Frequently Asked Questions
How OMNY works
With OMNY, you can use your own contactless credit, debit card, or reloadable prepaid or pre-tax benefit card, smart device, wearable or an OMNY card to pay the fare. Just choose your preferred payment method, tap at an OMNY reader, and go!
OMNY is available at all subway stations, MTA-operated buses, Hudson Rail Link, the Roosevelt Island Tram, and AirTrain-Howard Beach and AirTrain-Jamaica stations in New York City. More transit providers will be added soon.
OMNY supports full-fare and reduced-fare pay-per-ride options, including free transfers and fare capping.
The OMNY vending machine accepts credit and debit cards (including international cards) from banks and financial institutions. The machine also accepts cash and dispenses change. Mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) are also accepted.
About cash: machines can return cash in denominations of $1 bills and $5 bills. Coins will also be dispensed. The return value will be subject to the availability at the OMNY vending machine. For example, if the change is $5.00 and the machine is out of $5 bills, it will issue five $1 bills instead.
The maximum amount of change the machine can return is $9.95.
An EBT card can be used as a payment method for a new card purchase as well as reloading an existing card at an OMNY vending machine. Note: This is different in the retail network, where a customer can use their EBT card to reload an OMNY card but cannot use it to purchase a new card.
Yes.
Note: commuter benefit cards cannot be used to buy or reload OMNY cards in retail locations. However, they are accepted as payment at OMNY vending machines, online at OMNY.info, and at the OMNY Call Center.
Contactless cards have this symbol on the front or back. If you see this symbol on your card, you can tap it at OMNY readers at subway stations and on buses to make fare payments and enter the system.
Digital wallets are mobile applications that allow you to make payments with smart devices, such as your smart phone, smart watch, or wearable. Like contactless cards, smart devices also use contactless technology. Before you can make fare payments with your smart device at OMNY readers, you will need to add your bank card to your digital wallet.
You can choose between as many payment methods as you prefer. Keep in mind that only one payment method can be used to pay each fare at a single time.
Important: You must use the same payment method throughout each individual trip to qualify for benefits like free transfers and fare capped rides. For example, if you tap your contactless card to ride the subway, you must tap that same contactless card to obtain your free transfer to a local bus. You cannot switch between your contactless card and other payment methods and still obtain your free transfer. If you switch between payment methods during an individual trip, your transfer will be treated as a new trip, and you will be charged for your transfer.
To ensure that the fare is charged to your preferred payment method, please remove your card from your physical wallet and tap it on the OMNY reader. This will prevent you from accidentally charging other cards in your physical wallet.
OMNY is a contactless payment system and will accept payment from any NFC-enabled contactless card. Since OMNY does not know which card is your preferred payment method, the system will charge your fare to the first card that it reads.
To ensure that the fare is charged to your preferred payment method, please select the card in your digital wallet that you want to use and tap your smart device on the OMNY reader. Depending on the digital wallet you are using, and the number of cards in your digital wallet, you may need to select a default card.
To make the switch, use the digital assistant in the bottom-right of your screen on any page on omny.info, and follow prompts to put your reduced fare benefit on your smart device or contactless card. Before starting, you must create an OMNY account. Have your Reduced-Fare MetroCard and your credit/ debit card handy. Note that you can only link and use one form of payment with OMNY, either the contactless card itself or a smart device (with your linked card enabled in digital wallet). The digital assistant will help you make this choice.
If you are a new applicant to the Reduced-Fare program, you can let us know you’re interested in OMNY as part of the online application process or when you visit us in person to apply. New program applicants will be issued MetroCards at this time, and you will receive more information on how to switch to OMNY once you are enrolled in the Reduced-Fare program.
When you switch to OMNY, you can keep using your Reduced-Fare MetroCard until you spend down any remaining value or the card has expired, and then use OMNY for all future trips. Once your MetroCard expires, you will be fully switched to OMNY.
Reduced-Fare customers who do not register their own payment method will receive a Reduced-Fare OMNY card directly from the MTA in 2023. The card will say “RF” on the back. The card will not include your photo, but it is solely for your use as a Reduced-Fare customer. Once you have your OMNY card, you can add value online through an optional OMNY account or at participating stores.
You can switch to OMNY only if you are enrolled in MTA's Reduced-Fare program. If you have a temporary card because you lost your permanent Reduced-Fare card, you can make the switch to OMNY. You will need your Reduced-Fare ID number on your permanent card, which you could find out by calling 511.
Customers in the MTA Reduced-Fare MetroCard Program who have made the switch to OMNY will receive the same half fare benefit with the contactless credit or debit card or smart device of their choice when they tap with OMNY to pay the fare for the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Learn more about MTA’s Reduced-Fare Program.
OMNY readers are the face of the MTA’s new contactless fare payment system. OMNY readers serve as point-of-sale terminals, allowing you to pay your fare and enter the system – all in a split second. Click here to learn more about OMNY readers, including what the OMNY reader screens mean.
We have designed OMNY readers with various features to ensure that accessibility standards are achieved. Learn more about accessibility.
The fare charged to your payment method is not displayed on the OMNY reader screen. For more information on your fare history, please contact OMNY customer service by calling 877-789-6669 during the hours of 8 am to 8 pm Monday - Friday, and 8 am to 5 pm Saturday - Sunday or email us at customersupport@omny.info.
Your fares are currently charged individually for each trip. You will see each charge on the statement associated with your payment method.
Important: Your payment method will be authorized the first time it is tapped on an OMNY reader. This will trigger an authorization amount depending on your payment method. This authorization amount is temporary and will be reversed when the actual fare is charged to your payment method.
Contact your bank to resolve any issues with your credit or debit card account. Then contact OMNY customer service by calling 877-789-6669 to reauthorize any unpaid fares and restore your card in the OMNY system.
Note: It can take up to 15 minutes for your card to be restored after the issue has been resolved.
If you tap your contactless card or smart device and the OMNY reader indicates that the payment was not accepted, you will need to use another payment method to pay for your ride. Your payment may not be accepted for a few reasons. For example, if your payment method has been blocked by your bank or by the MTA, or your smart device is damaged, then you will not be able to use that payment method at any OMNY reader until the issue is resolved.
To resolve an issue with your card, please contact your bank. In the meantime, you can use another card, including a card in your digital wallet, or MetroCard.
If you are having trouble with your digital wallet, you may need to remove your card from your digital wallet and add it back in.
It is possible that your payment method has been blocked if we have not received payment for a prior fare. Until payment is received for that fare, that payment method will remain blocked, even if you use other payment methods in the meantime. You can register for an OMNY account or sign in to troubleshoot issues with your payment method.
You can call OMNY Customer Service at 877-789-6669 for assistance seven days a week: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You will be asked to provide information from your receipt concerning your transaction. If you do not have a receipt, we can still help. You will be asked to provide the machine number, which is located on the lower right of the OMNY vending machine; please also note the date, time, and station where you attempted to make your transaction.
Yes. The same free transfer rules that apply to MetroCard also apply to OMNY. Your free transfer will not be visible on the OMNY reader screen. Your free transfer will be determined at the end of each day before your payment method is charged.
Important: Transfers are valid within two hours of the initial fare payment.
Important: You must use the same payment method throughout each individual trip to qualify for benefits like free transfers. For example, if you tap your contactless card to ride the subway, you must tap that same contactless card to obtain your free transfer to a local bus. You cannot switch between your contactless card and other payment methods and still obtain your free transfer. If you switch between payment methods during an individual trip, your transfer will be treated as a new trip, and you will be charged for your transfer.
Important: If you travel with multiple riders, you can perform pass-backs to pay for yourself and up to 3 additional riders, including free transfers. You will need to tap multiple times for multiple riders seeking to receive free transfers. For example, if you travel with 3 additional riders, you will need tap 4 times on the first leg of your trip and 4 times for free transfers on the second leg of your trip.
Yes, you will receive free transfers between the Roosevelt Island Tram and subway/bus when you tap to pay the fare with OMNY. Note that free transfers are only available between Roosevelt Island Tram and MTA subways or local, limited and Select Bus Service buses.
Yes. The same pass-back rules that apply to MetroCard also apply to OMNY. You can tap and pay for yourself and up to 3 additional riders with the same payment method on a single trip. You will need to tap your payment method for each person that is riding with you. Each tap will result in a full-fare charge. Each person will also be eligible for free transfers. Taps and transfers cannot be moved between OMNY and MetroCard.
Important: If you are using a new payment method, you will not be able to perform pass-backs when you use that payment method for the first time. This is because the system must have a record of your payment method before you can perform pass-backs.
Important: You are limited to tapping and paying for yourself and 3 additional riders with the same payment method at a single OMNY reader. You may continue using the same payment method at a different OMNY reader. However, if you do so, the 4 free transfers associated with the original 4 taps will be forfeited. If you are traveling with more than 3 additional riders, it is recommended that you use multiple payment methods to prevent the forfeiture of free transfers. Each payment method can support up to 4 riders and 4 free transfers on a single trip.
You must use the same payment method throughout each individual trip to qualify for benefits like free transfers. For example, if you tap your contactless card to ride the subway, you must tap that same contactless card to obtain your free transfer to a local bus. You cannot switch between your contactless card and other payment methods and still obtain your free transfer. If you switch between payment methods during an individual trip, your transfer will be treated as a new trip, and you will be charged for your transfer.
You must use the same fare payment system throughout each individual trip to qualify for benefits like free transfers. For example, if you use OMNY to ride the subway, you must use OMNY to obtain your free transfer to a local bus that is equipped with OMNY. You cannot switch between OMNY and MetroCard and still obtain your free transfer. If you switch between OMNY and MetroCard during an individual trip, your transfer will be treated as a new trip, and you will be charged for your transfer.
If your transit benefit provider has issued you a contactless credit, debit, or reloadable prepaid card, you should be able to use that card at an OMNY reader and register it in your OMNY account. This mainly depends on whether the contactless card is NFC-enabled. Please contact your transit benefit provider for more information about the contactless card capabilities, as well as to determine if their products can also be supported in digital wallets.
You will be able to purchase an OMNY card with your pre-tax transit benefit card through the OMNY vending machines, which will be installed starting later this year. Pre-tax transit benefit cards are not currently accepted at retail locations where OMNY cards are sold; however, they can be used to reload existing OMNY cards online or through the OMNY Call Center.
Note: If your pre-tax transit benefit card has a contactless symbol, you can tap the OMNY reader today to pay your fare. You may also be able to add your pre-tax transit benefit card to a digital wallet on your phone or smart device. Check with your transit benefit provider.
MetroCard and OMNY are two separate systems, so it is not possible to transfer MetroCard value or passes to OMNY. However, as OMNY is rolled out, we will introduce fare options that are comparable to what is available with MetroCard today.
No. MetroCard and OMNY are two separate systems, and the value cannot be transferred from your MetroCard to your OMNY card. If you have a balance on your MetroCard, please use it as MetroCard is still accepted at this time.
No. However, you can transfer funds between two OMNY cards with an OMNY account. Visit omny.info/register to create an account and link both cards.
Like with MetroCard today, there are no free transfers between MTA subway or bus and AirTrain JFK.
Like with MetroCard today, there is no reduced fare option for AirTrain JFK. You will be charged the full AirTrain fare of $8.25 per trip, even if you are tapping with a payment method that receives a reduced fare benefit on subway or bus.
Yes. Your Reduced-Fare payment method will be accepted for fare payment on AirTrain JFK, but you will be charged the full AirTrain fare of $8.25.
