Ride the NYC Subway for Free with This Amex Offer

If you live in or around New York City and use the subway or buses, here's a little perk that can shave a few bucks off your commute. American Express has rolled out a targeted offer that gives you a $2 statement credit each time you tap to pay for a ride, up to five times. That's a potential $10 back just for doing what you already do every day.

How to Score the Credit

First, log into your Amex account and see if the offer is waiting for you. It's targeted, so not everyone will see it, but if you're in the NYC area, there's a good chance it's there. Add it to the card you plan to use for your commute.

Once enrolled, just tap your physical card or your phone (via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay) at any MTA subway turnstile or bus reader. Each tap that costs $2 or more will trigger a $2 statement credit. You can do this up to five times, so you're looking at a total of $10 back.

The offer is valid through November 29, 2023, so you have a few months to take advantage. If you ride the subway regularly, this is basically free money.

• Tap your card or phone at MTA turnstiles and bus readers
• Each qualifying ride of $2+ earns a $2 credit
• Maximum 5 credits per card
• Offer expires 11/29/2023

What's Not Covered?

Before you get too excited, note that this offer only applies to contactless payments made directly at the turnstile or on the bus. That means you can't buy a MetroCard at a kiosk, use the MTA TrainTime app, or purchase tickets through LIRR or Metro-North. Those won't count.

Also, if you have a digital wallet set up but the tap doesn't go through for some reason, and you end up using a different payment method, that purchase won't qualify. So make sure you're actually tapping your enrolled card or device.

One more thing: this offer is limited to one per person, meaning you can't stack it across multiple cards unless you use third-party tools like CardPointers or Savewise. But if you have multiple Amex cards, you might be able to add it to each one manually—just be aware that Amex's official policy is one per account.

• Excludes MetroCard purchases at kiosks
• Excludes mobile app payments like MTA TrainTime
• Excludes LIRR and Metro-North tickets
• Excludes contactless payments for MetroCards or rail tickets

Is It Worth It?

If you're a daily commuter, absolutely. Even if you only ride occasionally, it's a nice little bonus. The offer is targeted, so not everyone will see it, but it's worth checking your Amex app or website.

And if you're really trying to maximize your savings, you can pair this with Cash App's $1 off per ride promotion (if you have that). That way, you're stacking discounts on top of each other.

Just remember to add the offer before you ride, and make sure you're using the correct payment method. Happy commuting!

• Great for NYC residents and commuters
• Easy to use—no extra steps beyond tapping
• Stack with Cash App for extra savings

Bottom Line

• Check your Amex Offers for the MTA tap-to-pay offer
• Tap your card or phone for each ride to earn $2 back, up to 5 times
• Offer valid until 11/29/2023
• Excludes MetroCard purchases and app payments

Common Questions