Using the 7-Day OMNY Card with a fare cap

The 7-day Unlimited OMNY card for New York is an affordable card that you can use for public transportation in NYC. With an OMNY card, you can pay for subway, bus and tram rides in New York, among other things. It has a fare cap; once you have made 12 trips with the card, you can travel for free for the rest of the week. Because using this card can sometimes raise questions, I will explain to you how the unlimited OMNY card works.

Read right away:

• Why this card is a good choice
• Where to buy the card
• Prices
• How to use the OMNY card
• Important to know

What is the Unlimited Prepaid OMNY Card?

The prepaid OMNY card is a physical subway pass for New York, which is loaded with a certain amount of money.

The card has a weekly fare cap: if you take 12 rides within 7 days on the subway and/or local buses, the card will automatically convert to an unlimited OMNY MetroCard for the remaining days. This means you can travel for free for the rest of the week.

Why is the unlimited OMNY Card a good choice?

You can pay for your subway and bus rides with a credit card, but there are several reasons to choose the physical Unlimited OMNY card.

This card allows you to keep your public transport expenses separate from your other credit card payments. You pay once for the card, instead of having 12 separate trips showing up on your statement. Nice and clear!

Credit cards can also sometimes cause payment problems, particularly when used abroad. For example, the bank may block the card, which is very inconvenient if you are about to check in. You will not encounter this problem with an OMNY card.

When travelling with a family or group, it is much easier for everyone to have their own OMNY transportation pass. For example, if you are travelling to New York with your children, you will all need to have your own credit card in order to use the Unlimited option. Purchase a separate OMNY card for each family member, and you avoid this issue altogether.

In short, if you are travelling with one or two people and each of you has your own credit card, it is easy to pay for your subway rides this way. However, if you are travelling with children or a large group, prefer to keep your expenses well organised, or are simply cautious about using your credit card, the prepaid unlimited OMNY card is the best alternative.

Where to buy an Unlimited OMNY Card

Would you like to receive your 7-day OMNY cards at home before you leave? Then order them on my website! You will receive the physical cards preloaded with exactly the balance needed to pay for the first 12 rides. If you make these journeys within one week, you can travel free of charge for the remainder of the week.

Order your Unlimited Prepaid OMNY Cards here

Buy a 7-day OMNY Card in New York

Physical OMNY cards are available for purchase at vending machines in many subway stations, as well as at various retail chains such as Walgreens, CVS and 7-Eleven. You can also find them at local bodegas and pharmacies.

You do not purchase the card as an unlimited card, but as a regular rechargeable OMNY card. It automatically converts into a card with unlimited travel once you have completed 12 rides in 7 days.

The unlimited OMNY Card prices

The price you pay when purchasing the card in New York consists of two parts: the cost of the card itself and the amount you choose to load onto it.

If you purchase the OMNY card from a machine in a subway station, the card itself costs $1. At shops such as Walgreens, you pay $5. You then need to top up the card with any amount you wish.

Would you like to use the card as an unlimited metro pass for New York? Then top it up with $34. That is exactly the balance you need for the first 12 rides. After that, the card automatically converts into an Unlimited OMNY card, allowing you to travel for free for the remaining days.

How to use the Unlimited Prepaid OMNY Card

Would you like to take advantage of the weekly fare cap? Then follow these steps carefully so you don’t miss out on your free travel:

1. Use the card at the subway entrance or on the bus
   • Tap your card against the OMNY reader (the black screen at the turnstile).
   • Wait for a green light and a beep. This means your ride has been registered.
   • The screen will usually show “GO” or “Tap success”.
   • You don’t need to tap out when exiting the subway.
2. Always use the same card
   • The 7-Day Unlimited Pass only applies to this specific card.
   • If you use a different card, the system will start counting over again, and previous rides won’t count toward the Unlimited Pass.
3. After 12 rides in 7 days
   • From your 13th ride onwards, you travel free for the rest of the 7 days.
   • You don’t need to do anything; it happens automatically.
   • Important: only you may use the card. Don’t share it with others.
4. Wait at least 18 minutes between two check-ins at the same station, on the same bus or on the same tram
   • Otherwise, OMNY counts it as an error or the same ride.
   • At a different subway station or on a different bus, this doesn’t matter.
   • If you use the card again within 18 minutes, the card will work, but you’ll lose your right to the 7-Day Unlimited Pass.

Important when using a 7-day OMNY Card

When using an unlimited OMNY card, there are two important guidelines. By following these, you can ensure that you do not miss out on any free journeys:

🚫 Use the OMNY card for yourself only; do not share it.
🚫 Tap your card no more than once per station/bus every 18 minutes.

Do you have any questions about (using) the unlimited OMNY card? Feel free to email me at eric@newyork.co.uk!