OPUS cards are expensive! So expensive, in fact, that though Montreal was ranked as the second best city in Canada for young people, one of the main reasons it wasn't first was because of its high transportation costs.
This can cause some grumbling amongst commuters because it often doesn't feel like we're getting a lot of bang for our buck when it comes to OPUS cards. However, there are some perks for long-time users of transit that you probably don't know about, and they're pretty great.
READ ALSO: This Montreal Metro Will Be Closed For 11 Weeks
TL;DR The STM's Maestro card lets you bring a guest on transit with you and use your card in Quebec city!
The Maestro card has been around for a about six years now, but its seems like it's gone pretty under the radar. The card is the STM's way of rewarding long-time transit users.
You are elligible for Maestro status if you have subscribed to one of the following for at least 12 months:
- OPUS à l’année
- OPUS & Cie
- DUO Auto+Bus with Communauto
- TRIO BIXI-Auto-Bus with Communauto.
You have to be registered as a full price customer to be eligible (sorry, students and seniors!).
There are some pretty significant perks to the Maestro program. The first perk is that you can bring a friend with you for free! This is valid from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and all day long on weekends! Unfortunately, this excludes the 747 bus to and from the airport.
@stminfoThe other big perk is that you can use your OPUS card free of charge in Quebec City. This makes exploring the beautiful capital that much easier!
When you've been a subscriber to one of the above-mentioned programs for 12 months, you should get an email on how to obtain Maestro status. Once you've followed those steps, you just have to go to one of the STM’s service points to get a new OPUS card with photo (for free!) which features the Maestro name.
Do you know anyone with the exclusive VIP status?
