Free senior citizen travel in Hungary

Good morning,
I will ask my husband about this subject.
He also gets free travel within Hungary because he is over age 65, retired and a EU citizen.
Hungary from what we have read is the only EU country to give free, totally free travel to seniors.
Many other EU countries just offer discount prices.
HU is generous as it gives this perk to all EU citizens and not just their own people.
I know they have you pay extra if you wish first class tickets on trains and if you take a water ferry.
Those are about the only exceptions we know of.
Those age 62 with  with papers to prove retirement should also qualify for a discount monthly pass on buses and trams, also discount trains tickets. They issue a booklet mailed to your home with a couple of free tickets for trains each year.  A sort of bonus each year until age 65.

Just spoke to my HU husband. He has never traveled that much for free in HU, we use  our car since I have to pay full price for public transportation and petrol  works out about even time wise, stress wise etc.
Perhaps someday we will both travel for free within HU but sort of doubt I'll be there that long.
He says it makes sense to purchase the ticket, pay before boarding the train for travel within another country.
You just have to know your destination and pay from what they consider the HU boarder station to where you get out in another country.
So pay before boarding and heading out.

What I would like to know is this:
When I turn 62 next year and collect my own SS from the US ( taking an early out!!) can I qualify for a discount monthly travel pass since I am a HU resident although not a citizen of a EU country.
My resident permit for HU is a family permit to stay as I am dependent on my Hungarian husband for my right to stay in HU. As a person from a 3rd country we do not get the same rights as others even if we have family ties to HU?
I must say my husband had a very hard time with the office workers at BKV when he was 62 and applied for his discount monthly pass. He had all paperwork from the US SS office, his HU papers as well, he is a dual citizen of HU/US, born in HU.
He had a heck of a time getting his pass back then, He knows sometimes some workers resent others and don't want to give anything or help at all.
It is a mystery to him why from our experience and the experiences of other coming home to HU after many years away that some people are angry at them for leaving in the first place and don't offer any help or even do their jobs properly without one having to give a fight about it first.
Resentment maybe.  He wrote several letters to the head office of BKV before he got the pas which comes easy for all other HU citizens, why they hold out on some citizens is still a mystery.

So you mean that if I travel on the inter city from Budapest to Vienna, I buy a ticket from Hegyeshalom to Vienna at the Budapest international ticket office, together with my inter city supplement. I save my 30 euros and avoid breaking my journey?

Yes, that seems the way to go, no need to get off the train and buy a ticket at the end of the HU line and no need to take a chance with the ticket agent on board to write you up for not having a ticket between any off limit areas before buying for the later part of your trip outside the HU limits.
Good luck and safe travels.

I think you right! I could never figure how the HU Gov., was so generous about offering every EU citizen (and resident I guess) FREE travel on public trans etc., over the age of 65. I don't think any other EU country has reciprocated yet! Strange...

It is generous of the HU gov. to offer the free travel to all EU citizens.
I know many seniors in Hungary can barely afford to eat and pay bills let alone pay for travel.
Heard they were considering cutting this perk.If they do it would put many local seniors in a bind.
If they must cut this service I would hope they keep it for Hu citizens at least.

Yes leave this perk for Hungarians, citizens and residents would be fair but as long as the other EU countries don't reciprocate I would otherwise get rid of it as the HU BKV has money problems already!

peddington wrote:

Yes leave this perk for Hungarians, citizens and residents would be fair but as long as the other EU countries don't reciprocate....

EU law doesn't allow discrimination between HU and EU citizens.  It does allow differentiation on residential status.  EU law does not work on a reciprocal basis.

They are considering stopping free travel for over 60s in the UK too but they probably will not because as it turns out, many older people are doing things like volunteering or looking after grandchildren.  If they have to pay for travel, then they'd be less inclined to volunteer/travel to grandchildren etc.  Knock on effects could be substantial.

I know some senior Hungarians live on less then $200. a month.
Don't even want to think how far they must stretch their budget.
Tourists and ex pats in HUngary usually have allot more income and resources then that.
They do offer free lunches in senior centers around Hungary but  without transportation many would go without a meal. They do home delivery for shut in's but that is probably more pricey then giving free bus rides.
It is no joy ride most times for older people to catch a bus or tram.

The other extreme is some seniors have so much extra time and money that many trains and buses going to summer resorts area are full in the mornings with free senior riders, not even one person on board paid for a ticket.
Guess life is not fair but some people really do need a bit of help.
The sad thing is these low income seniors were the ones who built up Hungary after the war, grew up in hard times and knew nothing but long hours of work.
Not their fault that the system changed under their feet and their small SS just doesn't cut it.
Not speaking for myself or husband, just trying to be a bit socially aware of issues that face some people in my new home country.
A bit of sympathy for their suffering.Not saying anyone here does not feel for the poor, just it would really hurt allot of people if they cut this service.

Marilyn Tassy, you have a point.

The rules seem have changed for over-65 travel by rail.

The limitation to Hungarian and other EU nationals no longer applies.

Travel by rail (2d cl, unreserved) is free for "seniors over 65 years" "(regardless to nationality or residency)."

https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en/mav-start/ … tic-travel

    The rules seem have changed for over-65 travel by rail.
The limitation to Hungarian and other EU nationals no longer applies.

Travel by rail (2d cl, unreserved) is free for "seniors over 65 years" "(regardless to nationality or residency)."

https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en/mav-start/ … tic-travel-@zif

It's good to know.   Brexit screwed up that option too.  It was inevitable they'd have to change the rules.

I've only got a year and a bit before I'd be eligible for that option. 

The upside and downside is the same.  Upside: free travel over-65, Downside: being over-65.

I rarely go anywhere in Hungary by train.  I wonder if I can take my bike free as well?

The rule is now the same for local transport in Budapest:

"Free Travel: . . . Person over 65 (regardless of nationality or legal status)."

https://bkk.hu/downloads/25264/

This change doesn't seem widely known at all.

@fluffy2560

I don't think your bike is free, but it is only pennies.

Great news, my husband got tired of having a screaming match with one or two ticket agents on the train. Everyone around us chimed in and shut the agent down but the hassle of hearing, you are American got on our nerves.

Seemed silly to me to have that rule when in the US they give a huge discount to everyone over 65 no matter who they are or where they come from.

Glad the double standard is over with.

Really though 99% of the train agents never gave us any troulbes but now, we can relax more, thanks for this important update!

    @fluffy2560
I don't think your bike is free, but it is only pennies.
   

    -@SimCityAT

Recently I've taken to cycling from the Balaton holiday "house" (shed) to Szantod, then the ferry to Tihany, around to Foldvar, catch the boat to Siofok, then catch the train back to the "shed" village.   It's cheap to take the bike as you say. I'm not quite old enough for free over-65 travel.  Shame it's not over 60s.

        @fluffy2560I don't think your bike is free, but it is only pennies.         -@SimCityAT

Recently I've taken to cycling from the Balaton holiday "house" (shed) to Szantod, then the ferry to Tihany, around to Foldvar, catch the boat to Siofok, then catch the train back to the "shed" village.   It's cheap to take the bike as you say. I'm not quite old enough for free over-65 travel.  Shame it's not over 60s.
   

    -@fluffy2560

Well, no one gets nothing for nothing. Over 65 feels different then going on 65.

You might notice the rails are not full of old people all that much.

Most do not care to go anywhere any longer, seen it, done it, over it.

Well, no one gets nothing for nothing. Over 65 feels different then going on 65.
You might notice the rails are not full of old people all that much.
Most do not care to go anywhere any longer, seen it, done it, over it.
   

    -@Marilyn Tassy

You're not wrong.   No free lunches.

My sister has a theory that 75 is the new 65.   She thinks over 75 is an age where decline begins.  She's 72.

My own theory is WTF happened?  It seems like yesterday I was in my 30s.  Now all the bigger kids are as old as I was when I first came to Hungary.  I have to ask really?  That was me? Incredible! I must have been better at whatever I was doing than I thought.

Last time I did that Balaton train journey was last year. I need to get into training on the bike.  I used to go 2 x a week mountain biking but it's reduced since the dog takes me for a walk 3 x a week now and I just cannot do all that 5 x week.    And there's too many other things to do during the summer.

Just to confirm that it does in fact work. They don't even raise an eyebrow when you hand over your passport. Unfortunately!

Apart from saving a few HUF, it's really nice not to have to deal with the hassle of having to get a ticket beforehand.

Also, I think it's pretty universal that no matter your age, you always think "old" is a few years away. So when you're 30 you think you'll be over the hill at 35.

My vanity is showing because the last few months or so no one looked twice at me to ask for my ID when getting on the tube, subway, underground.

I asked my husband WTH?? I used to be carded all the time but no longer...

Now my excuse is I am with a older man and they believe I am his carrier!!

Just joking. we all age.

They just wave us both in now, guess it could be the new rules??

I was carded to buy alcohol into my late 20s early 30s, still can fit in old jeans from the 80s, seems they are still in fashion or on the come back.

Never ever thought I would get to be 69, thought 30 was old age.

    My vanity is showing because the last few months or so no one looked twice at me to ask for my ID when getting on the tube, subway, underground.
I asked my husband WTH?? I used to be carded all the time but no longer...
Now my excuse is I am with a older man and they believe I am his carrier!!
Just joking. we all age.
They just wave us both in now, guess it could be the new rules??
I was carded to buy alcohol into my late 20s early 30s, still can fit in old jeans from the 80s, seems they are still in fashion or on the come back.
Never ever thought I would get to be 69, thought 30 was old age.
   

    -@Marilyn Tassy

I've got a  bit of time to wait before I can luxuriate in free travel on Hungarian public transport.   In the mean time, I'll have to slum it in the family car with it's air-conditioning, comfy seats, loud music and privacy.

My problem is skinny jeans and a surplus around the midriff area makes the lower half of me look like a ball stuck on two sticks. 

Lately we only use our car for big shopping days about once a week.

Could get by without the car if we were willing to lug water bottles home . Our neighbor has water delivery which is not a bad idea.

I still can get away with wearing skinny jeans. I am a bit too slim these days but exercise every single day to make sure I do not totally shame  myself wearing them.

Going out like Cher, wearing jeans till the end...

I admit my super non stretchy rocker jeans from the 80s are a bit tight around the mid rift these days, can still squeeze into them but not if I wish to breath. Going from a 23 inch waist to a normal human size  happens with time.

I found a trick to make tight waisted jeans fit again, need to do a bit of sewing and add some elastic to the back.  A chore for a boring winters day.

The wonder of the world is how can I be at least 10 to 15 lbs. lighter then I was in my youth but still look the same size? Maybe my face used to be chubby?

Perhaps we will check out the transport soon since the weather is heating up again?