Booking a ticket for the coach

Bus Travel: Ticket Booking

How can I buy a ticket for a coach trip?

Are you looking for more info about buying and booking your coach ticket? Would you like to know if children can travel alone, how expensive a children’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.

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How do I book a coach ticket?

The long-distance bus market is expanding unprecedentedly throughout Italy. Thanks to competitive prices and the continuous growth in the offer of available rides, more and more travellers choose the coach to get around. CheckMyBus is the search engine, which helps you find the most convenient and suitable ride. All according to your needs, by purchasing the ticket conveniently online.

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 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.

Some companies, such as National Express, offer special deals – so-called funfares. These are only available if you book online and can save you a lot of money. An added benefit of booking online is that there’s no way you can lose your ticket! The bus company sends you the confirmation once you book, and most accept e-tickets. Then, all you have to do is show your ticket on your phone to boad. Sorted!

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, on larger bus terminals, such as in London, you will find specific selling points of companies. While this allows for spontaneous journeys, an extra fee might apply and the ticket could be more expensive than an online fare. Consequently, you may also miss out on deals, like funfares, which are only available online. 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.

How Can I Pay for my Coach Ticket?

Paying for your coach ticket is basically as easy as shopping on amazon. The majority of bus providers accept credit card, the most common payment method. In addition to that and in order to give customers a greater variety of options, larger companies such as National Express, FlixBus and Terravision also accept PayPal.

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. The conditions for changing a reservation or cancelling a ticket differ from company to company. Here’s a detailed overview over the different policies, which helps you make the right choice: 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 for a small arrangement fee. In conclusion, the table below gives you more information on the specific cancellation policies of major bus providers.

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

National Express - Coach Connections and Customer Reviews
  • Passengers must cancel within 72 hours before departure.
  • Not every ticket type is refundable.
  • Changing dates requires £5. Plus, passengers must pay a price difference based on the current price.
  • Original ticket must be presented before boarding the coach with amendment reference quoted.
  • Flexible fare add-on entitles to a full refund 24 hours before departure.
  • For cancellation or amendment, passengers can resort to National Express 24/7 Customer Contact Centre online.
  • Please have your ticket number at hand when making any changes or asking for a cancellation.
  • In case of a flight delay, a later departure may be provided. Amendments of any kind are charged £5 plus ticket price difference.
megabus - Coach Connections and Customer Reviews
  • Changes must be made 24 hours prior to departure.
  • Changes can conveniently be made online.
  • Procedure fee is £1. Ticket difference based on current price.
  • Refund not available.
Terravision - Coach Connections and Customer Reviews
  • Modification of travelling date can be made at least 24 hours prior to departure.
  • Terravision tickets are non-refundable.
  • For further info, passengers can contact Terravision via e-mail

What Happens if I Lose My Bus Ticket?

If you lose your coach ticket, 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 coach 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 coach companies offer discounts, check our bus deals and discounts page.

National Express:

  • Baby: 0-3 years old, free. Adult accompaniment is required
  • Child fares: 3-16 years old. Proof of age is required
  • Funfares: lowest priced tickets. Online only
  • Discounts for students who are members of national union of students (NUS or NUS extra): 25% off the standard ticket price
  • Young Person’s Coachcard (16 to 26 or full time student): 1/3 off the standard ticket price
  • Disabled Persons Coachcard: 1/3 off the standard ticket price
  • Senior Coachcard (over 60): 1/3 off the standard ticket price
  • Family Coachcard: Free bus travel for children, but adults and children must travel together.
  • Scottish Entitlement Card holder: free coach trip within Scotland
  • E-voucher

megabus:

  • Baby: 0-3 years old ride for free when with an Adult.
  • £1 trip offered frequently through online booking
  • Discounts for students who are members of national union of students (NUS or NUS extra)
  • Scottish Entitlement Card holder: free coach trip within Scotland

Terravision:

  • Cheap deals are frequently offered for online booking
  • No booking fee
  • E-voucher (6 months valid)
CheckMyBus: Search Engine

We remind you that CheckMyBus is a search engine that helps you find the most suitable coach 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.

411 Comments

  • Kerry

    I’m trying to book tickets and it says select on the time and price and when I press it it disappears and leaves rest on but doesn’t take me to book it

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Hi Kerry,

      Thank you for your message. Which connection and bus provider did you try to book? Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal, and doesn’t sell tickets. When you click “view deal” on a route in our search engine, you are then redirected to the bus company’s webpage to make the booking and payment. If the issue is on the provider’s website, you must call the bus company directly.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • Claire Selfridge

    There is no where on the booking site to advise of my concession card. Once I have chosen my journeys I am told the required page is not available. How am I supposed to book my trip? No phone number is given on the web site. This site is far.more difficult to use than the previous site where I had no trouble making a booking .

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Claire,

      Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is a price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets. When you click “view deal,” you are then redirected to the bus company’s webpage to make the final booking and payment. Typically, once you are on the company’s page, you can then edit your booking to include discount codes and concessions. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • Mr Suhail Umar

    Hi there,
    I am very disappointed by my booking.i decided to book a later coach as it stated on the timetable that it leaves from London Stratford.when I completed the booking it showed that the coach leaves from London Victoria!
    I still hope to change the booking!

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Mr. Suhail Umar,

      We apologise for the negative booking experience. Kindly let us know the date, route searched and bus company you tried to book your trip with, and we will gladly look into what could have gone wrong.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • Arjun

    I’m trying to book the Sheffield – London megabus coach departing at 14:20 on 10th August, 2018.

    On your site, it shows the price at £7.53, but when I click on “View Deal” and am taken to the Megabus website, the same route shows a price of £15.31.

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Arjun,

      Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, sometimes when the bus company changes its prices, it can take a bit of time for the price in our search engine to sync up. Currently, the price displayed is £15.31. We apologise for the misunderstanding and any inconvenience that may have been caused by this.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • Julia

    Hello,

    I have found a deal for £40 for two people. However, when I view the deal, it gives me a more expensive deal. is there a number I can contact regarding this issue?

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Julia,

      Thank you for your message. Please let us know which connection you searched for and on what date, so that we can see what might have went wrong. Sometimes, when a company changes its prices, our system takes a bit of time to catch up.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Gerry,

      Whether or not you can use your ticket at any time during the day depends on the type of ticket you’ve purchased. Companies like National Express offer a flexible ticket for £5 which allow you to get on any coach within 12 hours of your original departure. Otherwise, the ticket will only be available for the departure time it was booked for. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • Ann West

    I want to travel from Glasgow buchanan street to Perth bus station .
    The date is 28/07/18 .
    Leaving around 10.30am Must arrive before 1pm
    Leaving around 4/5 pm no restrictions .
    I have senior persons bus pass .What would the fare be ? Can this be booked in advance due to music festival that week end. ?
    I’ve had great difficulty accesssing times and fares .

    Thank you Ann West

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Ann,

      Thank you for your message. Unfrotunately, it appears that megabus doesn’t offer a senior discount with the fare for a regular ticket for this route costing £22.10 both ways. This is with a connection departing at 10:40 from Glasgow and then departing from Perth at either 16:10 or 16:45. The senior persons bus pass typically only works on local buses and not intercity coaches. You can always book your tickets in advance online, which is the best way to get cheaper ticket fares and secure your seat. On the CheckMyBus search engine only buses with vacant seating will be shown. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • Damian

    Dear Sir or Madame,

    I Would like to ask You about travel timetable as I cant find any conections or maybe there is some wrong,
    could you please give me any information about travel You by Bus
    from Burnham-on-Sea(16 October 4-6pm)to Bristol Airport and return 30 October from 7pm

    I am looking forward to hearing from You,

    Kind regards,

    Damian

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Damian,

      Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, there is only one bus connection between Burnham-on-Sea and the Bristol Airport which departs at 9:05 in the morning on 16 October. Alternatively, there are bus connections from Bridgewater Coach Station, which can be reached from Burnham-on-Sea via public transport, to Bristol Airport that day which depart at 16:30. There is a connection at 19:30 from Bristol Airport to Burnahm-on-Sea on 30 October however. Please note that some bus companies only show connections a month or two in advance, so it’s possible that more connections will become available closer to the departure date. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • Joy Rowell

    I have researched a bus ticket price quote from you at £2.02 per passenger from London Victoria Coach Station to Gatwick Airport – when I get redirected to the Easybus website the fare is quoted as £23.97 for 3 passengers – this isn’t the deal you quote – please advise.

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear Joy,

      Thank you for your message. All of our listed bus prices come directly from the bus provider’s we work with. Unfortunately, sometimes when the prices change, our search engine takes a bit of time to catch up. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

  • David James

    I don’t know why but I have spent the last hours trying to book a coach trip to London from Newquay through you. Your web sight is a joke nothing happens!

    Please have the common curtesy to get back to me and explain what’s the problem

    Dave

    • Avatar photo

      CheckMyBus-Support

      Dear David,

      We apologise for the delayed response. Kindly let us know which device you were using to try to book the ticket. Did the issue occur when you were going to make the payment on the bus provider’s website or before? We look forward to your response to try to see what went wrong and find a solution.

      Best regards,
      Your CheckMyBus Support

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