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. HI–Trying to get from Johnson City, TN to Portland, ME but search on Check My Bus has no results. What is the route I can take?

    Thank you!

    Antworten

    1. Hi Michelle,

      Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have any direct connections from Johnson City, TN to Portland, ME in our system, but you can travel from Johnson City to New York City, and then from New York, you can travel to Portland, Maine or to Boston and then from Boston to Portland as well. Please note, however that availability may vary from day to day as well as the departure and arrival times. 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 planning to visit Florence on May and i would like to ask which is the easiest way to go from Bolognia airport to Florence city centre?

    Is the bus station near the Bolognia airport?
    Should i book my tickets now or i can do so when i arrive at Bolognia airport

    Thank you in advance

    Antworten

    1. Dear Diamantopoulou,

      Thank you for your message. You can travel directly from Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport to Florence Piazzale Montelungo, near the city centre via Appennino Shuttle. The bus departs from the airport. You can book when you arrive, however the best way to secure your seat for your desired time is to book online. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  3. Dear Citybus express,
    I received this email earlier saying that my bus from Amsterdam to Berlin (FXWEVJ) has been cancelled.
    I don’t know if it is a mistake but I requested no cancellation.
    In case the trip was canceled due to a major problem (which I totally understand), I don’t know why I should be charged with a cancellation fee (as the email says).
    If the cancellation is imposed by the bus company, then I request a full refund and a solution to compensate my situation. I don’t live in Amsterdam so I would need another mean of transportation to Berlin, so that would be a major inconvenience for me and my companion.

    So I write to you asking if the cancellation email was a mistake (definitely not requested by me or my companion), and, in case there’s no mistake and the trip was canceled by Citybus, what solution can you offer to my situation.

    Thank you for your support.
    Kind regards,

    Alejandro

    Antworten

    1. Dear Alejandro,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus search engine and doesn’t sell or cancel tickets. When you search for a connection using our site, and click “view deal” on a route, you are redirected to the bus company’s page to complete the booking process and make the payment. To resolve this issue, you must contact Citybus directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  4. I do not see any option on the site to request a round-trip ticket. How do I do that?

    Also, when my request is redirected to the TAP site, it will not accept a US credit card. How do I make a payment for my tickets?

    I requested for two adult travelers but when I get to the TAP site it only shows one.

    HELP!?

    Antworten

    1. Dear Robert,

      Thank you for your message. As a price comparison portal, we only display prices for single tickets, but when you are redirected to the bus provider’s page, you should be able to edit your order to include a return trip. When selecting a trip, if you are unable to change the number of passengers on the company’s site, you should be able to go to the home page to add this selection. In terms of payment, you should be able to pay with either a Visa or Mastercard, but must contact the company directly to find out if there are any other payment options that work for you.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Dear Nken,

      Thank you for your message. The cost of the ticket from Dallas to Houston depends on which provider you plan to travel with and/or at what time you would like to travel. Please note that CheckMyBus is a price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets or set their prices, which are determined by the individual bus providers.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Dear Edward,

      Thank you for your message. We are sorry that you are having trouble with the website. For today, the price for a bus between Las Vegas and Dallas would be about $177.50. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Hi Gail,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets. When you click on “view deal,” you are redirected to the bus provider’s webpage to complete the booking process. To receive a refund, you must contact the company you booked your ticket with directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Dear Soheila,

      Thank you for your message. You can reserve your ticket at your nearby bus station and pay with cash there. Also different bus companies may offer different modes of payment, including paypal or direct deposit.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

  9. I’d like to print my ticket. would you sand me my reservation record once more please.

    Start : Mar. 12. 2018 12:30 am Oakland to Anaheim
    Return : Mar. 16. 2018 12:30 am Anaheim

    Antworten

    1. Dear Samuel,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus search engine and doesn’t sell tickets. When you click “view deal” on a connection, you are then redirected to the provider’s webpage to complete the booking process. To receive your reservation, you must directly contact the company you booked your ticket with.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

    1. Dear Lewis,

      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, you are then redirected to the bus provider’s webpage to complete the payment and booking process. To receive a receipt, you must contact the company you booked your ticket with directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

      Antworten

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