meilim

Hi,

I will be in HK with my family this Nov for 6 nights. I am planning to use the regular octopus card for the public transport.
1. Can I buy the octopus card in the airport ? If yes, can I redeemed the unused portion in the airport?
2. Is the card valid for airport bus A21 that i will be taking to my hotel?
3.How do I use the card in the bus? Do I need to scan it upon entering the bus and also when exiting?

thanks,
mei

mcbg1

1. Yes, you can buy buy it at the airport and they refund you the unused portion when you return it.

2./3. I'm not sure but I think you can use it for that bus. It's an electronic card so you just scan it when you enter the bus.

tansmets

Yes, your octopus card works on the bus. You scan when you enter the bus, not upon exit. However, if you ride the tram around Hong Kong, you scan the octopus when you get off.

meilim

thanks mcbg1 and transmets for your replies.

transmets, if i need only to scan the octopus upon entering , how does the system calculate the charges based on distance travelled unless it's a flat rate.
Does this scanning only upon entering also applies to the mtr as i understand the charges on mtr is based on the distance travelled?

rkkwan

MTR fares are based on the entry and exit stations, and not exactly based on distance. Trips across the harbor or to/from the New Territories cost more, despite similar distance as other trips. Trips to the border stations of Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau cost A LOT MORE. You do tap your card when you enter and exit any MTR station through the turnstile.

Bus fares on most routes in Hong Kong are based only on where you board, including the A21. So, you only tap your Octopus card when you board the A21. On long bus routes, fares will lower after passing certain stops - for example, the A21 will charge your Octopus card HK$33 when you board at the airport, but after it gets to the city, it's HK$8.

There are a few routes on HK Island that you DO tap your Octopus when getting off to get a discount before certain stops. For example, bus #15 to the Peak. When you board in Central or Wan Chai, you'll be charged $9.8 on your Octopus. But if you get off before Wan Chai Gap, and tap your card again (there's only one scanner, at the front door), you'll receive a $2.6 discount. If you ride it past Wan Chai Gap to the Peak, then no tapping when getting off. Bus #6 to Stanley also has discounts for getting off before Tung Shan Terrace and Repulse Bay.

Also, on some KMB bus routes in New Territories, one can tell the driver you're only traveling to a certain point, and pay a discount CASH-ONLY fare. One cannot use the Octopus to receive that discount fare.

On the Light Rail system in northwest New Territories, you tap your Octopus at the platforms before you board and after you exit the trains. Have to do both times, as fares are based on zones you travel through.

Many Green Light Bus routes offer variable fares based on where you board and where you get off. You only tap the card when you get on, but you can tell the driver where you'll get off and he/she can adjust the fares charged to your Octopus BEFORE you do the tapping.

meilim

thanks rkkwan for your detailed explanation. Now i understand better how the system works with the octopus card.