Hi all,
I have seen this post - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/427098 where the government declared that they will be closing the loophole from Jan 7th.
Wondering if anyone tried it recently traveling to Sydney airport with minimum balance?
Thanks
waiting for you. thanks
Thanks mate. Much appreciated
thanks mate, also tuning in
Thx mate. Hate public transports but I am curious.
Please report!
We travelled to the airport beginning of Feb and someone ahead of me was referred to the ticket top up counter when the gate would not open.
There is an attendant at the gates who monitors when it beeps.
I think top up is $35 min.
Was at international station.
I find this whole ordeal fascinating. Melbourne isn't cracking down on Bus 901 which takes you from Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine to Broadmeadows Station where you could catch a train to Melbourne CBD or Victorian regional cities for a fraction of money you would need to spend for Taxi/Skybus/Uber.
Because bus 901 is a legitimate bus, just like Sydney isn't cracking down on Bus 400 (or 420) from Mascot to the Airport, where you could save similar amounts of money. The Opal hack allowed you to get all of the "benefits" of catching the train all the way to the airport without paying all of the costs. The train+901 (or train+400 in Sydney) saves you money in trade for some of your time.
That's arguable. You still need a minimum balance on the opal card for the base train fare. You just don't pay the airport surcharge, which is arguably not a cost, but a govt mandated freebie to the airport operator.
Given the number of people who are outraged about private companies merely charging what they want for discretionary items, that more people aren't up in arms about the government mandating a surcharge directly paid to a private company holding a monopoly.
Yes. I'm amazed more people don't take advantage of the 400. I park in Arncliffe just off the Princes Highway for weeks at a time. The bus takes 2 mins to international.
thanks Mark but some who dont take adv. of the 400 are tiny/women/old people who have 40kgs or more luggages to carry.
Why? A tiny female person can ask the driver or a passenger to assist with her extravagant luggage load in a way she couldn't on a train. The trifecta of tiny, women , old people can be framed as sizeist, sexist, ageist.
Yay for equality - their physical stature, gender, or age isn't relevant!
Reporting:
From the airport, it wont let you in at low balance, you will have to top up minimum 35$.
On the way from the city, you need at least 5$ to get in from the city circle, and still can get out rendering your card -11$ lol.
So nothing has changed. Correct when you going to city from airport you can't use low balance card.
But from city for example coming to airport you can use $5 and get into negative.tbh i thought this has been fixed.hmm interesting.
Very interesting. Keen to hear if others have similar experience.
Well i just did before this post haha.
I was thinking it had been fixed that it would not work, as they installed the top up machines before the gate so that people with low balance would have to top up before touch-off. As it goes, you can always test it, worst case you top up, I do not think you have to top up the minimum to get out but don’t quote me on that.
So literally nothing has changed?? Amazing haha
Must be at least $3.54 (during peak hours) or $2.47 off peak, as this is the minimum fare, I guess. Why $5?
I just had 5$ on it at the time and it worked, so i assumed lol.
Thanks. Will try this soon with a $3.74 card 😊
Was your card registered?
@alexshel: It was a $3.72 on it actually, and it didn't work.
https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/155317/68283/screensho…
Just wondering if anyone has tried this recently? Or the gate no longer opens if you have a negative balance.
yes want to know as well
yes, not working any more. tried on 10/04/2019
Doesn't work when you are going INTO airport, right? Ie from city to airport. The opposite (when you going out, is never work)
Yes, both directions. If balance is below the fare you can top up using a machine located on both sides.
Travelling outta sydney tmrw, just wanted to bump and see if anyone have recent experience of getting out of domestic airport with negative balance? cheers
No chance. Loophole are closed
Thanks
No more hole in the loop
It looks like the loop hole is still there, but the balance can't go below -$5
@CyberMurning: A real life example today:
Open balance = $14.51
Fare to Int'l airport = $17.67
Final balance = $-3.16
In December I travelled into Sydney airport and touched off into the negative…
How much negative?
I think -$11 ish, I might've chucked the card already. Definitely over $10
Seems to be so confusing, multiple people saying different answers…
So lets do ONE SPECIFIC SCENARIO:
Now, can someone tell me which scenario will happen
Scenario 1:
Scenario 2:
Travelling this weekend, so would be good to know!
yes very confusing so we need someone to test. someone going out soon. this weekend probably. who is that kind person?
I will be on a really tight schedule so if I don't find a concrete answer, I will have to take Uber.
Would be less than $35 and I don't want to risk a forced $35 top-up.
Will try tomorrow and report.