Leave your Opal at home and commute with Amex to earn rewards points
Whether you take the bus, train, ferry or light rail to work, you can now pay for that whole journey with your smartphone.
Starting from today, commuters boarding any Opal-enabled public transport across NSW (Sydney, Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Central Coast and the Hunter Region) will be able to tap on and off with their credit card, debit card, mobile wallet or wearable device - and if you’re with American Express (Amex), you’ll even earn rewards points for the commute.
That means when you use Amex for your daily travel, you could be earning 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent on a American Express Essential Credit Card - and get a step closer to your next new outfit or dream holiday.
RELATED ARTICLE: Bus it to work? You can now use your credit card to tap on and off
This latest expansion of contactless payments to all buses on the Opal network comes after the technology was rolled out to trains, the light rail and ferries last year. And according to Minister for Transport Andrew Constance, it’s “the final piece of the contactless payments puzzle”.
Amex said travelling will get a lot easier for Sydneysiders who want to avoid the fuss of having to top up or carry around a physical card.
“Commuters with American Express cards can now enjoy the convenience and flexibility of using their American Express card, mobile wallet or wearable to tap on and tap off at the Opal reader - providing them with the fastest and simplest way to get around,” Adam Roberts, Amex’s Vice President of Digital, Data and Payments Innovation, said.
Roberts added that Amex’s partnership with Transport for NSW will allow cardholders to “use their Amex card or mobile wallet in more places than ever before.”
Mastercard and Visa have also hopped on board - depending on the card provider, your daily bus or train fare could also earn you rewards points with them too.
And if you’re opting for this new way to pay, you won’t have to worry about missing out on Adult Opal perks either. Commuters using their Amex, Mastercard or Visa card or linked device will still have access to benefits including:
- 30% discount for off-peak train fares
- 50% discount after you’ve make 8 journeys per week
- $2 transfer discount if you make a transfer within the hour
- Fare caps daily, weekly and on Sundays
But for some Aussies, they’ll have to hold onto their Opals for a little longer, as contactless payments aren’t available with Concession, Child and Senior/Pensioner cards just yet.
How to reap the benefits of tapping on and off with your credit card
To make the most of paying with your plastic or smartphone, here are some top things to keep in mind:
- Have juice in your phone: If you’re paying with your mobile wallet, the last thing you want is for your phone to run out of battery while ticket officers are checking to see whether or not you've tapped on. So make sure your phone is always charged before you leave the house, or have a portable charger in your bag as a backup. Otherwise, you could find yourself with a fine of up $550!
- Use one card per traveller: When travelling with friends or family, don’t forget that each person needs to tap on and off with a separate credit card or mobile wallet. Two people can’t share the one card if they’re boarding public transport together.
- Stick to one plastic: It can be easy to get mixed up between your different cards, so being organised could go a long way to avoiding mistakes like accidentally tapping off with the wrong card. If that happens, you’ll be charged the default maximum amount on each card, which will make your trip a lot more expensive than it otherwise would be.
With more and more payment options now available to Aussies, it could be time for you to give your wallet an upgrade. Ready to get started? Head over to our credit card comparison table to compare a range of credit cards that offer contactless payments.
Compare low rate credit cards - last updated February 20, 2021
- Apply By May 31, 2021
Bendigo Bank Low Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. balance transfer for 18 months (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). Low annual fee of $45 and no fees for additional cardholders.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
11.99% p.a.0% p.a. for 18 months and then 11.99% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)$45CompareCompareLow Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. balance transfer for 18 months (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). Low annual fee of $45 and no fees for additional cardholders.
- Purchase rate
- 11.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 18 months and then 11.99% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 13.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $45
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 0.50%, Min $3.25
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate Credit Card
Defence Bank Foundation Credit Card
Defence Bank Low Rate Credit Card offers a 3.99% p.a. 6 month introductory rate on balance transfers, purchases and cash advances. Up to 55 days interest free on purchases.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
3.99% p.a. for 6 months then 8.99% p.a.3.99% p.a. for 6 months and then 8.99% p.a.$45CompareCompareFoundation Credit Card
Defence Bank Low Rate Credit Card offers a 3.99% p.a. 6 month introductory rate on balance transfers, purchases and cash advances. Up to 55 days interest free on purchases.
- Purchase rate
- 3.99% p.a. for 6 months then 8.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- 3.99% p.a. for 6 months
- Balance transfer rate
- 3.99% p.a. for 6 months and then 8.99% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 8.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $45
- Late payment fee
- $20.00
- Cash advance fee
- 4.1
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Foundation Credit Card
ME frank Credit Card
Meet Frank, a low rate credit card with up to 55 interest free days and no annual fee. If simple, hassle free spending is your goal, you and Frank might be a match made in heaven.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
11.99% p.a.No current offer$0CompareComparefrank Credit Card
Meet Frank, a low rate credit card with up to 55 interest free days and no annual fee. If simple, hassle free spending is your goal, you and Frank might be a match made in heaven.
- Purchase rate
- 11.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- 11.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 2.30%
- Annual card fee
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $10.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $4.00
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the frank Credit Card
St.George Vertigo
0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application. No balance transfer fee. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. First year annual card fee waived for the first year ($55 thereafter). Available to new cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Offer ends March 2nd 2021. Mozo Experts Choice Balance Transfer Credit Card Winner 2020^.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
13.99% p.a.0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a.$55 $0 in the first yearCompareCompareVertigo
0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application. No balance transfer fee. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. First year annual card fee waived for the first year ($55 thereafter). Available to new cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Offer ends March 2nd 2021. Mozo Experts Choice Balance Transfer Credit Card Winner 2020^.
- Purchase rate
- 13.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- 0.0
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $55 $0 in the first year
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $2.50
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Vertigo
NAB StraightUp Card
$10/month - $1,000 Credit Limit
Pay no interest and no late payment fees, just a $10 monthly fee for a $1,000 credit limit. Plus, if you don't make any purchases and have an outstanding balance of $0 during the whole statement period, the monthly fee will be reversed. Also pay no foreign currency fees when you shop online or overseas. Mozo Experts Choice Credit Card Innovation Winner 2020^.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
0% p.a.No current offer$120 $10/month - waived if no spend & no balance owingCompareCompareStraightUp Card
Pay no interest and no late payment fees, just a $10 monthly fee for a $1,000 credit limit. Plus, if you don't make any purchases and have an outstanding balance of $0 during the whole statement period, the monthly fee will be reversed. Also pay no foreign currency fees when you shop online or overseas. Mozo Experts Choice Credit Card Innovation Winner 2020^.
- Purchase rate
- 0% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 0
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 0%
- Annual card fee
- $120 $10/month - waived if no spend & no balance owing
- Late payment fee
- $0.00
- Cash advance fee
- n/a
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the StraightUp Card
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Credit Cards Awards
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