (tube), DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services if they have an 11-15 Zip Oyster photocard.

The child-rate single fare with an 11-15 Zip Oyster is 95p (peak) or 85p (off-peak) for zones 1-6.

Like the ordinary adult Oyster card, there’s a daily cap – the maximum amount deducted from the card in one day. It’s £4.25 peak and £1.80 off-peak for zones 1-2.

This is the cheapest deal for 11-15 year olds. The card is not available from underground stations, although you can apply online . It is available to non-UK residents but you’ll need to apply at least 3-4 weeks in advance. There’s also a non-refundable £15 administrative charge.

Travel in London without an 11-15 Zip Oyster

Applying for a 11-15 Zip Oyster is not worth the trouble unless you’re a resident or frequent visitor.

There are a few other options for young visitors that will save money:

• Young Visitor Discount on an Oyster card
• Child-rate One Day Travelcard (from an underground or train station)
• Pay the child full-fare (underground only, not bus)

Bus-only travel for 11-15 year olds

If an 11-15 year old does not have an 11-15 Zip Oyster, Visitor Oyster Discount or child-rate Travelcard the best option is to let them use your contactless debit/credit card and pay the adult-rate bus fare of  £1.75. (NB only one card can be charged per passenger) or buy a £5.90 adult-rate one day bus pass . See London bus tickets & passes for details.

Young visitor Oyster discount

If you don’t want to apply for an 11-15 Zip Oyster, the cheapest way for 11-15 year old visitors to travel is the Young Visitor Oyster Discount. This is a special discount added to an ordinary Oyster card. It’s valid for 14 days. After 14 days, the discount automatically expires and the card can be used as a ordinary adult Oyster card.

There’s a £7 fee for the Oyster card (non-refundable). Single fares and the daily cap for the underground and buses-only are 50% cheaper than adult fares.

For example:

• Unlimited travel by underground in zone 1-2 is  £4.25 per day
• Unlimited travel by bus is  £2.65 per day, for the whole of London

It’s available from:

• Underground station ticket machines: you need to buy an Oyster card (£7) or use a Visitor Oyster Card. Ask a member of staff to apply the discount to the card via the ticket machine.
• Transport for London Visitor Centres
• Victoria train station ticket office

Children aged 16-17

Children aged 16-17 can apply for the 16+ Zip Oyster Photocard . With this they:

• pay Oyster Pay as you go fares at half the adult rate on the bus, tube and most National Rail services in London. (Children resident in London with a 16+ Zip travel free on the buses)
• can buy a child-rate weekly or monthly Travelcard.

You must apply online. There’s a non-refundable £20 administrative charge for the 16+ Zip Oyster. If you live outside the UK, you must apply for your card at least 4 weeks before arrival in London.

Without a 16+ Zip Oyster, a 16 or 17 year old is classed as an adult and must either:

• pay the adult fare
• buy an adult-priced Travelcard, bus pass
• use an ordinary Pay as you go Oyster card with an Oyster or Contactless payment.

18+ Students

Students aged 18+ resident in London during term-time can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard. It might also be possible to apply for a 16+ Zip Oyster .

There are no other discounts for students not studying and living in London.

Child ticket prices (11-15 years)

11-15 zip oyster pay as you go single fares (payg) 2024, 11-15 zip oyster daily cap prices 2024, child one day travelcard 2024.

These are the prices for the Child One Day Travelcard.

Off Peak : Valid for travel after 09:30 Monday–Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays. Anytime : Valid for travel before 09:30 Monday–Friday.

See London’s Transport Zones if you’re not familiar with the zones and the areas they cover.

Transport tickets & passes

• Guide to London's transport tickets
• One day & weekly Travelcards
• Zone 2–6 weekly Travelcards
• Bus tickets & passes
• Oyster card
• Oyster single tickets
• Oyster card refunds
• Contactless cards
• Child tickets & passes
• Local train tickets

Useful information

• Plan your journey
• London transport zones

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4 different flavors of Amex Platinum — which one is right for you?

Editor's Note

The premium rewards card market is pretty crowded, with cardholders eager to pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees to get luxury perks.

It's crazy to think that there was really only one mass-market premium card less than a decade ago — The Platinum Card® from American Express . Now, the Platinum card is just one of a half dozen or so premium card offerings from American Express, but there are actually several different versions.

They share many common features, including the sleek metal design and access to Amex Offers . Still, each card features subtle differences that might make one more attractive to you than the others. Let's talk about the different types of Amex Platinum cards and what you need to know about each one.

Four different shades of platinum

These are the four different Amex Platinum cards we're diving into:

The Platinum Card from American Express

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
• The American Express Platinum® Card for Schwab
• The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley

The information for The American Express Platinum® Card for Schwab and The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

In addition to the perks described above, the Amex Platinum card — along with all its variations — also offers a Priority Pass Select membership, access to Amex Centurion lounges , access to Delta SkyClubs * on same-day Delta flights and complimentary Gold elite status with both Hilton and Marriott . Enrollment is required for select benefits.

One reason you might want to consider a different version is that Amex only allows you to earn a welcome bonus on any card once in a lifetime . Technically, these four Platinums are all different cards, so you can get the welcome offer on each.

*Effective Feb. 1, 2025: Eligible Amex Platinum cardmembers will receive 10 visits per eligible Amex Platinum card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.

Right now, there is a generous welcome offer on the Amex Platinum: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Those 80,000 points are worth a healthy $1,600, according to TPG's June valuations .

Plus, this card features a targeted welcome offer for some through the CardMatch tool ; CardMatch offers are targeted and subject to change at any time. For an in-depth analysis of this card, read our full review of the Amex Platinum .

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum card has a high spending requirement of $20,000 in the first three months to earn the 150,000 bonus points, but if your business has large expenses, a world of rewards is waiting for you.

This card is a standout choice for two reasons: The 35% bonus when you use your points to pay for flights (first and business class on any airline or economy on your selected qualifying airline) and the 50% point bonus on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year; 1 point per dollar thereafter)

The best way to use this would be on a large travel purchase made with American Express Travel, so your 50% bonus would be on top of the 5 points per dollar bonus category.

But even if you're using this for non-bonus spending, it can be a great deal. The 1.5 points per dollar aren't the highest possible return, but they're pretty solid. Curious about what else you can do with one of these cards? Read our full review of the Amex Business Platinum for more details.

The American Express Platinum Card for Schwab

The American Express Platinum Card for Schwab is only available to Charles Schwab customers. There's no way around this requirement since you must sign into your Schwab account during the application process.

If you're not a Schwab customer, you should consider signing up. The Schwab investor checking account reimburses all ATM fees worldwide, making this a great option for getting cash when traveling.

This card is identical to the personal Platinum card in most ways, except it comes with one neat perk — the ability to cash out Membership Rewards to a linked Schwab brokerage account. Note that this is significantly below TPG's valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, but if you find yourself racking up points faster than you can spend them, this can be a worthwhile option.

Points are a bad long-term investment as they're susceptible to award chart devaluations with no advance notice, so if your circumstances change and you aren't traveling enough to burn your points, consider cashing them out. The process is straightforward, and when I tried it out myself, the money posted instantly to my Schwab account even though it was a Sunday and banks were closed.

If you already are a Schwab customer, you might be eligible for a bonus of $100, $200 or $1,000 after account approval and each year after that, depending on the size of your account balances.

Related: How our cruise writer got $4,456 in value from his Amex Platinum in a year

The American Express Platinum Card Exclusively for Morgan Stanley

Like its Schwab counterpart, The American Express Platinum Card Exclusively for Morgan Stanley is only available to Morgan Stanley customers. You'll get all the usual benefits of the Amex Platinum, plus the ability to use Membership Rewards points for deposits by Morgan Stanley to your qualifying brokerage account. (For example, 50,000 points equals $500.)

You'll also to eligible to receive a $695 annual engagement bonus into your Platinum CashPlus account, effectively waiving the card's annual fee. The deposit is received each year upon card opening and upon renewal thereafter. Some Morgan Stanley debit card holders may also qualify.

Lastly, you'll be able to add Companion Platinum cards for no annual fee, although Companion Platinum cardmembers will not receive as many benefits as Additional Platinum cardmembers. You can add full-service Additional Platinum cards for $195 apiece.

Related: Personal or business: Which flavor of Amex Platinum and Amex Gold is best for you?

Bottom line

These four versions of the Amex Platinum card offer slightly different variations of a common package of luxury travel perks. To pick the right for you, it helps to consider how you plan to use your points (cash out, transfer to airlines, pay with points, etc.) and how much/what type of spending you plan to put on the card.

No one needs all four different variations of the Platinum card, but you may find that there's room for one in your wallet especially if you're in the market for a valuable welcome bonus.

Apply here: Amex Platinum card Apply here: Amex Business Platinum card

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, click here .

Looking for a Travel Credit Card? Make Sure It Has These 5 Features

I f you love to travel, then a travel credit card is good to have in your wallet. This type of credit card allows you to pay for travel expenses in points or miles, so they're an easy way to save money. Many of the top travel rewards cards also have lots of other features, too.

Often, the most challenging part is finding the right card. If you choose wrong, you could end up with a card that doesn't have everything you need. To avoid that, make sure any travel credit card you're considering has all the following features.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

1. Travel rewards you can actually use

The way you can use travel rewards depends on your credit card. For that reason, it's important to only get a card with rewards you're sure you can use. Ideally, you should be able to redeem your rewards every time you travel.

So, only get an airline credit card if you fly on that airline regularly. Only get a hotel credit card with a hotel brand that you like. And always check how a credit card's rewards work, and how you can use them, before you apply for it.

2. A big welcome offer

Travel credit cards tend to have some of the largest welcome offers . These give you the opportunity to earn a lot of points, very quickly. Some of them can be worth $500 or more in free travel.

Since welcome offers can be so valuable, it makes sense to look for a travel card with a good one. Don't forget to confirm that you'll be able to complete the requirements to earn the welcome offer. It's usually just a spending requirement, such as making $3,000 in purchases in the first three months.

3. No foreign transaction fee

Some credit cards charge foreign transaction fees , with 3% being a standard fee amount. If you go abroad and spend $3,000, this would cost you another $90.

Foreign transaction fees are one of those extra costs that nobody needs to pay. Many travel cards don't charge this type of fee, so it's easy enough to avoid. To be safe, double check the fees for any card you're considering, because there are travel cards that charge one.

4. A high rewards rate on your typical expenses

The more points you earn on your regular spending, the more you can save on travel. To maximize your rewards, look for a card with a rewards rate that's a good fit for your usual spending habits.

If you go out to eat often, look for bonus rewards on dining purchases . If you spend a lot on groceries, pick a card with bonuses at supermarkets or on grocery delivery services. And if you feel like your spending is pretty balanced, consider going with a card that has a competitive rate, such as 2 points per $1, on all types of purchases.

5. A reasonable annual fee for what it offers

There are travel cards at just about every price point, from $0 per year to nearly $700. The key to deciding if an annual fee is worth it is comparing the cost to the value you'll get from the card. More expensive cards typically have more valuable perks, such as:

• Travel spending credits
• Higher rewards rates
• Bigger welcome offers
• Airport lounge access

For example, at first glance, a $250 annual fee probably seems like a lot to pay for a credit card. But if you like the benefits and estimate that it will save you at least $750 per year, then you're coming out $500 ahead.

You have all kinds of options if you're in the market for a travel credit card. If you look for one with those five features, you should have no trouble finding a card you like and that helps you save money on your travels.

Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until nearly 2025

If you're using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick , which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee. 

In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. 

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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy .

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FACT SHEET: President   Biden Announces New Actions to Keep Families   Together

Since his first day in office, President Biden has called on Congress to secure our border and address our broken immigration system. As Congressional Republicans have continued to put partisan politics ahead of national security – twice voting against the toughest and fairest set of reforms in decades – the President and his Administration have taken actions to secure the border, including:

• Implementing executive actions to bar migrants who cross our Southern border unlawfully from receiving asylum when encounters are high;
• Deploying record numbers of law enforcement personnel, infrastructure, and technology to the Southern border;
• Seizing record amounts of fentanyl at our ports of entry;
• Revoking the visas of CEOs and government officials outside the U.S. who profit from migrants coming to the U.S. unlawfully; and
• Expanding efforts to dismantle human smuggling networks and prosecuting individuals who violate immigration laws.

President Biden believes that securing the border is essential. He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country. The Day One immigration reform plan that the President sent to Congress reflects both the need for a secure border and protections for the long-term undocumented. While Congress has failed to act on these reforms, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to strengthen our lawful immigration system. In addition to vigorously defending the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals) policy, the Administration has extended Affordable Care Act coverage to DACA recipients and streamlined, expanded, and instituted new reunification programs so that families can stay together while they complete the immigration process.  Still, there is more that we can do to bring peace of mind and stability to Americans living in mixed-status families as well as young people educated in this country, including Dreamers. That is why today, President Biden announced new actions for people who have been here many years to keep American families together and allow more young people to contribute to our economy.   Keeping American Families Together

• Today, President Biden is announcing that the Department of Homeland Security will take action to ensure that U.S. citizens with noncitizen spouses and children can keep their families together.
• This new process will help certain noncitizen spouses and children apply for lawful permanent residence – status that they are already eligible for – without leaving the country.
• These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our economy, providing a significant benefit to the country and helping U.S. citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together.
• In order to be eligible, noncitizens must – as of June 17, 2024 – have resided in the United States for 10 or more years and be legally married to a U.S. citizen, while satisfying all applicable legal requirements. On average, those who are eligible for this process have resided in the U.S. for 23 years.
• Those who are approved after DHS’s case-by-case assessment of their application will be afforded a three-year period to apply for permanent residency. They will be allowed to remain with their families in the United States and be eligible for work authorization for up to three years. This will apply to all married couples who are eligible.  
• This action will protect approximately half a million spouses of U.S. citizens, and approximately 50,000 noncitizen children under the age of 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.

Easing the Visa Process for U.S. College Graduates, Including Dreamers

• President Obama and then-Vice President Biden established the DACA policy to allow young people who were brought here as children to come out of the shadows and contribute to our country in significant ways. Twelve years later, DACA recipients who started as high school and college students are now building successful careers and establishing families of their own.
• Today’s announcement will allow individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and who have received an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, to more quickly receive work visas.
• Recognizing that it is in our national interest to ensure that individuals who are educated in the U.S. are able to use their skills and education to benefit our country, the Administration is taking action to facilitate the employment visa process for those who have graduated from college and have a high-skilled job offer, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers. 

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