The new schedule was just released by Megabus in the United States — and fares for as low as one dollar are still available as of “press time” for this article through Monday, January 8 2024; but those fares tend to go fast.
One Dollar Fares On Megabus are Available Now Through January 8 2024 — But Hurry
Yes, you read that correctly: one dollar fares on Megabus are available — but you have to hurry if you want to book them.
Even if the one dollar fares disappear, there are still low fares available which could be attractive to you if you do not have a problem traveling on a bus to your destination. You can even use it for positioning yourself to a distant airport where you may have obtained a low airfare.
Actual Costs
If you purchase a return fare — that is, one dollar each way round-trip for a total of two dollars — it could cost you a minimum of $5.99. The booking fee is $3.99 — whether the itinerary is one way or round trip — and a facilities fee of $1.50 is added on certain routes whose origination or destination uses an actual building instead of an outdoor bus stop, which brings the cost of the return fare to $7.49. At $5.49, the fees could easily cost more than the entire trip — and those fees do not include the cost of reserving a seat or checking any bags beyond the included allowance of one small carry-on bag and one checked bag.
Some trips only have a booking fee of $3.99 for the entire trip — meaning that the round-trip could cost you a minimum of $5.99 in total.
Final Boarding Call
A return trip on Megabus can cost less than two gallons of gasoline these days if you score the one dollar fare. If you do not mind the conditions of traveling by bus, this can be quite a cost-effective way to travel — especially as passengers do not have to pay tolls along the way.
As I originally wrote in this article, I am not sure I would use Megabus again, as it does not have the best customer service; and the ride can be long and draining depending on where you go — especially when there is a significant delay. The report of my first trip as a passenger on Megabus was posted as well. Regardless, I am hoping that this notice could help to save you money, if you are so inclined.
My advice is to take an overnight trip — especially if you are able to sleep on the bus. This way, you do not lose time in which you could be doing something else; and you could save money on a night in a hotel room. I had not had luck accessing the Internet via the Wi-Fi which is supposed to be available aboard each bus; but your experience may vary.
Day trips are not a bad idea if you enjoy watching the scenery go by without having to worry about driving…
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
