Can I pay for multiple people with OMNY?

Yes. The same pass-back rules that apply to MetroCard also apply to OMNY. You can tap and pay for yourself and up to 3 additional riders with the same payment method on a single trip. You will need to tap your payment method for each person that is riding with you.



Yes, you can pay for multiple people using a single OMNY-enabled device or card on the New York City subway and buses in 2026. After your first successful tap for yourself, you can "pass the card back" to pay for up to three additional riders, for a total of four people on a single journey. However, there is a crucial 2026 caveat for first-time users: if you have never used that specific bank card on OMNY before, your bank may block the second tap until the first transaction is approved, which can take a few minutes. Additionally, while paying for a group is convenient, only the first tap counts toward the $35 weekly fare cap. To maximize the 2026 "Free Rides" benefit, every adult in your group should ideally use their own unique card or mobile device so that everyone can earn their own individual fare cap and ride for free after 12 trips.

People Also Ask

Nearly half of all subway riders are using OMNY to tap into the system with two million riders using OMNY every day. OMNY has processed cards from all of the 195 countries that issue bank cards and 68 percent of OMNY transactions are made by customers tapping digital wallets in phones and wearables.

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In fact, 88% of the time, OMNY is cheaper than a 30-day MetroCard if I average 10 rides a week. Let's see if we can generalize this to other weekly averages: As you can see, up until I average 11 rides a week, OMNY is usually better. More often than not, I'll save money if I stick with it and skip the Unlimited card.

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An OMNY card works the same as a contactless credit or debit card — all you have to do is tap and go. You can also use an OMNY card to take advantage of our fare capping program. Pay for 12 rides using the same card in a seven-day period and additional rides within the week are free.

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The new payment system will accept contactless debit and credit cards, digital wallets and OMNY cards to ride the AirTrain.

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Regular Pay Per Ride MetroCards: These can be shared with up to 4 people per card. You can each swipe the turnstile separately or the first person can swipe 4x's and have everyone follow through the turnstile.

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Unlimited Ride MetroCards: These passes are only good for one person, they cannot be shared. Once swiped you cannot use the card again for another 18 mins.

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Fare capping FAQ Simply tap and go with the same contactless credit or debit card, smart device, or OMNY card. Once you've hit 12 paid trips in a seven-day period, the rest of your rides for that week will automatically be free.

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Where can I use OMNY? All subway stations, MTA buses and Roosevelt Island Tram stations have OMNY readers. In the coming months, we plan to expand fare options across subway, bus, paratransit, and commuter rail.

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What does “OMNY” mean? OMNY, which stands for One Metro New York, is based on the concept of unifying fare payments and ticketing across multiple modes of transportation. We believe that transportation is an essential service that connects communities and brings the diversity and energy of New York together.

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The MTA's OMNY payment system could reveal your trip history to anyone who has your credit card number — and cybersecurity experts said Wednesday the setup might threaten your privacy.

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Reduced-Fares. Reduced-fare MetroCards and One Metro New York (OMNY) are available for riders who are 65 or older or riders who have qualifying disabilities. The reduced fare is half the base fare.

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