As is the case with everyday shopping, as payment methods become more diverse, one wonders which of them is best to use. Some people may focus on convenience, others on points or promotions. Some people pay cash for paper tickets, while others pay by credit card. The author pays by credit card and accumulates airline miles little by little. However, most of my daily short distance travel is done with Mobile Suica. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, it is a little cheaper to use a transit system IC, and you can earn repeat points if you keep using the same fare section. First of all, since you always carry your smartphone with you, it is a quick and easy way to use it. And since there is nationwide mutual use of transportation system IC cards, there are many situations where you can take a train using Mobile Suica, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. This convenience is something that is hard to give up. However, this form of usage has taken root because of the many situations in which transportation system IC cards are used to begin with. However, this is not the case for everyone. Some people may not have a transportation system IC card because they do not need it in their daily lives. Recently, the number of “IC-only” automatic ticket gates has been increasing, so that if you want to board a train with a paper ticket, you first have to look for an automatic ticket gate that is not “IC-only. Although this is somewhat inconvenient, it is unavoidable in some cases, since the majority of passengers in major metropolitan areas use transportation system IC cards.
What is the use of touch payment? What are the situations in which touch payment by contactless credit cards can be used? The first thing we thought of was “when you don’t have a transportation system IC card. For example, some local private railways do not accept the common nationwide transportation system IC card, but only a special “local IC card. However, it is time-consuming for local residents and visitors to purchase and recharge local IC cards. Moreover, a card with some amount of charge on it, which will have no use once they return home, will remain in their hands for nothing. If that is the case, it is more convenient to use a credit card that does not need to be charged in advance. This is not limited to Japan. There are situations in other countries as well where a special prepaid card is used to board a train. For example, the “Metro Card” used in the New York City subway system is a good example. Recently, however, the MTA, which operates the New York City subway system, introduced an automatic ticket gate that accepts touch-sensitive payment. This has made it easier for strangers to ride the subway in New York City. The New York City subway system charges a flat rate of $2.9 per ride, so there is no need to determine the section of the subway you are entering. Therefore, it was relatively easy to introduce the touch payment system (fares as of May 2024). As is the case with transit system ICs, it is less time-consuming to board and disembark with a simple touch than to check the fare table, prepare cash, or buy a ticket every time. This advantage cannot be ignored. On the other hand, there is a caveat. Touch-sensitive payment is not always available for all sections and stations. Some operators may only support certain sections or stations that are heavily used. In addition, touch payment is limited to completion within the company’s own lines, and in most cases, it cannot be used for rides that span multiple company stations due to inter-direct train service. This is probably because the route calculation becomes more complicated at once.
© Source travel watch
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