Upcoming trip to see 7 shows! Any experience with using expired AirTrain card?

I am getting ready to make the trip to NYC for some much needed show therapy next month. I have seats for Six, Flying Over Sunset, Assassins, Caroline, Kimberly Akimbo, The Visitor, and Company.

I have two AirTrain 10-trip cards that expired during the pandemic (one partially used expired 1/31/2021, one not used expired 8/31/2021), and I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with trying to use expired AirTrain cards? My regular MetroCard (expired 9/31/2021) will offer to replace itself with a new card when I insert it into the machine, but I am not sure if the trips/value on these two AirTrain cards are just lost? It used to be that AirTrain 10-trip cards expired 6-12 months after first use, but in looking at the information online today, it now says that they expire 30 days after first use.

If my expired cards are indeed worthless at this point, I will likely not buy any more 10-trip cards, so is the best way to buy the AirTrain round-trip fare of $15.50 to just add at least that amount to my regular MetroCard? My goal is to speed through JFK and the subway system to make my way to a 7 or 8 PM show on my Thursday arrival day, so I try to avoid the long lines of confused tourists at the kiosks, but I may have to deal with it for this trip. I was never sure if I could add funds to my regular MetroCard at an AirTrain machine. Those machines seemed to have different options, and always required me to buy a new card.

Thanks for any advice.

In the past I have always bought from a newstand right at the entrance. Last trip, 2019, it was closed and felt rushed (confused tourist) and accidently bought a 10 trip Air Train card. It took me several calls but I finally received a refund. I think you may be out of luck on your expired cards. Like Steven stated, use a metro card. I plan on putting a value on it and then adding to it if needed for my November 2 trip. I will patiently wait my turn at the kiosh and if needed, take my time, so I don't make a mistake like before.

Not sure of the answer. From what I read on their site, I am planning on purchasing a new metro card that will cost a $1 at the Air Train entrance and then put $30 on it. That will cover, for the time, my subway ride into the city and my Air Train cost.

Um, 90% of New Yorkers still use MetroCards which work at every single subway stop in all of New York. Those gross weird machines are problematic/buggy/privacy violations and no one I know uses them and they are not in the majority of subways anyways so disregard Brody's message completely.

Enjoy using metro cards and swipe away. Enjoy your trip!

Sutton Ross said: "Um, 90% of New Yorkers still use MetroCards which work at every single subway stop in all of New York."

I can't argue with that statistic since I don't know if it's true. But I will say the majority of system riders are using Metrocards.

"Those gross weird machines are problematic/buggy/privacy violations and no one I know uses them and they are not in the majority of subways anyways so disregard Brody's message completely."

That's definitely not true. I've definitely seen people use them...and not just tourists. And they are installed in all subway stations and on all busses.

Sutton Ross said: "Um, 90% of New Yorkers still use MetroCards which work at every single subway stop in all of New York. Those gross weird machines are problematic/buggy/privacy violations and no one I know uses them and they are not in the majority of subways anyways so disregard Brody's message completely.

Enjoy using metro cards and swipe away. Enjoy your trip!"

Sutton, You were so correct. I rode the subway eight times and didn't see one person using the OMNY. Everybody I saw used the metro card.

Thanks, I did. It was just too cold for me. I am almost thinking of canceling my December 1 trip and taking a small loss.

I also only use MetroCards.

To the OP, I would contact the MTA and explain that you live out of town and that the cards expired during the pandemic. It can't hurt to ask if they'll give you a refund. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

I just sent two expired metrocards to the MTA and they sent me a one new card with both balances on it. It Warning, it took about 6 weeks. They told me that they will replace metrocards as long as they didn't expire over two years ago. If it is one year you can do it through the machine.