I’m really glad that there’s finally an easy way to get tickets or passes for transit in Maryland without having cash or a loaded CharmCard. When I’m trying to catch a MARC train at the last minute I don’t have to stop for a ticket and maybe miss the train. Same thing for when a Light Rail train shows up just when I do. Or, if I have my CharmCard and my child doesn’t I use the CharmPass to buy their ticket. My only frustration is that I once bought a ticket mistakenly for a route I’ll never take but there’s no way to refund the ticket, even though it’s still unused in my phone. But overall it’s a great app.
My generation doesn’t like carrying cash well at least my selection of Family/Friends 😅, This APP makes getting a bus pass convenient & Easy breezy as them Cover Girl’s 🤪. Plus safe for us “Big City Girl’s”😎! Only wish there was a loyalty program as sometime’s you just don’t Got it between checks can be hard Or That broke “College Kid” we all been there might need a push maybe each week you get 1 free 🤷🏽♀️. ((Wishfully thinking 💭 “Hey A Woman can dream”🥰)) THANKS GUY’S & GAL’S For creating a Fast EASY Safe place for US‼️🙏🏽 ✌🏽
If the developer... - adds the ability to see purchase history when buying more than one ticket (example: if I want to buy again the same two outbound and inbound tickets as before, I can choose my outbound ticket from Purchase History; but after tapping “Add Another Ticket”, there isn’t an option to return to the Purchase History screen and select my inbound ticket — I have to create it from scratch). - makes the app work offline in case cellular data service is bad in a crowded train station - sends alerts about delays and changes based on the tickets I have active (although this feature would conflict with the offline request above) - component to add tickets to Apple Watch (more of a nice-to-have bonus, but it’d be slick) ... then I’d probably give this app five stars instead of three. It really is pretty easy to use, and how it integrates Apple Pay is a no-brainer. Perhaps the only other missing feature is a way to find stations by location, like on a map. But I can find them in Apple Maps, and if I’m already at a station, I’d obviously know where it is and what name it has. So scratch my idea of adding complexity by integrating a map.
This app worked seamlessly (w/ the exception of the MTA Metro agent not being able to articulate how or when to open the “Use Ticket” tab). Used for the 1st time this morning after hearing of its release yesterday. So far, really good! The 90min transfer is an added perk that I’m glad MTA has brought back (Until recently I traveled daily on the subway, transferring to the light rail which takes less than an hr total, but would be required to pay twice as it wasn’t considered a one way trip). I hope the app never malfunctions bc Baltimore commuters deserved the modernization.
When I first purchase the app, I made my profile & add my mode of payment. It was easy to purchase tickets as you have to select your mode of transportation from the drop down menu. However, I didn’t know that purchasing the tickets are different from activating the tickets. When you buy the tickets, there an expiration date. But, when you click on the ticket it is activated. This means that if the train conductor do not check your activation than the ticket you purchase is wasted.
Got the app to purchase a ticket on the 9pm MARC from DC to Penn. almost had to repurchase as the app would not stay open in order to show my ticket. Had to pull up purchase history on the website which was very cumbersome and the conductor had no time for that and did not believe me once I did show him my online ticket. Please fix this app. I’d like to try the city link buses in Baltimore but am scared to purchase a pass due to this wonky app.
I used the app yesterday to buy two tickets - my wife and her sister are going on a trip and wanted to take a bus to the airport. The app seemed easy to use, but the instructions for activating the tickets are not clear. I activated the tickets shortly before leaving the house to catch the bus, but the tickets were no longer active when they got on the bus. Apparently the tickets are good for only a very few minutes after activation. This make the app useless to us, as my wife is not tech savvy enough to open the app on her smartphone and activate just before boarding. It also assumes one has an Internet connection to activate the tickets. Now I feel ripped off and angry we wasted our money and time with this app.
I was part of the beta testing group for this app and aside from the occasional confused bus driver this app worked like a charm. That is until the latest update. Now every time I open the app I need to input my email address and password (touch ID no longer works). Makes it really hard to catch a bus in a hurry and not end up holding up the line while you fumble to sign in to the app. This needs to be fixed immediately!
I’m so happy this app is a reality. I normally order paper tickets to ride my commuter bus, or visit a local shop to get them. Both methods are inconvenient and out of my way to accomplish. After finding this app my commuting life has been simplified. The layout is nice and easy to use. The inclusion of Apple Pay for transactions is the cherry on top of this greatness! Chef’s Kiss. 🤌🏾
Note that MTA hasn’t updated this app in 2 years. Not only is this highly concerning from a security perspective, but now the app doesn’t work on new phones. I recently ungraded to an iPhone 15 and the latest iOS, and now the app won’t even open, despite deleting and reinstalling multiple times, it won’t even launch. Just an error message saying “unknown error. Trying reinstalling the app”. I have $ on my CharmPass account that I now can’t access and have to pass more for paper tickets. MTA - when you develop an app, it’s not a one-and-done project. You have to MAINTAIN it.
I’ve updated this review now that the login issue is fixed. This app has been great. For a few days you had to login every time you used the app, but that isn’t happening now. If it’s still happening to you, delete the app and re-download it and it should work again without making you log in each time.
The app is wonderful but the next question is when is Baltimore going to follow the app and modernize the system to accommodate the app? I use metro and why no scan to get through booth. MTA booth employees are literally rude and customer service has yet to be acceptable. Thanks for the app but the state and Baltimore City are the last to get anything as far as convenience.
This app is an easy way to buy commuter train tickets. However, it has serious issues in implementation. First, the app does NOT support Wallet. You must run the app to access the ticket. Second, and this is a related problem, the app tries to check an online server before it will open and will frequently hang. Not very useful if you’re trying to display your ticket to the conductor. Fixing these two issues, ie. support wallet and have the app open before checking a validation server, will greatly improve functionality.
I am so glad to have an app now! It is very stylish and easy to use and I am happy to not have to go out of my way to buy a paper ticket. This is an eco friendly, time saving, money saving app. No more used tickets in the recycling, don't have to worry about not having cash or a ticket for the train or bus, can buy what i need as i need it on the spot. Love it!
I like that you can buy all passes with this app including Marc train tickets. You don’t have to worry about losing a pass (unless you lose your phone which is a bummer). Now just wondering if the buses with ever be fitted with machines to scan your passes 🤷🏽♂️ but the app is great!
Great for paying your fair in advance great for allowing acceptable social distance. Being hands-free and not having to touch surfaces that are constantly in contact with the public also helps in the fight against Covid and cross-contamination of other germs. Helps keep yourself the bus operator and other Passengers safe
Everything about the app is great, EXCEPT I am always stopped while boarding the second train in my journey because the app shows an expired ticket after two hours. It seems this could be fixed relatively easily. It is an inconvenience to have to explain myself every time, and I’m just waiting for the day when a conductor makes me buy a new ticket…
There’s been too many times where I’ll be watching the arriving bus for work(22), and the app will go to 0 minutes and then go back up some minutes. I depend on the accuracy of this app to get me to and from work on time. Given this app is more accurate than my google maps, it’s not perfect yet. I’d appreciate if this issue is fixed pronto.
App was working flawlessly until this morning when i went to board the express bus. I had to login again which i didn’t have to do after i installed it and made my 1st purchase and after i logged back in my express pass didn’t show up as “EXPRESS PASS”. They had some long drawn out title. The bus driver almost didn’t believe me. Other than this minor issue great app!
Excellent for instant ordering of tickets for MTA Commuter buses. Never run out or worry about having exact change. Have used this several months without an issue. Was always fast which was great on the mornings I realized I had used all my tickets as the bus pulled up. Easy to use
Many times I brought a CharmPass and the pass never showed up on my ticket screen so I had to buy regular passes. Customer service is never helpful just always say they don’t see a ticket purchased when I had confirmation numbers to prove my purchase. Charm pass need a system upgrade bad because this is ridiculous.
I ride the commuter bus pretty often but not enough to warrant a monthly pass. Previously, I had to either remember to bring cash or purchase tickets ahead of time online. With the app I can buy tickets as I need them, at no extra cost. Works well and very convenient!
Great app for getting MARC train tickets. However, wish it had explanations for ticket options through the app. I had to consult the web site which required me to consult two apps. That along with a MARC train status window would easily make this a 5-star app.
I started commuting via MARC from Silver Spring during the red line closure in June 2024. It’s on time, quick, smooth and a pleasant trip to Union Station— just -12 minutes! The crew at SS Station could do a better job with wayfinding signs to get newbies to the southbound side.
The app is easy to use and so convenient seeing as I can buy the tickets on the go. I save time and anxiety by having my tickets already on my phone instead of stressing about having time to purchase my ticket (seeing as I’m usually running late).
TICKET PACKAGE SCAM No Reply from Customer Service
I purchased a 31-day pass, but the app does not inform customers that it is a consecutive day pass including weekends and holidays the trains do not run! The app only informed me about the expiration date after I activated my ticket. There is no description (expiration date or consecutive limitations) of the ticket package on the purchasing page. No response to my emails or calls from MARC. You will pay for days there are no trains running. Waste of money and very disappointing.
Easy way to ride the MTA around now using the app, just show and go for faster transactions and transportation. Well recommend to use for others used to the old school ways!
I’ve lived in Baltimore for most of my life and used the MTA nearly as long. I remember the paper transfer that would black out in the sun. This is a very welcome addition. It’s pretty painless and in a rapidly expanding world of mobile payment adoption it’s a requirement. My only disappointment, and it’s a minor one. It’d be nice if the price difference was reflected in the application. I understand that the app requirements maintenance and development costs. But MDOT is a Govt entity so that’s all covered through funding. It’d be a strong push to use the app if it cut 10-20 cents off the cost of a one way or daily pass. None the less 🤘🏻 Excellent job.
Need to fix ticket issues once I purchase my monthly bus pass the ticket will show up fine but the number and letter that suppose to be uploaded in the right hand corner in the red box. Instead their is just three dots in the box
Nothing to complain about here - great app to get tickets quickly. No more paper and no more waiting in line. Could be a bit more intuitive on the monthly and weekly tickets but overall, a great app!
It was working great until today. The past couple days there were some login issues, but today, I can’t even get into the app because of an unknown error. Very convenient when it’s operational.
Whoever designed this experience should get a raise. Such a simple and easy app that makes purchasing your travel tickets so easy. It’s so easy, I think I mess up my ticket purchase at times. Would and have recommend
One of the features I like with CharmCard is that I can auto-reload my fare pass. I don’t have to think about purchasing the pass each month; it’s done automatically. When will a similar feature be added to CharmPass?
App works great. The only issue is that when you are in the train depot at Union Station, you cannot get any signal. Therefore, you need to pull up the app early or once you depart from Union Station and catch a signal then you can pull up the app.
Love the app! I’ve had to make “last minute “ purchases as I’m actually boarding the train or commuter bus - so fast and so easy I don’t even hold up other passengers! Thumbs up all the way!
Don’t click “Use Ticket” until the last minute. You only have 90 minutes to use it and then it expires. If you click it at, say 8:00 and you’re train doesn’t come until 10:00, the ticket will be expired at 9:30 and you have to buy a whole new ticket for your 10:00 train. They don’t warn you in the app. I learned this the hard way
Someone hacked my account and all my stored bus passes and my active one are gone I had monthly’s and none was set to expire yaw is impossible to contact please contact me back and fix this issue ASAP I NEED TO GET TO WORK!!!
You said that we can still access our passes on this app even without wifi or cellular connection. But what you didn’t say was that after a while if you don’t have internet or cellular connection the app times out, which means I can’t use the passes without internet or cellular. Please help me understand and fix this issue
I love just being able to show the bus driver my pass on my phone to board. No fumbling for bills and change! Also love the free transfer on my commute.
It is easy to use Marc Trains because they run regularly, are not running over capacity, and rides on these clean trains are purchased thru an efficient mobile phone application.
It was working perfectly, now it keeps automatically logging me out and not using the fingerprint option for log in. It’s very annoying and inconvient. I love the app, but having to password log in every time a couple hours is just very frustrating.
The app will randomly sign you out or make it appear that your passes are deleted THEN sign you out. I havent had to log in for months and use my pass everyday but today but ive missed 5 buses because I couldnt get back into my account when I shouldnt have been sign out in the first place.
This App is helpful in some ways and not in other ways. Helps avoid having to carry cash. Downside is if your cellphone powers off you have no proof of payment. If you have a reduced fair card you can’t purchase your pass online. Once most of the glitches get worked out this will be a good app
So this is such a great idea Maryland came up being that some people don’t carry cash like that to go on buses and not everyone live by the metro to buy a ticket so This app was an excellent idea but eversince i upgraded to a X idk if it just me but i purchase a ticket and doesn’t show on my ticket or purchase history i have to Show bus drivers that he receipt when j log in online so it might be glitch
I had to change my phone and my monthly pass does not transfer because it is active. Rediculous! Does one need to time their phone upgrades with a new marc train ticket?
There’s a bug in the app that causes tickets to be used in the reverse order of expiration date. If you have a ticket with an upcoming expiration date it won’t be used until all other tickets with later expiration dates are used — which results in tickets being lost because they expire. I reported this bug months ago but was told there was nothing that could be done about it.
I really like this app & manner of payment! Just moved from NYC where you need exact change, not enough machines...just archaic! This is a great use of technology & the Help Desk is quick & actually HELPFUL!
The CharmPass app lets you purchase and use fares instantly on your phone—anywhere, anytime. Just download the free app, register your debit/credit card or PayPal account in our secure system, and you're ready to go. WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS APP: • No paper fares to track. • Purchase BaltimoreLink Local Service, MARC Train, and Commuter Bus tickets all from one app. • No need to carry cash, count exact change, or find a ticket machine. • Buy and use fares instantly using a debit/credit card or your PayPal account. • Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders. HOW IT WORKS: 1. CHOOSE SERVICE 2. CHOOSE FARE 3. SELECT TICKET TYPE 4. CHOOSE QUANTITY 5. CHECK OUT COMMON QUESTIONS: Q: Do I need to be connected to the Internet? A: Cellular network or a wireless Internet connection is required to purchase tickets, but you can activate your pre-purchased tickets offline. Q: What if my battery dies? A: Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times, so be sure to plan ahead! IMPORTANT REMINDERS: • Don't uninstall the CharmPass app or erase your phone while you have active tickets on it. Your tickets are stored on your phone (which makes it possible to use them without a cellular network or a wireless Internet connection), so uninstalling the app can permanently erase your tickets! • Purchase your ticket anytime and activate your fare as you’re boarding. • Show your ticket to the operator of the vehicle. • Watch your battery level! Just like with paper tickets, you're responsible for making sure you have a valid fare at all times.
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