Megabus

The buses I’ve been on arrived around 20 – 30 minutes late, but arrived at our destinations almost on time. Drivers were nice and professional. Don’t recommend sitting in the back of the top level if you’re prone to motion sickness. Constant swaying the entire ride. Incredibly cheap transportation option!

I had a reservation to be picked up at 12:15 last night… 3 hours later, I gave up on the bus ever showing. I got a refund, but what really drove me nuts was the lack of communication. All that was offered was 90 – 120 minutes delay via email which arrived 15 minutes before departure. For further information, one was to call the customer service line. Unfortunately, that option wasn’t even viable because there are no representatives between midnight to 4:30 am central time. How does a company provide services during that time, but have no one there to contact should something go wrong with their service.
The email also stated that updates would be available online or through the app. We logged on, updates were not available and we should call the customer service number. Alas, another dead end.
This is the first and last time I will attempt to ride the megabus as I don’t see this changing anytime soon.

This is a DISCOUNT way to travel. It may arrive late and run behind schedule. The buses are often about half full, meaning you can get two seats. This helps a lot with the limited leg room, which I would compare to Spirit Airlines in size. If the bus is full, it’s going to be a tight fit. If you don’t like that, drive or fly. Just remember that those will cost you a lot more than $ 1, $ 5, or $ 10 a trip. This is the most economical way to travel besides hitchhiking, so to the complainers: either pay the price premium of nicer options, or realize that this is your best option.
On the plus side, the staff is usually rather friendly and patient when needed.

Bus was terribly uncomfortable but Megabus is meant to be an affordable way to get from point A to B. Not meant to be comfortable or glamorous.
Pro:
–Good view in the front deck window seat
— INEXPENSIVE way to leave the city you are in, heading for the city you really need to be in when flights are cancelled and next flight will get you where you need to go too late the next day. –The bus was cool and it is way better than being hot. I suggest riders bring a sweater or blanket.
–Driver seemed to be a safe driver and overall professional.
–Left on time.
Con: Idiotic and crappy customer service. I complained and nobody directly addressed the issue. I am trying to influence Megabus to do things better for future customer but they could not care less as seen below with the last complaint template they sent me. I could have given Megabus an A-​Ok for meeting the standards of a decent bus ride this time around but customer service stunk.
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06÷01÷15 Email to Megabus: I was just on a MEGABUS trip from MPLS to CHICAGO at 10pm Saturday May 30^th. I just want to know why Megabus charges extra charge to reserve the front window seats if any old somebody can waddle on over and take up the unpurchased seats? Three people throughout the trip who had not purchased the front three seats all took turns taking up the seats for free when I had to pay the extra charge. I think people on Megabus need to be told by the proper authority before boarding that they all need to stay in their assigned seats. It is not fair that I pay extra to get these seats and each and every time someone else comes and takes the ones next to me for free.
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06÷02÷15 Email response FROM Megabus:
Dear E, Please be advised general seats are served on a first come — first serve
basis. However, reserved seats are for passenger who pay an additional fee
to be seated in that particular seat. Therefore, if someone is sitting in the seat you reserved you may kindly advise them that the seat belongs to you. Thank you for choosing megabus, we appreciate your business. Sincerely, Natal– Megabus Customer Service Specialist
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6÷2÷15 Email reply TO Megabus from me: You are not understanding. They were not in my seat. They were in the seats next to me. I want to talk to a supervisor. You have not helped me. Please escalate this issue to someone who can call me or that I can call.
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06÷02÷15
Dear Valued Customer,
strives to provide you with the best possible service, and when you feel that it fails to meet your expectations, it is important for us to know. We apologize that you received service that prompted you to contact
us with a complaint, and we regret any inconvenience or frustration that your experience has caused you. Thank you for using
we appreciate your business. Sincerely, Anthony Megabus Customer Service Specialist
— — — — — — — — — — — —
06÷02÷15
Ok since you are not going to assist me, I am going to share my experience with everyone else on Unilocal.Thank you for nothing.

My son goes to UW-​Madison and uses Megabus to get back and forth to St. Paul, MN. The rides from St. Paul to the campus are fine. Always on schedule, no problems. It’s the trips from campus to St. Paul that are ALWAYS very late. They average about 2 hours late. Of course, you still have to show up on time just in case, but they are ridiculously late. I believe the bus starts out in Chicago, so the problem is there. They usually send out a text or email about an hour after the scheduled departure stating that the bus is running 60 – 90 minutes late. It’s already been 60 minutes late when they send the notice and it’s usually another hour before the bus actually arrives. I wish Greyhound would pick up and drop off on campus. If they did he would switch in a heartbeat. The prices are another issue. They change all the time. As the bus gets filled up the prices keep going up and up and up. The other carriers have fixed prices, which makes things easier. We’ve paid anywhere from $ 31 to $ 84 for the same route.

THE WORST COMPANY on earth!!! I showed up at the Minneapolis stop for a bus to Chicago TWO times in the past TWO weeks, and the bus NEVER CAME. Over an HOUR after we were supposed to depart, I received an email saying the bus would be an HOUR and a half late, which ended up being two hours. This happened on two consecutive occasions in two weeks.
Oh, and they don’t issue refunds.
Save your mind and wallet and rent a car!!!

Returning from Chicago to Mpls on 8÷19÷14 horrible experience. Bus broke down in the afternoon on the Milwaukee freeway. First we were not being told anything and only after persistent questioning we got some updates. The company and the driver kept changing their story about what they were going to do to get us on the way. First they said there was a bus coming in an hour, then they said a mechanic would be coming instead. When the sheriff called a city bus to rescue the passengers from a hot bus and on a dangerous location, the company called and cancelled the local bus and kept us stranded for another 2 hours. Eventually after a 3.5 hour delay we were on our way.
In summary very poor concern by the Megabus company for the safety and service to their customers. We did get a ticket refunded.
Wi fi very except close to Madison or Chicago.
A horrible experience not worth the savings. A poorly run company.

I’m currently on the Megabus wishing I would have taken my chances with my unreliable, 14 year old car. I left from Saint Paul, MN and am still heading to Chicago. My bus driver got off the exit too early when heading to Madison and was driving around in circles and asking passerby’s where the University of Madison is. We are now going to arrive at our destination 2 hours late. The bus is approximately 60 degrees F — a few people who must have ridden the bus before are wrapped in blankets, others have their arms tucked in their T-​shirts trying not to shiver to death. I think I would rather take my chances riding with a stranger from Craigslist if I didn’t have a car before I took the Megabus again.

What a horrible experience. Late yet the driver took a 2 cig smoke break. Wireless was worthless. Legroom was much worse than the worst airline. My knees are bruised! Driver read during trip. And also ate.

Very strict on luggage rules & confusing location… staff isnt always super friendly either. I guess its a cheap and easy way to get to where you need to go so it wont be perfect. Havent ridden the Greyhound but I think it may be a step up from what I hear about Greyhound.

We currently just began hour 10 of what was supposed to be an 8-​hour trip from Minneapolis to Chicago. I’m no professional driver, but I’m relatively certain that those u-​turns weren’t supposed to be part of the drive. I’m losing my mind on this bus.
I gave 2 stars though because if you want cheap, it’s cheap. And it will get you there. Eventually. As for me, though, I’ll be on the Amtrak next time.

Someone call the Humane Society because I am experiencing extremely inhumane treatment here! It is 60 outside but a sauna in here. I do not remember the last time I sweated this much. Apparantly something is broken because I already asked the driver to get some air moving but nothing happened. I am sitting in the front top of the bus. The whole top is hot. No air is moving from the vents. Everyone around me is sweating and fanning themselves.
In short, the climate control for the bus needs to be fixed.
I left on time and the driver was friendly. This is my first time taking MegaBus. Will I take it again? Highly unlikely. Next time I will look for other options and only take this if it is the only viable one.
P. S. MegaBus. Please put a neaby address in for the stops. It is 2013. We know how to search for addresses. It took me about 15 minutes to figure out where it was. Ex. For the Minneapolis stop go to 222 – 298 9^th Ave S Minneapolis Minnesota 55 415. From there you will see the bus stop.

«Get there early to get a good seat.»
This means get there 20 minutes early and ask yourself 2 questions.
1. Are you going to stay awake the whole time? If so, the seat with the table on the lower tier becomes my first pick because I can use it as a desktop while I type on my iPad or handwrite notes or lay out the newspaper.
2. If you’re going to use the time to catch up on Zzzz’s then go to the upper tier at the front of the bus where no one can sit in front of you. You want to avoid the situation where someone has the capability to lay their seat back onto your lap. Also, encourage others not to sit next to you (if possible and if the bus is not full) and choose the seat where you have extra room to stretch your legs out.
Overall, I love taking the Megabus. Roundtrip to Chicago was $ 15 one way and $ 11 on the return trip. Being chauffeured is fantastic. I catch up on e-​mails, get extra Zzzz’s, and most importantly, I don’t have to worry about speeding tickets, tollway fares, inattentive drivers, and parking in Chicago. I also like that the bus weighs 12 tons, so if we do get into an accident by some inattentive driver or texter, the bus would most likely win.
You should know, people on the bus mind themselves. I have never felt unsafe. There’s a mutual understanding among bus-​goers that we’re all on this bus together for a long time.
Lastly, there is 1 stop along the way at a fast food/​convenience gas station. If that doesn’t suit you, consider bringing your own food.

I would write a review, but I glanced at Nazgul W.‘s review and wholeheartedly agree with everything written. So read that one! :)

As far as overall travel goes, this is probably somewhere around a 2-​star; however, when you think about it in terms of buses, I guess it really isn’t all that bad. I mean, you get what you pay for, right? And this is pretty darn cheap. You can snag one-​way tickets from Minneapolis to Chicago for, like, $ 15 sometimes.
The good part about taking the bus from Minneapolis to Chicago is that they are almost always on time (I can’t say the same coming from Chicago). I have been showing up early to try and get some sweet seats, but there’s not much point to it. They let senior citizens and people with small children on first, which isn’t inherently a bad thing; however, people who don’t fit into either category love to bum rush the lines. And these are people that you know will probably try and get in a fight with you if you dare to speak up. I mean, you’ve got a ticket, so you’ve got a seat. No reason to get stabbed over it. I just wish the people working there would regulate the lines.
Megabus clientele has declined, to say the least. It started out with mostly college students and was a pleasant ride. Now it kinda caters to the lowest common denominator. I think the people who were using Greyhound got smart to it, so they are taking over. Co-​eds keeping to themselves have been replaced by pregnant, chain-​smoking teenagers and people with a bazillion kids that won’t STFU. So be prepared for possibly having to put up with people playing rap music loud enough on their headphones for you to hear it 3 rows away, farting, burping, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, snoring, snorting and the entire spectrum of bodily functions.
Supposedly the cabins are climate controlled, which means you can expect temperatures ranging from 50s to 80s inside the bus. I always dress in layers and bring along a blanket and pillow to make things more comfortable.
They have wi-​fi, though it can be spotty. It’s worked more often than not, but think of it as a bonus and not a real service.
All in all, I recommend Megabus if you don’t want to make the drive yourself and find airline tickets are too pricey. It’s a good option for a last minute trip and they have a decent schedule selection.

I take Megabus FREQUENTLY between Chicago and Cleveland, and moderately often between Chicago and Minneapolis. Overall, it can be a very cheap way to travel and isn’t usually too painful of a ride! However, I have found that the Minneapolis – Chicago trip is worse than the others. Is it unluckiness? Something about the Minneapolis drivers? I’m not sure, but I felt strongly enough about it to write a review.
–The Minneapolis to Chicago bus has left EARLY all 3 times I have taken it.
–The Minneapolis to Chicago (& Chicago to Minneapolis) drivers have been the rudest of all the Megabus drivers I have encountered. I’m not sure why…
–I have been personally offended by these drivers on several occasions.
–The wifi usually doesn’t work on these buses, and the outlets are hit or miss.
–My last two trips out of Minneapolis have both been VERY cold. The driver tends to listen to the person who yells the loudest about the temperature upstairs, even if it is a very large man wearing a heavy coat in the middle of summer… hmmmm. Most other people on the upper level were complaining of the chilled air but weren’t aggressive enough to make the change happen.
However, you really can’t be a 20 dollar ticket (or less, if you buy far in advance). I’m more likely to fly rather than bus it after my recent experience, but it’s hard to resist spending that little money!

With Minneapolis being one of Megabus’ original launch cities way before Megabus was cool, I have to give the Minneapolis Megabus staff props. As one of its loyal followers from the beginning, I still remember when Megabus had two Minneapolis bus stops and when waiting an hour for the bus to arrive was considered the norm.
But then something happened. I stopped taking Megabus as much. Why? Because Megabus got smart, and started realizing that more and more people were riding. So, they quickly shifted their revenue raising strategy, as a result, after the first $ 1 ticket, the ticket prices quickly shot up as high as $ 25. You might be thinking, «Are you kidding me…$ 25 is still cheap!», to which I’ll respond, «Yes, it is, but not compared to the good ol’ days when you could buy a ticket the week before and only have to pay $ 15. Now it’s likely you’ll pay $ 50. Moreover, take a look at Greyhound Express and then tell me who consistently has cheaper prices.»
Regardless of my newfound love of Greyhound, I would be unwise to forget my first love: Thank you, Megabus, for starting the $ 1 bus ticket revolution. I will forever be in your debt.

I traveled to Chicago via Megabus on April 12, 2013 and returned same way on April 14^th, 2013. Despite reading the negative reviews, I couldn’t say no to the price. I wasn’t disappointed, both times the buses were clean, drivers were polite/​friendly and the trips were uneventful. There was an outlet in every seat and
the Wifi worked most of the time, but what can you expect driving in the middle of nowhere in Wisconsin. Both drivers were friendly and even made a lunch stop half way through. Both days they ran on schedule, even Sunday despite a winter storm.
All in all, I’d do this again… you can’t beat the price!

PROS:
Outlets for every seat to charge phones or plug something in.
Great views with the upper deck seats, large windows and sunroofs (for viewing, not to open up).
WiFi, when it’s working.
CHEAP, and less hassle than Greyhound. More room to operate in bus than Greyhound.
Easy to purchase tickets online, fewer fees and bureaucracy than other transportation options.
CONS:
You may get stuck sitting with or near someone who doesn’t observe the rules of keeping conversation or cell phone calls discreet or short.
There’s not a lot of stretching-​out room, so if the person in front of you leans back, you hope you don’t get injured as a result.
Unless you show up 15 – 20 minutes before departure, you’ll probably be getting the short end of seat selection.
Some of the bus drivers are a bit surly and not so friendly, but who can blame them.
Overall, Megabus is a terrific value and I wish it had been around years ago when I used bus service more. It’s super cheap, which is beyond awesome, and doesn’t require all kinds of formalities to get a ticket. If you pack lightly and show up a bit early, you’ll likely get a nice seat and won’t have to put up with any issues.
The only stop from Minneap to Milwaukee was Mauston, Wisconsin, for a food /​break stop, and that certainly beats stopping at Menomonie, Eau Claire, Tomah, and Madison on the way to Brew City.

Pros: Power outlets, (really slow WiFi at times), great sceneries of everyday people and the beautiful farms of the Midwest, REALLY great prices and without the hassle of airport security and greedy airlines. Did I mention you can meet some great characters on here too? Well you can, if you don’t mind starting and carrying a conversation with a total stranger. You will find a few knuckleheads but than again we are living in a planet full of knuckleheads anyways.
Cons: If you can conceal your discomfort for a period of time with someone who adjusted their seat backwards and than decided to put their head between the glass window and the side of the seat, which is only, I don’t know, right in your face, other than this you should have a fine and dandy trip.
No cup-​holders, this really got on my nerves a few times, can you imagine holding a 24oz cup full of coffee in one hand and trying to read an actual book, yeah it sucks.
Bring along a small pillow and a blanket because it can be REALLY chilly inside (especially the upper deck), a good book to get lost into doesn’t hurt unless you’re with a friend and on a long trip the two of ya will wish you had brought your iPads along.