Apple Express Transit Card (via OMNY/MTA) still asking for authentication?

[Sowelu]

Has anyone else in NYC tried using the new OMNY system with a supporting iPhone?

I have my Apple Wallet setup correctly (I use ApplePay often) and I have 'Express Transit Card' activated with the same debit card linked to my Apple Wallet and I confirmed that everything is setup properly (and I am running the latest version of iOS).

But, for some reason, the OMNY contactless system is behaving like a regular Apple Pay transaction, asking for the Apple Pay double-click and FaceID authentication. This should not be as the Express Transit Card option is supposed to bypass all authentication and approve the transaction immediately.

The MTA Express Bus that I am trying this on has a 'ready and working' OMNY box, so I am not sure if this issue is due to my iPhone, or if the OMNY system just doesn't work with Apple's Express Transit option yet.

Has anyone else tried using their iPhone with OMNY/Express Transit via ApplePay with success?

 

[nicho]

The MTA Express Bus that I am trying this on has a 'ready and working' OMNY box, so I am not sure if this issue is due to my iPhone, or if the OMNY system just doesn't work with Apple's Express Transit option yet.

the omny website says:
"Starting on May 31, 2019, you can use OMNY onboard all Staten Island MTA buses and at all subway station entrances on the 4, 5, and 6 lines between Grand Central-42 Street and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center."

Just to check, does the bus you were on fit that description (I'm not a new yorker) - if not, it's probably not quite as ready and working as it seemed to be.

 

[Sowelu]

Yes, they installed OMNY on all SI Express bus lines, which is what I tried it on. Yesterday it actually worked as it's supposed to, one tap and an instant green light and audio chime. It was very fast, way faster than a swipe or dip - but it only worked that one time on that one bus. All other tries, the tap just brings up the usual Apple Pay authentication process. So either Apple or the MTA need to work out the kinks, I guess. Perhaps not all OMNY boxes on all buses were programmed the same way.