First-Person Bus Reviews: Why I Actually Paid Greyhound More Money Than Necessary

July 15, 2008 at 4:30 PM | 1 Comment

Jaunted's own Ellen Wernecke just got back from a bus trip. Don't worry: She's recovering.

You know how they always say not to throw good money after bad? Nowhere can the adage be more keenly felt than at the Greyhound desk at the Port Authority in New York, where I decided to try out the veteran bus service's new "Priority Seating" offer.

For $5, I would get to board my bus to Boston first and stand in a special line and... that's it. So why would I pay for something I could just get if I waited long enough? Because I'm a sucker, and I will probably be a sucker again. Why would paying what amounts to a 20 percent surcharge on my already overpriced bus ticket be a good idea?

Because it lets you bypass Greyhound's most annoying quirk.
Reservations on Greyhound are practically meaningless: Unlike at the airport, to actually board the 7 pm bus you purchased a ticket for, you'll have to get in line, knowing that enough last-minute passengers could bump you to the 8 pm, the 9 pm or a bus the next day. Wait three hours to board a bus on a busy Friday? Well, at least you got on a bus, you ungrateful little snot. With Priority Seating, counter officials need to see your ticket--the one linked to a particular departure time.

Because I'm impatient.
I don't have a Clear pass. I've only flown first-class once, and that was in the '90s. But I hate waiting just as much as rich people do. When I cruised up to my gate half an hour before the bus was due to leave, the regular line was stretched around the corner already, but no one was in the Priority Seating line. Just me, the sucker who enjoyed a delightful happy hour at Metro Marche upstairs instead of examining my shoes in the basement. If I were traveling with my sweet granny or someone else unfit to stand in line (small children? Brett Favre?), Priority Seating would be more than worth it.

Because it actually worked.
I fully expected Greyhound to miff this one, either ignoring me all together or claiming my $5 special-person pass was not valid. Instead I was nodded over without a word--in front of a Greyhound employee and his traveling companion, no less. I didn't even have to put it in a quart-sized bag.

Because the Port Authority is the brick-lined seventh circle of hell.
Metro Marche excepted.

All this said, I took BoltBus back to New York and got virtually the same privileges for $15, plus two hours of worrying that the start-up would go bankrupt between ticket purchase and boarding. That trade-off's up to you.

Related Stories:
· Greyhound CEO Promises to Save the Day as Buses and Stock Prices Crash [Jaunted]
· Bus Travel: The $1 Fare Wars Continue [Jaunted]
· Greyhound coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: amaah]

Tags: Greyhound / Budget Travel / Bus Travel / Buses

by egw

Boltbus

As far as worrying about Boltbus, I wouldn't. Bolt is operated by Greyhound/Peter Pan and is not a fly-by-night operation. Actually, they have no overnight service and operate mostly between 7 am to 10pm. I've made at least 6 trips with Bolt to Philly, Boston & DC and really love the service. My big kick is being able to bring a bike along, without having to box it or take it apart and without extra charge. The buses have Wifi(although you need a laptop to use it) electric outlets behind almost all the seats, 4 less seats so there's more legroom, bonus program which gives 1 free one way ticket for every 8 one-way trips, at least one $1 ticket for each scheduled bus with some $4 also, guaranteed seating if you book on the internet and appear within 5 minutes of bus departure and last but not least flush toilets...

1 Comment

Return to » First-Person Bus Reviews: Why I Actually Paid Greyhound More Money Than Necessary

heypaul

Jaunted Member
July 18, 2008 at 8:39 AM

Boltbus
I'm glad Priority Seating worked for you.
As far as worrying about Boltbus, I wouldn't. Bolt is operated by Greyhound/Peter Pan and is not a fly-by-night operation. Actually, they have no overnight service and operate mostly between 7 am to 10pm. I've made at least 6 trips with Bolt to Philly, Boston & DC and really love the service. My big kick is being able to bring a bike along, without having to box it or take it apart and without extra charge. The buses have Wifi(although you need a laptop to use it) electric outlets behind almost all the seats, 4 less seats so there's more legroom, bonus program which gives 1 free one way ticket for every 8 one-way trips, at least one $1 ticket for each scheduled bus with some $4 also, guaranteed seating if you book on the internet and appear within 5 minutes of bus departure and last but not least flush toilets...

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