At what age do you start paying for public transport in Chile?

The Chilean public transport system presents a complexity of pricing policies that respond different ages and categories of users . From the age of 6, children are generally expected to start paying the fare like any adult passenger, but before reaching this age the criteria may vary depending on the mode of transport chosen.

For students in basic, intermediate or higher education, the National Student Card (TNE) This is a service managed by Junaeb since 2006 . This advantage allows transfer released or at a reduced price students from the 5th year (10 years) In all means of public passenger transport such as bus, train or metro, all year round and 24 hours a day, throughout Chile . Students from municipal establishments, subsidized individuals and higher education, among others, can access this benefit.

The TNE is delivered in different colors depending on the school level which is taken: Orange for basic education, green for middle education and light blue for higher education . The student ticket costs $230 on buses and metro at all times . Except for the Basic Education TNE which do not need to be charged, since education is free until 8th grade .

It is crucial to understand that, although basic students pay nothing and intermediate students pay a reduced amount This does not mean that Junaeb does not contribute financially. Junaeb subsidizes the difference and pays the RED mobility administrator the full price of the ticket . This subsidy aims to guarantee accessibility to public transport for students, while ensuring the financial viability of the system.

Please note, yes, because if the TNE is issued automatically to students in municipal or subsidized private schools, it is not automatically issued to students in fee-paying private schools. since Junaeb herself expresses on her website “Students between grades 5 and 4 in fee-paying private schools must submit a document entitled “letter of socio-economic disadvantage”. », issued by the educational establishment and where a per capita family income of less than or equal to $352,743 is proven ″. Thus, a paid private school student whose family income is above this threshold should theoretically pay an adult rate. leaving it to the discretion of the bus driver or subway guard whether payment of the fare is appropriate.

Between the age at which a child begins to pay for the transport ticket and the age at which the TNE is issued, Payment criteria may vary by carrier. In a rural bus, for example, payment of the ticket may not be required, since it is inferred that if the full capacity of the bus is filled, the child will travel seated on the lap of the accompanying adult and n will not occupy a full seat.

The same case occurs in the intercity buses, shared taxis and airlines, in which companies set their own criteria, some requiring payment of fares based on age or height . Some of these companies require that any child taller than one meter pay for a full ticket, because due to their size they will have to occupy an individual seat. However, other companies set between 4 and 7 years as the minimum age to pay for the ticket.

As we have seen,o there is a clear and defined criterion on the age at which the ticket starts to be paid so when planning your trip you will always need to take this into account.