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Apple Pay has launched in the U.K. and is now useable on the London Underground. The service launched in the US last year so we’ve definitely had a bit of a wait.
Most banks work with the payment system so chances are you’ll have at least one bank card that would be useable with it. There are also a large number of retailers accepting the service from day 1 including TfL.
If you have Apple Pay set-up you can use it as you would a contactless card by tapping it on the large yellow Oyster pads. You can even use an Apple Watch if you have one.
There is one major problem however. Users must make sure their devices have enough battery to last the full journey. Running out of battery mid-way could result in a costly penalty fare. Apparently TfL staff will try to help where they can but there are definitely no guarantees.
“Your iPhone or Apple Watch must be switched on to use it to travel. You should also check that you have enough battery on your iPhone or Apple Watch to complete your journey. If you don’t and:
- It runs out of battery in the middle of a rail journey, you will not be able to touch out at the end and could be charged a maximum fare
- If an inspector asks you to touch your iPhone or Apple Watch on their reader, it will not be able to be read and you could be liable for a penalty fare” https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/other-methods-of-contactless-payment/apple-pay?cid=applepay