The Sistema Único de Boleto Electrónico (Unique Electronic Ticket System, better known for its SUBE acronym) became ubiquitous in Buenos Aires City and the metro area after it was launched in 2009, replacing cash and other forms of payment.

However, recent changes in legislation have left it in a bit of a limbo, and the card could be about to drop from the Buenos Aires tourist must-have list very soon.

The possibility of paying for public transport with something other than a SUBE card was announced in August 2024, when decree 698/2024 allowed for “other means of payment to allow interoperability.”

The first to hop on board was Buenos Aires City mayor Jorge Macri. On December 1, 2024, he announced that the city’s underground, known as the “Subte,” would begin accepting payment through debit and credit cards, as well as other contactless payment methods, using Near Field Communication (NFC) systems.

That opened up the possibility of ditching the SUBE card in favor of any contactless payment alternative, with the payment being charged to your credit card or bank account, instead of having to top up the card like before.

Several companies jumped in on the new payment system, offering discounts and cashback promotions for those who used it, and its popularity........

© Buenos Aires Herald