I applied for mine and had it returned to me by post and I don't live within London.

I am sure one of the local ATC squadrons would be very happy to get involved helping the gentleman around. If you need any contact details please PM me

The story so far.

ACW418 has been a tower of strength and done wonders dealing with TfL, having them post an application form to him which he scanned and emailed to us on Friday. Having a name as signing for TfL on the form gave him someone to call and agree to receiving a scan of a completed application, but it still had to be sent to TfL by post!

So we're now waiting for due process, but some of the anomalies are such that you just have to laugh, or you'd cry.

No, they won't accept emails and don't have an email address. But on Saturday Dad received an email from TfL to advise that his request the previous Sunday had been processed and an application would be posted to Australia. Good job we didn't wait for the original promise of being sent immediately!

The form is one page, and only requests name, phone number, date of birth and (wait for it...) email address! All of which could be given over the phone :ugh:Along with emailing a photo and the War Pension letter, of course.

Again, the help from ACW418 is amazing, to the extent that he has asked for the Oyster card to be sent to him and he will meet Dad on arrival at Heathrow.

There are some very nice people on PPRuNe :ok:

Are you risking having the card sent to Oz or will it be better to pick it up in London? The RAF Club would surely accept as a post restante.

On using the card, while it works on the tube try and use the buses, better view, less hassle. Travel for your nephew could be a tad expensive unless he has his own Oyster Card. You can no longer pay on the buses.

PN - can you enlighten me - so how do I pay on a bus =- indeed how does anyone visiting London pay on a bus?

Wander00 ...

It's either Oyster or a Bank Debit Card that is able to transact 'contactless' Payments or you buy a pre-paid Bus Pass/Travel Card :ok:

"Welcome to London, where we make travel as difficult as possible." rant over

Wander, you buy a bus ticket at a tube station - go figure. You used to be able to buy a ticket at the machine by the bus stops at the RAF Club, now you have to walk the length of Piccadilly to Green Park.

Of course pensioners don't need Oyster cards or tickets to use the buses provided you have a bus pass (from age 60). ot sure is a European bus pass would cut it.

On travelling with a bus pass I can say it is brilliant. No longer do you have to wait for your bus and pay one exorbitant fare. You can jump on any bus going in your general direction, jump off before it leaves your route and pop on the next one going the right way.

Not new.

Over 30 years ago I got onto a bus in Birmingham, and was reprimanded for not having the correct fare.

I pointed out it was my 1st time on a B'ham bus and that I didn't have a clue what the fare would be. This wasn't acceptable logic! :ugh:

I'll have to get a bus pass then - presumably I can use my son's London address. As to busses here - the French have sold the problem - other than school busses there is one a day if you are lucky!

Wander I don't know if that will work. Certainly for my Oyster Card I sent a photo, but for my bus pass I had to present myself at the council offices with proof of entitlement and they took my photo and printed the card.

I am (easily) confused - thought it was an Oyster card I bought over the counter at the station with a £5 (ISTR) deposit, but no photo. I will have to investigate further.

Hello John,

I really hope you Father's VE London visit goes well!

I'm sure there are many here who would love to hear of some of his exploits and experiences as a Night Fighter pilot.. I hope that his memories are being recorded. He fought for our freedom and we will not forget him! :ok:

W00,

All you have to do is buy a TfL Oyster Card with some credit on it and it works on all forms of transport in London, Underground, Buses and some Overground. Google it!

However, I am not sure where you can buy an Oyster Card as TfL have closed most of their ticket offices. Again Google it.

ACW

ACW - Brilliant - one could not make it up!

Oyster Cards
 

I got my Oyster card from an automat machine thingy at the underground train station.

W00,

I think it's called shooting the messenger. Perhaps living with the cheese eaters has this effect.

ACW

W00, my Oyster Card is a veteran's card; it is free if you have an attributable pension.

Another gem. If you wear hearing aids, you are entitled to a "Disabled Railcard", which gives greater discounts than a "Seniors Railcard", allows another adult to travel with you at the discounted fare without their needing a Railcard, and once presented to a Tfl ticket office (underground), allows your Oyster card to be adjusted to give discounted fares on the Tube and London buses.

You CAN buy a regular Oyster card online (and it's sent to you from somewhere in Aberdeenshire!) with credit already on it.

Either a visitor Oyster (Prepaid but you can top it up) or a regular Oyster

Buses went cashless because 90% of journeys were cashless, and it removed a security risk (and they wouldn't take Scottish money as it screwed up their autocounting machines!)