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?
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.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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)
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
Michael Lee K K
I need to buy bus tickets for 18 passengers :
London to Paris
depart on 26th Dec
800 am by Eurolines bus
Can you check whether there are enough seats for the above date and time ?
your urgent reply greatly appreciated.
Thank you
CheckMyBus-Support
Hi Michael,
CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal that only connects to intercity coaches with fixed prices at this time. You can book up to 7 tickets at a time, however you will not be able to guarantee that the coach will have enough seats to accommodate everyone. For larger groups, we suggest contacting a bus rental company. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Helen
I am looking at coaches from London to Perpignan in early January.
Is this a direct route straight through or do I have to change buses somewhere and if so is it in the same bus station?
Thank you.
CheckMyBus-Support
Hi Helen,
Thank you for your message. There are bus connections available from London to Perpignan available via FlixBus and Eurolines France. In early January, prices range from €67.00 to €80.00. There are generally connections in Paris when taking this route, however the next bus should be available at the same station you are dropped off at. If you have any further questions, we suggest getting in touch with whichever company you choose to travel with to know for sure.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Camila Carvalho
Hey! I like to know if you have buses running on the 26th of December from Bristol to Reading?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Camila,
Thank you for your message. There are buses from Bistol to Reading on 26 December via National Express, running throughout the day with ticket prices starting from £47.50. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Della hall
I have just booked a bus from Annecy to Geneva Airport for this weekend and I have been charged twice and sent 2 sets of tickets as your website the payment didnt go through. I need a refund for one of my sets of tickets.
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Della,
Thank you for your message. 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 company’s webpage to make the booking and payment. To receive a refund, you must contact the company you booked your tickets with directly.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Charlie
Hi,
I was wondering if the bus/any public transportation is operating on the 26th December 2018 night from Bexhill to Heathrow Airport as I have an early flight on 27th December (6pm international departure).
I can also do 27th December morning but there probably won’t be any coach that starts operating at 1 or 2 am, right?
Do you have any other suggestion for me, that I can take via public transportation or, is taking the uber/black cab the only option? I understand that it is a public holiday therefore most public transportation is probably not operating on that day.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Char Lie
CheckMyBus-Support
Hi Charlie,
Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, there are currently no available buses operating this route on 26 December due to the National Holiday, and the earliest available connection on the 27th doesn’t depart until 8 in the morning. Alternatively, you can look into taking a rain via Southern railways, in which the earliest connection leaves at 5 in the morning on the 27th. Otherwise taking an uber or taxi would be your most reliable option. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Corina Vichilu
Hello
I was wondering if you have a discount for mental disability children or from what age exactly does a child needs a ticket? My little one is 4.
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Corina,
Thank you for your message. Many coach companies, such as National Express offer a Disability Coach card for 10 pounds which allows disabled passengers to travel at a discount for a full year, which can be used in addition to a child’s discount. However, every company does have a different policy regarding this. To know for sure which discounts and offers are available, we suggest contacting specific bus companies directly.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Alison Pierry
I just booked a return ticket from Salobrena to Granada tomorrow and I clicked the wrong button and now on the wrong bus. Can you help me change it?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Alison,
Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets. When you click “view deal” on a route, you are then redirected to the bus company’s webpage to make the booking and payment. In order to cancel or update the bus ticket, you must contact the bus company you booked with directly.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
bozena zigova
hi I booked a ticket but nothing printed but money has been taken from my account could you please help its a ticket from dover to prague on 26/09/18
many thanks
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Bozena,
Thank you for your message. Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and doesn’t sell tickets. When you click “view deal” for a connection in our search engine, you are then redirected to the bus provider’s webpage to make the booking and payment. In order to receive a new ticket or a refund, you must contact the company you booked your trip with directly.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
MARIA URIBESALGO
Hi there, I will like to travel to Edinburgh the 27th September to see my son that is a Uni, but I dont know how to book a ticket cause I have the Scottish Entitlement Card, can you help me, thanks in advanced…
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Maria,
Thank you for your message. With a National Entitlement Cardyou can either book a ticket in advance or on the bus to travel anywhere in person, however advance tickets must be collected in person. These cards allow you to travel throughout Scotland with local transport as well as some intercity connections, however with some larger companies, such as National Express, you many still need to book your ticket and pay as these have their own discount programs. We suggest directly contacting such companies to make sure you can use your ticket on board if this is the case.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Claire
I do not speak Spanish so cannot use this website
Which is only partially in English. I must try to translate it.
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Claire,
Thank you for your message. Which website were you trying to navigate? Please note that CheckMyBus is an intercity bus price comparison portal and when you click “view deal” on a route, you are then forwarded to the bus provider’s webpage to make the booking and payment. CheckMyBus is available in multiple languages, and you can change this by clicking on the flag in the toolbar. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support