Can I use Opal card in Sydney airport train to city? It looks like it costs $19.80 one way..
If I load, $20, would I be able to use it for return fare? Well Can I exit the station with a negative balance.. with myki (melbourne) it allows to exit with a negative balance, is it same in Opal?
No, theyve closed this loophole. You cant exit the airport stations with a negative balance any more.
The minimum top up at an airport station is $35 so you have to make sure you have enough Opal credit to cover the fare to the airport to avoid that top up.
There is a bus 400 that stops at domestic and international, its 5-10 mins from a stop next to Mascot station which is not subject to the airport station rules.
You get a $2 fare discount when you change mode of transport eg train to bus. The bus fare for that distance is about $2.25 before the discount.
You also dont need an Opal card anymore, you can tap on and off with any debit or credit card and get all the Opal card benefits.
The bus takes forever to get from Mascot to the airport at peak times, to the point its quicker to walk, 20-25 mins.
Sydney is different to Melbourne, in Syd you have to tap on and off on every trip or you get charged the maximum system fare for that route.
To and from the airport, if there is more than one person, getting an Ola is the best option (in my opinion).
The minimum top up at an airport station is $35
The minimum top up for a NEW Opal card is $35. However you can top up an existing Opal card at the Opal machines (or via the mobile app) with any amount.
Can I exit the station with a negative balance
No. You won't get through the turnstile (either going to or from the airport stations) if your Opal card would be put at a negative value. There are top up machines available train side to top up if required.
Most annoying is even if you are going to Mascot or Green Square station you need enough balance on your card to go to central even though the fare to Mascot/GSq is cheaper. Pleading your case with a TfW staff does not work :(
If you wanna save money, take a 20 min walk to mascot station if domestic or wolli creek station if international
Why walk when its a 50cent additional opal bus trip
Because this is Ozbargain. Why catch a bus when you can walk and save 50c!?!?
Dont even worry about walking to Mascot, its only an hour and a half walk to Town Hall and it saves $17.39 (Opal fare). Thats after tax money, so if on a 32.5% tax bracket, thats $25.76 before tax and equivalent to a pay rate of $17.17 an hour. Now thats less than minimum wage ($19.49) so its technically slave labour but not bad for a self employed ozbargainer
You need to find where the 400 bus leaves and then take it to mascot then walk 2 minutes to catch the train.
Use your visa/mastercard
I believe using the Visa/master or Opal is cheaper..
it looks like buying a ticket will cost $19.50 and Opal is $17.39
That's if you buy a paper ticket from the vending machine, which no sane person is going to do. The fare using your credit card to tap on is the same fare as using an Opal card to tap on. Where's your source?
Source: Sydneysider
Hi Guys,,
I took the 400 bus from the Mascot station, If you have only carry on bag or backpack - this is pretty dam easy. Bus is around the corner from station ( Bus runs every 5 - 10 minutes as i remember), and bus stops just outside the airport
I am reading this- https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/442180
is this still works?