Booking a Ticket for the Bus

Bus Travel: Ticket Booking

How can I buy a ticket for a bus trip?

Are you looking for more info about buying and booking your bus ticket? Would you like to know if children can travel alone, how expensive a child’s ticket will be, or if there is a discount for seniors or people with disabilities?

Ticket Booking

CheckMyBus tells you how to book your ticket, how to pay for it and how to proceed in case of cancellation or modification.

Write to us! – We’re at your service.

Write a Comment

How do I book a bus ticket?

The bus industry is one of the fastest growing transport markets in the USA. Due 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 find it, then all you need to do is book your ticket.

Booking bus tickets online

Online booking

Booking a ticket online is probably the easiest option. First, you select your trip with the help of the CheckMyBus search function. Then, you can click on “View Deal” to go to the respective bus company’s website where you can complete the booking process. Moreover, most bus companies will send you 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 most bus companies accept these.

Buying the Ticket at the Bus Stop

Some companies allow you to purchase your ticket directly at the bus stop. For example, at larger bus terminals, such as in New York City, you will find specific selling points from 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 usually costs extra fee. 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 purchased the ticket can claim a refund.

FlixBus, allow you to buy a ticket for another person. Just enter the traveler’s name and simply pass him the ticket with all the info.

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 is a bit less expensive. If you are not sure if you can actually use your ticket or whether you will take the bus at a specific time, then we suggest selecting a 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. In conclusion, the table below gives you more information on the specific cancellation policies of the bus providers Greyhound Bus, FlixBus, Jefferson Lines, megabus and Trailways.

Here are the cancellation policies of the most renowned bus companies:

Greyhound: Bus tickets, Schedules and Discounts
  • 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.
FlixBus: Bus tickets, Schedules and Reviews
  • 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.
megabus: Bus tickets, Schedules and Reviews
  • 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.
Jefferson Lines: Bus tickets, Schedules and Reviews
  • 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).
Trailways: Bus tickets, Schedules and Reviews
  • Refundable Tickets: Tickets purchased via stations or agencies can be refunded for a 20% cancellation fee.
  • Non-Refundable Tickets: Marked with “no refund”. Passengers cannot cancel or exchange Online Tickets.

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.

Bus Travel: Ticket Booking

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. Finally, 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. For more information about which bus companies offer discounts, check our bus deals and discounts page.

Greyhound:

  • 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: Passengers need a Valid Photo ID for discounted tickets

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.

megabus:

  • Regular Deal: tickets starting from $1 for all bus trips across the US on a frequent basis

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. Passengers cannot combine Advance tickets with other types of discounts.

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: Passengers need a Valid Photo ID for discounted tickets
CheckMyBus: Search Engine

We remind you that CheckMyBus is a search engine that helps you find the most suitable bus for your trip, but that does not provide the transport service directly. For any questions regarding your ticket, for changes or cancellations, we always recommend that you contact the Customer Service of the specific operator.

 

658 Comments

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Jasmine,

      Thank you for your message. Which bus company would you like to travel with? Most bus companies require your ID, either a Passport or Driver’s License, prior to boarding. In this case, we advise calling the bus company before your trip to confirm if bringing a copy of your ID would be accepted.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

  • Zoe

    Hi there,

    what are the new measurements in place due to Covid?
    I want to go from Dublin to Belfast and I was wondering if a PCR test is needed or if I need to have a valid reason and proof for travelling

    Looking forward to hearing from you
    Zoe

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Zoe,

      According to the UK’s government site, passengers are not permitted to travel across the border without a legally permitted reason to do so, which currently excludes holidays or other leisure purposes. If travel is essential, residents from Ireland are not required to provide evidence of a COVID-19 test at this time. However, due to rapid changes, we always suggest referring to official travel advisories prior to travelling in case there are any updates.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Shelley,

      Thank you for your message. Where would you like to travel to and from? You can find all available bus routes by searching any route in the CheckMyBus search engine as well as the date you would like to travel on. You can compare results across different bus companies, and once you find a suitable connection, you can select “view deal” to be redirected to the company’s webpage and make your booking and payment.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

  • Sonia

    Hi!

    I’m trying to book 2 train tickets from Montreal to Ottawa from march 14th to March 16th.
    I’m unable to book the tickets. Can someone please help me? Is there a number i can call? If i buy a ticket, will i be reimbursed if i can’t travel due to covid reasons?

    Thank you

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Sonia,

      Thank you for your message. At this time, there doesn’t appear to be a direct bus connection available for this date between Montreal and Ottawa. This connection is primarily offered by Via Rail which is typically offered through Kiwi booking. Typically refunds are available via types of fares, however typically these can be cancelled within 48 hours of the trip if it is a voluntary cancellation, but involuntary cancellations can vary depending on the circumstances. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Fernando,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets or operate buses. When you click “view deal” on a bus connection in our system, you are then redirected to the company’s web-page to make the booking and payment. To find out what the company accepts, you must refer to the company directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Hello Fernando,

      While different bus companies have different rules and regulations when travelling, many require and ID prior to booking the ticket or boarding the bus. For more specific information on what type of ID is required, we suggest contacting the bus company you plan to travel with directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

  • Kate Godwin

    Checked prices for return journey from Palmerston North to Wellington in New Zealand and given prices on the checkmybus website.
    Then redirected to the Intercity site, which is the provider, and the prices stated were higher than you quoted. How do I get the price you quoted.

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Kate Godwin,

      Thank you for your message. The prices displayed on our website are in US dollars, where when you are redirected to the Intercity website, the price is then converted to New Zealand dollars. We apologise for any inconvenience and are working to implement New Zealand currency on our site.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

  • David Berry

    I just used your website to purchase tickets from “Cancun Airport” to Valladolid Mexico. The Schedule page listed departures from “Cancun Airport” as requested. After receiving the tickets, the tickets list departure from Cancun Centro, not Cancun Airport. Cancun Centro is a 30 minute bus ride away from Cancun Airport. What is going on? Help and advise please.

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear David,

      Thank you for your message and for bringing this to our attention. Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing a technical difficulty which we are working to resolve. In the meantime, if you contact ADO directly, you can have your ticket changed to the correct station. You can get a hold of ADO at the following number, 01 800 681 1604. We apologise for any inconvenience.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Anisa,

      Thank you for your message. With which bus company did you book your trip? Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and does not sell tickets. When you click “view deal” on a bus route in our search engine, you are then redirected to the bus company’s web-page to make the booking and payment. In order to receive a booking confirmation, you must contact the bus company directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

  • Damian Nopper

    So I am attempting to get a bus from Albany NY to Melbourne FL one-way ….anyways I found a ticket for 144 but when I click view deal it redirects me to grey hound which is to be expected but then when it does the price is more than double. I was wondering how its a 100 dollar difference from your site to greyhound and how I can acquire the deal being advertised? thank you in advance for your help

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Damian,

      Thank you for getting in touch. On which day would you like to travel and from which station in Albany was the trip you’re travelling from? Once you are redirected to the Greyhound site, you may be asked to renter your desired route. Whether the route is from SUNY Albany, Albany International Airport or Albany Swan Street will affect the cost of the trip, so you’ll need to enter which station you saw the deal was from. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support Team

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.