What is OMNY?
OMNY is the MTA's contactless payment system. Instead of swiping a MetroCard, you can simply tap a contactless credit or debit card (such as Jawnt Pass) on the OMNY reader at the start of your trip. The screen will turn green and display "GO" when your tap is successful.
The OMNY system can be found on these MTA lines and services:
NYC Subway
Local, limited, and express buses
Select Bus Service (SBS)
Staten Island Railway
Roosevelt Island Tram
AirTrain-Howard Beach and AirTrain-Jamaica
You can tap with your physical Jawnt Pass or add it to your mobile wallet and tap with your phone or wearable device. Read more about adding your Jawnt Pass to your mobile wallet.
How do free transfers work on OMNY?
You'll receive one free transfer within two hours of paying your fare. Free transfers are available between:
Subway → bus
Bus → subway
Bus → bus
To receive your free transfer, you must tap the same Jawnt Pass card or device for each leg of your trip. Note that the card reader will treat your physical card and digital wallet as two separate payment methods. Switching payment methods mid-trip will result in a new fare being charged.
OMNY fare capping
With OMNY’s automatic fare capping benefit, you don't need to purchase a weekly pass in advance. When you tap the same card or device for every ride, your fares are capped at $35 per week for subway and local bus rides (or $67 per week if you ride express buses). Once you hit the cap, the rest of your rides for that 7-day period are free.
Example: If you take 12 rides between Monday and Friday, every ride after that within the same 7-day window will be free.
For more details, visit the MTA's tap and ride page or the OMNY fare cap FAQ.
Things to keep in mind
Always tap the same card or device so your transfers and fare cap count correctly.
Wait for the green GO screen before moving through the turnstile.
Make sure your Jawnt Pass has a positive transit balance before you travel.
If you're tapping with a mobile wallet, confirm you've selected the correct card before tapping.
OMNY Troubleshooting
"Declined" or "Try again" message
This typically means your transit balance is too low to cover the fare. Log in to your Jawnt account to check your balance before your next trip.
Tapped twice by mistake
OMNY may not accept a second tap at the same station right away. If this happens, wait a few moments before trying again.
Can I use my Jawnt Pass for LIRR or Metro-North?
Yes!. You can use your Jawnt Pass to purchase tickets for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad. Note that these services do not support tap-to-pay with OMNY — tickets must be purchased in advance.
For more information, visit the LIRR website or the Metro-North website.
If your card isn't working or you have questions about your Jawnt benefit, contact our support team and we'll be happy to help.