FAQs

We have six ticket types to choose from: Tripper Day (£6.70),  Tripper 1-week (£27.00), Tripper 4-week (£86.00) plus our flexi day bundles – Flexi3 Day (£17.00), a Flexi5 Day (£26.30) and a Flexi10 Day (£50.00). Prices as at 6 April 2025 are shown in brackets.

When you board a McGill’s, First or West Coast Motors bus, scan the ticket QR code on your phone. If you are travelling on a Stagecoach West Scotland or Whitelaws service, these operate on a ‘show pass’ basis; simply show your ticket on your phone to the driver when you board.

Download one of the mobile apps from the city’s main bus companies – First Glasgow, McGill’s or West Coast Motors (all three companies offer the same Tripper tickets). You then need to create an account and that’s you ready to buy your ticket. (More info on ticket types is available elsewhere on this FAQ section).

Yes, we have made the decision to phase out our smartcard tickets.  We will continue to offer all six Tripper tickets on the mobile apps of First Glasgow, McGill’s and West Coast Motors.

The last day for travelling with a Tripper smartcard ticket is 1 May 2025.

Yes, all smartcard tickets must be used by 1 May 2025.  After this date, the bus ticket machines will no longer recognise Tripper smartcard tickets or cards.

Log on to your online account and on the opening screen you’ll see details of all tickets that you have purchased, but have not yet used.

If you have an active ticket on your card, you’ll see unused tickets showing as ‘failed to load’. The wording can be confusing, but it simply means that the latest purchase has not been loaded to your card. It will be available to load once your current ticket expires.

Yes, only day tickets can be added on the bus. All weekly and flexi bundles can only be bought via your online account.

Please note that the last day to buy and travel with a smartcard ticket on the bus is 1 May 2025.

Yes, you can add as many tickets to your mobile app account as you like, activating for travel whenever you need to. You do not need to wait until your current ticket has expired.

Once activated, a Tripper Day ticket will expire at 0400hrs the following day; regardless of the time the ticket was activated.

A Tripper 1-week ticket gives 7 days travel; inclusive of the day that it is activated. Like the day ticket, it will expire at 0400hrs on the eighth day after the ticket has been activated.

A Tripper 4-week ticket gives 28 days travel; inclusive of the day that it is activated. Like the day ticket, it will expire at 0400hrs on the twenty ninth day after the ticket has been activated.

For the flexi bundles, each day ticket from your bundle will expire at 0400hrs the following day.

If the ticket on your Tripper card has expired and is no longer valid for travel, the ticket machines will make a negative beep to advise. Your driver will also confirm if you have no other valid tickets available.

If this happens, you will need to add a new ticket to your Tripper card, or choose another ticket option for your journey.

If you believe your ticket was still valid and your driver cannot assist, you can review your purchase history on your Tripper account. Alternatively, you can call our customer support team on 0345 241 1595.

Please note that the last day to use any smartcard tickets is 1 May 2025.

We have made the decision to phase out our smartcard tickets and would encourage any customers with any stored tickets, to use them for travel by 1 May 2025.  Beyond the 1st, the bus ticket machines will not recognise Tripper smart tickets.

You can request a new password by clicking on ‘reset password’. A new password will be emailed to you.

If you forget your email address to log in, you will need to contact customer service on 0345 241 1595.

If your Tripper card is lost or stolen, you must report it via your online account, or by calling customer service on 0345 241 1595.

A replacement card can be ordered and will be issued at a cost of £1.75.

If you have stored tickets on your lost, stolen or damaged card, please contact customer services to discuss.

Please note that we will be phasing out smartcard tickets.  We would encourage current smartcard ticket customers to switch to mobile tickets.  To do so, simply download any of the mobile apps of McGill’s, West Coast Motors or First Glasgow and set up an account to access all Tripper tickets.

Yes, the following exclusions apply:

• Football specials
• Night services identified with an “N” service prefix
• Registered school services with one journey each way per school day
• First Glasgow’s Glasgow Airport service 500
• First 77 service to/from Glasgow Airport – your Tripper card is valid to/from Renfrew Cross on all 77 services. It cannot be used beyond this point to Glasgow Airport.
• Stagecoach East X24 service to/from Glasgow Airport.
• Long distance express coach registered locally within the zone
• Rail replacement services
• Any service where the ticket can be used must have at least two stopping points within the zone

The Tripper map provides an overview of the main boundary points. For specific bus information, please click here.

If you purchase a mobile or smartcard ticket, you can pay using any major credit or debit cards.

If you are purchasing a day ticket on the bus, you need to pay with cash.

Please note that we are phasing out smartcard tickets with 1 May 2025 being the last day to use any stored smartcard tickets.

Buy your mobile Tripper tickets on the travel apps of First Glasgow, McGill’s and West Coast Motors. Watch our short video here to help locate them on the three apps. (You’ll need to download one of the apps and create an account which takes minutes to do).

Yes, you can buy all six ticket types on the mobile apps.

If you buy a mobile Tripper ticket on one of the operator’s apps, your ticket is ready for use immediately. You do not need to allow the required four hours’ between purchasing and travelling, as you do with smartcard tickets.