Booking a Ticket for the Bus

How can I purchase my bus ticket?

CheckMyBus Support BookingAre you looking for more information about purchasing your bus ticket? Do you want to get more information about special offers, discounted prices or coupons? Or would you like to know if children are allowed to travel alone, how expensive a children ticket will be and if there is a discount for seniors or people with a disability available?

With CheckMyBus you’ll learn about how to purchase a bus-ticket and what you need to know in case of a cancellation or a rebooking. We’ll tell you how you’re going to receive your ticket, either per e-mail or per message to your Smartphone.

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How do I Book a Bus Ticket?

The bus industry is one of the fastest growing transport markets in the US. Thanks to inexpensive prices and many direct and express connections, numerous travelers opt for a bus trip. If you want to do the same, then you can use CheckMyBus to find the right bus route for you. Once you have found it, then all that is left to do is to book your ticket.

Online Booking:
Booking a ticket for the busBooking a ticket online is probably the easiest option. After you have chosen your trip with the help of the CheckMyBus search function, you can click on “View Deal” and you will instantly be redirected to the respective bus company’s website, where you can complete the booking process. Most bus companies will send you your ticket as an e-ticket via e-mail. You can then print it at home or simply use your smartphone screen to show it to the bus driver. Some companies also allow you to pick your printed ticket up in person. When you book a Greyhound bus ticket, for instance, you can collect it at the bus terminal, 7/11 stores or ACE Cash Express stores. In order to do so, you will need to present a valid photo ID and the 8 digit reservation code that you received via e-mail.

When it comes to payment methods, then credit and debit cards are the most common option since they are accepted by all of the bus companies.

Buying the Ticket at the Bus Stop:
Some companies allow you to purchase your ticket directly at the bus stop. On larger bus terminals, such as in New York City, you will find specific selling points of companies such as Greyhound or Jefferson Lines. While this allows for spontaneous journeys, an extra fee might apply and the ticket could be more expensive than an online fare. What you should also keep in mind is that the bus of your choice might already be fully booked. Also pay attention to the fact that not every bus company sells tickets at bus stops: The low-cost provider megabus, for instance, only offers online tickets.

Can I Buy a Bus Ticket for Someone Else?
Greyhound Bus Lines and Jefferson Lines allow customers to reserve and pay for a ticket that is collected by someone else. You have the possibility to buy a ticket online and to choose a bus terminal, where a friend or family member can pick it up. This is particularly handy for customers without a credit card or other means of online payment. The person picking up the ticket has to present a valid photo ID and a password as authorization. However, this service is usually charged an extra fee. In the case of Greyhound and Jefferson Lines an additional $18 have to be paid. There might also be further conditions attached to the pick-up service. Jefferson Lines customers, for example, only have 10 days to pick up their ticket. In addition, only the person who has purchased the ticket can claim a refund.

How can I Cancel or Change a Booking?

When it comes to cancelling a trip or changing a booking, it is important that you know which kind of ticket you have purchased. Greyhound Bus, Jefferson Lines and Trailways, for example, offer both refundable and non-refundable tickets. In general, the latter a bit less expensive. If you are not 100 per cent sure whether you will actually use your ticket or whether you will take the bus at a specific time, then it is recommended to pick the refundable option. Some bus companies, such as megabus, only offer non-refundable tickets. However, you can change your reservation but a small arrangement fee will be charged. The table below gives you more information on the specific cancellation policies of the bus providers Greyhound Bus, FlixBus, Jefferson Lines, megabus and Trailways.

 

Bus CompanyTicket Exchange, Cancellation and Refund
FlixBus
  • Cancellation: Cancel your trip for a cancellation fee per each trip and passenger. The fee varies depending on the date of the original booking and how many days before the trip the cancellation was made.
  • Changing a Booking: Change your Booking up to 15 minutes before departure for a cancellation fee per booked ticket and passenger.
Greyhound Bus
  • Refundable Tickets: Full refund and date exchange for free; No refund when the ticket was already used on parts of the trip, when a bus is delayed or when the ticket was lost.
  • Non-Refundable Tickets: No refund.
  • Changing a Booking: Changing a date or time is charged $20, changing the name of the traveler is not possible. Also pay attention to the fact that certain programs like the commuter ticket pass do not accept exchanges.
Jefferson Lines
  • Refundable Tickets: Refund with 20% procedure fee, date exchange free of charge.
  • Prepaid Ticket Orders: can only be refunded to the original ticket owners with valid receipts and original tickets.
  • Non-Refundable Tickets: Marked with „no refund“. Date/time exchange is charged $20. Online Tickets are not refundable but can be cancelled in exchange for a voucher for future bus trips ($15 cancellation fee is required).
megabus US
  • All tickets are non-refundable.
  • Changing a booking: Passengers can change a reservation for $5 fee between 6-24 hours prior to departure, $1 fee when changed more than 24 hours prior to departure. A new reservation fee of $1.5 is charged. Should there be a price difference between the old and new trip, then this needs to be paid on top. Should the new trip be less expensive, then the difference in price is not refunded.
Trailways
  • Refundable Tickets: Tickets purchased via stations or agencies can be refunded for a 20% cancellation fee.
  • Non-Refundable Tickets: Marked with „no refund“. Online Tickets cannot be cancelled or exchanged.

 

What Happens if I Lose My Bus Ticket?

If you lose your Greyhound ticket or a ticket for any other bus provider, then unfortunately you need to book a new one. If you have only lost the printed version, then you can check your e-mails for the original ticket in order to print it out again. Should you lose your ticket on the way to the bus stop, then you can ask the bus driver or at a service point whether an electronic version of your ticket is ok for you to board or whether they can print out your actual ticket for you. Should you book a bus trip and you did not receive an e-mail, you should check your spam folder before contacting the bus company.

How Can I Save More Money with Discounts?

In order to compete with each other, the various bus companies offer different forms of discount. It’s always worth checking them out in order to find out, which bus provider really offers the best overall deal. In the table below you can see, which bus company provides discount for which customer groups and how to save money with a few easy tricks.

Bus CompanyCoupons and Discounts
FlixBus
  • Child Discounts: Children under 15 can travel at discounted prices, which are calculated from available discounts and rates.
  • Group Rates: Are calculated during the booking process.
Greyhound Bus
  • Midweek Discounts: 15%-40% for bus trip on Tuesday or Wednesday, max. savings for trips before 10 am
  • Small Group Discounts (2-3): 10%
  • Child Discounts: 0-2 years free; 2-11 years 20% (accompanied by adult)
  • Student Discounts: 20% for the bus trip and 40% for shipping service with Student Advantage Card
  • Soldier/Veteran Discounts: 10% (applies to family members as well, booking at the station only), 20% with Veterans Advantage Card
  • Senior discounts: over 62 years 5%
  • Large Group Discounts (>7): Contact Greyhound for personalized prices
  • Loyalty Discounts: Road Rewards Program for coupons and free tickets
  • Attention: Valid Photo ID is needed for discounted tickets
Jefferson Lines
  • Advance Tickets: 10%, 25% and 50% when booked 7/14/21 days prior to departure
  • Child Discounts: 0-2 years free; 2-11 years 25%-40% (accompanied by adult)
  • Student Discounts: 15% with valid college ID
  • Companion Tickets: One ticket at full price, two more tickets 30% off
  • Soldier/Veteran discounts: 10%
  • Senior Discounts: over 62 years 5%
  • City Pair Discounts: Iron Range Routes $5, Northwoods Routes as low as $15, Superior Shores starting at $25
  • Attention: Discounted Tickets are non-refundable. Advance tickets cannot be combined with other types of discounts.
megabus US
  • Regular Deal: tickets starting from $1 for all bus trips across the US on a frequent basis
Trailways
  • Child Discounts: 0-2 years free; 2-15 years 25% (accompanied by adult); unaccompanied children pay full price + $5 fee (booking at the station only)
  • Student Discounts: 15% with valid college ID or Student Advantage Card (only select destinations)
  • Military/Veteran Discounts: 10%
  • Senior Discounts: over 65 years 5%-10%
  • Half Price Program: passengers over 65 as well as disabled passengers & Medicare cardholders 50% on select routes (cannot be combined with other discounts)
  • Attention: Valid Photo ID is needed for discounted tickets

420 Gedanken zu “Booking a Ticket for the Bus”

    1. Dear Sarah,

      Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct bus connection from Boston to Wilson, NC. However, you can travel from Boston to New York, then from New York, you can travel to Raleigh, NC and from Raleigh, you can travel to Wilson, NC. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again. Many bus companies will allow you to bring your child free of charge as long as they ride on your lap. For example, with Greyhound, the bus trips allow children under two years old to travel for free if they ride on their parent’s lap. Those who do occupy a seat, can receive 20% off. This could cost between $84 and $133 depending on which days you travel on and which companies you book with. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  2. Hello ! I am currently in Montréal, Québec, Canada and I am coming to beautiful Mexico !!! I am trying to buy a bus ticket for 2 persons on March 2nd 2019 from Mazatlan to Puerto Vallarta at 9h45 am arriving in Puerto Vallarta at 6h45 pm.
    When I arrived at the page to pay with my credit card I got the message „Declinado“ ….. can you help me with that ?
    I try with a VISA and a MasterCard credit card, isn’t it possible to buy from here, maybe I should wait to be in Mexico to buy my ticket ?
    Regards,
    Isabelle Lavallée

    Antworten

    1. Hi Isabelle,

      Thank you for your message. When making your payment via card on the TAP website, be sure not to click “Banamex” since this is a specific bank, so click “other” when selecting this option. It could also be that your bank is rejecting the card, so it might be worth contacting your bank to see if this is the case. If you have any further questions, then please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Dear Charlene,

      Thank you for your message. Generally, when you pay for a bus ticket, you pay online via PayPal or credit card, which is paid for by the passenger. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  4. I would like to book a bus ticket in Kiel, Germany. However, when I check out, your website does not allow me to enter USA as a country. Can I book a bus since I live in the USA?

    Antworten

    1. Dear Jim,

      Thank you for your message. Which route would you like to search for? Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal, and when you click “view deal,” you are then redirected to the bus company’s website to complete the booking and payment. If you’re having issue with checking out on the company web-page, then you must contact the company you are trying to book with directly. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  5. I wish to have specifics about the bus schedules leaving San Antonio, first does the bus run from your airport, if so I am landing in San Antonio at 10:45 pm, when would the next bus depart, I wish to go to a park in mission tx. If this is possible I would like the cost of the ticket.
    Thank you, lynne

    Antworten

    1. Dear Lynne,

      Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, there are no direct bus connections from San Antonio, Texas to Mission, Texas at this time. However, you can take a bus to McCallen, Texas, which is just ten minutes from Mission, and from there take a taxi. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  6. Have a niece visiting from Vancouver who needs transportation between Banff Jasper, lake Louise and eventually back to Vancouver on May 30 to fly back home. Bus preferably as she is a student. Does not want to drive. AnythinG?

    Antworten

    1. Dear Anton,

      Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have any direct bus connections from Banff Jasper, Lake Louise to Vancouver or vice versa. We are constantly working to expand our intercity bus content and hope that you can find everything you’re searching for next time. If you have any further, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  7. Dear,

    Last Tuesday I booked 5 bus tickets on CheckMyBus.com for the Mekong express bus organization. but I didn’t received any tickets. We booked the bus from Siem Reap to Kampot on de 5th of March for 5 people. Departure time is 8:30am and the arrival time is 19:35pm.

    Hopefully you can help me locate my tickets or check if something went wrong.

    If you have any questions please don’t hesitate and send me an email. Thank you

    Antworten

    1. Dear Elmo,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets. When you click “view deal” on a connection in our search engine, you are then redirected to the bus company’s web-page to make the booking and payment. To receive your tickets or a refund, you must contact Mekong Express directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Dear Kobus,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets. To receive your reference number, you must contact Eldo Coaches directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Dear Dylan,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal that also shows flight results. When you click “view deal” for a flight, you will then be redirected to Skyscanner. To change your ticket, you must contact Ryanair directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  10. I am trying to book a bus from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Barra de Navidad, Mexico for January 27, 2019 at 8:00 am. Yesterday, there was a bus scheduled to leave at that time to a town very close (and we could taxi from there) , but today this option is not available. How do I book tickets?

    Antworten

    1. Dear K Wesko,

      Thank you for your message. It could be the case that the tickets were already sold out for that connection. Unfortunately, there aren’t currently any direct bus connections for that January 27 in our system. The next nearest connection would be between Puerto Vallarta and San Patricio, from which you could take a taxi or rely on local transportation to get to Barra de Navidad. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

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