Using contactless payment with a child

[chesterred16]

This may be a daft question, but I'm not a Londoner and I don't use LU very often. In a week or so I'll be going to London with my young nephew, parking on the edge and travelling in by tube. I gather contactless is the preferred method of payment now, but how does 'tapping in' work when you've got someone else to pay for as well? Do I tap on the gateline to send him through, and then tap on it again so I can get through? And the same when we're getting out? And if that's the case how does it know to charge a child fare?
Or am I just overthinking this and there's a simple method?

 

[Adoarable]

A card can only be used for one person's journey at a time.

What you should do depends on your nephew's age.

If he's aged 0-10 then he travels for free - just tap once on the gate and both of you walk through together.
If he's aged 11-15 then child fares are available - see the TfL website for details. Or if that's just too much hassle you could give him a separate contactless card for him to use on the gateline - this would mean paying adult fares.

 

[MikeWh]

If he's aged 0-10 then he travels for free - just tap once on the gate and both of you walk through together.
If he's aged 11-15 then child fares are available - see the TfL website for details. Or if that's just too much hassle you could give him a separate contactless card for him to use on the gateline - this would mean paying adult fares.

Note that the zip 11-15 card does take a week to arrive, although it is well worth it even for occasional use. Off-peak fares of 80p within zones 1-6 and an off-peak cap of £1.60 within zones 1-9.

If you haven't got time to get one then you can buy a blue Oyster card and get the young visitor discount added for half adult rate fares and caps. Details are on the page linked above.

 

[PeterC]

A card can only be used for one person's journey at a time.

What you should do depends on your nephew's age.

If he's aged 0-10 then he travels for free - just tap once on the gate and both of you walk through together.
If he's aged 11-15 then child fares are available - see the TfL website for details. Or if that's just too much hassle you could give him a separate contactless card for him to use on the gateline - this would mean paying adult fares.

Most, if not all, gatelines have a wide gate for people with luggage, pushchairs etc. If you are taking the child through the gate it's best to use this one as it stays open for longer and doesn't snap shut.