The M.T.A. Holiday Discount, although a horrible idea, was approved and will be coming to a burgandy-coated outside-the-booth 'transit agent' near you soon. An advertisement featuring Santa Claus was released in promotion of the campaign. (Perhaps next up is a menorah with the green-tipped subway globes as the candle lights?)
In general, the program is skewed against the monthly Metrocard user - in other words, a large number of those living in the city. (Especially if, like many, you will be doing any travel out of the city.) If you are among that number, you can still make the discount work for you:
If your monthly card expires before November 23:
- Buy a "pay-per-ride" and use it until the 23rd. On the 23rd, buy the 40-day special card that is only available at token booths (or whatever they are called now...card booths?).
If your monthly card expires after November 23:
- Buy a weekly card for every week that you will be in the city for every day of that week.
- For any week that you will be travelling during that week, buy a "pay-per-ride" card, unless you will be commuting/shopping throughout the weekend.
Mitigating factors:
- The extra time that is consumed on line at token booths to buy any of the above permutations will (assuming you are making more than $7.50 per hour) not be worth your time.
- The program, designed to bring Bridge/Tunnel crowds to the subway, will slow down total train traffic as "Marcy from Massapequa" holds the doors open while her neice, "Marilena" decides if this is indeed the train that goes to FAO Schwarz, thus costing you more of your time.
- As you don't want these suburbanites stepping on your new loafers, you will just ending up taking a cab, so ...
In conclusion, don't buy a Metrocard again until January. It's the holidays; treat yourself!
