Transport discounts for schoolchildren that have been moved onto smartphone apps are leaving pupils who do not own mobile devices facing higher costs, campaigners and parents say.
Under recent shifts towards app-based ticketing, cheaper travel passes and payment options can only be accessed or displayed on a smartphone, meaning pupils without a device may be forced to buy more expensive single tickets or season passes. Critics warn this could add up to hundreds of pounds to annual travel bills for some families.
The change has stirred concern because it appears to run counter to official guidance in England that seeks to limit the presence of mobile phones in schools. Opponents say operators are effectively creating a financial incentive for children to bring phones to school or for families to buy devices they otherwise would not have.
Campaigners have also framed the issue as one of digital exclusion and fairness, arguing that the move disadvantages poorer households and those who choose not to equip young children with smartphones. They are calling on transport authorities and operators to offer non-digital alternatives, such as contactless smartcards or paper tickets, so that discounts remain available to all pupils regardless of device ownership.
Transport providers and local authorities have not universally adopted a single approach, and some areas continue to supply physical passes or options for those without smartphones. However, campaigners say a clearer, consistent policy is needed to ensure pupils are not penalised financially or pushed towards carrying phones to access the cheapest fares.