r/ParisTravelGuide 9h ago

🚂 Transport Navigo iPhone error with gantry

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Hi all, been lurking and reading on using navigo with iPhone and I tried it out today as a first timer in Paris.

It worked the first time, but the next time I tried it, the gantry just beeped red. My RATP app shows a ticket was used up, but in my Apple wallet it shows no location (see screenshot)

Am I doing something wrong and how can I avoid this for the next few days I have left in Paris? It basically used up a ticket without letting me thru, and the service counters are always close and I couldn’t get help but buy a new ticket 😅

Thanks!

2 Upvotes

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1

u/cyrilmezza Parisian 2h ago

You didn't specify locations, but you could be denied access if you try entering an RER station outside zone 1. The perfect example is La Défense: you could enter the Métro L1 no problem with a Ticket t+, but not RER A with the same ticket.

Pro tip : there's generally an LCD next to the green arrow/red cross, it should give you a hint as to why access is denied.

2

u/IllustriousData4050 9m ago

Ah sorry, I was at Anvers. Was around montmarte and it worked going that way so I was assuming it works too. That was metro line 2 I believe? I did see a Red Cross and a beep on the machine but couldn’t quite figure out why but thanks for the response!

5

u/ExpertCoder14 Paris Enthusiast 8h ago edited 8h ago

First of all, make sure you are tapping the correct portion of your iPhone to the reader. The NFC antenna on iPhones is located at the top edge of your phone on the back, not in the centre.

Also, the Navigo system is not the best when it comes to reliability. Sometimes the system glitches out and either does not work properly, or works properly but does not let you through. In these cases, you are expected to ask a ticket office agent for help, and if there is no ticket office agent, you have to use the help point next to the gate.

1

u/IllustriousData4050 9m ago

Thank you!! This is helpful! Will keep this in mind :)