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Greyhound bus line expands its priority boarding system
Back in November, Catherine wrote a post about Greyhound's $5 extra per ticket priority boarding, seat assignment system. After a month of trying it out, the system must be working well because it was expanded in December to include a large portion of Greyhound's departure cities. (see news release) Not all trips from the departure cities are elibible for priority boarding, however.
The main purpose, I think, from the passenger's perspective is to help allieviate the stress of wondering if you'll get a seat on the bus at all, or have to wait for another. Also, you have more likely a chance to get your choice of either an aisle or window seat. Since the system lets you pick your actual seat, say goodbye to the risk of getting stuck next to the bathroom. If traveling with kids, it helps guarantee that you're not going to need to ask a passenger if he or she would move so you can sit with your child.
Less stress means you'll be more likely to take the bus which can be a real economic deal. For the bus company, $5 for a passenger isn't all that much, but put all those $5 together and you have a money boost.
However, as Catherine pointed out, you can't get the priority boarding over the Internet. It's only available at the bus station which does mean waiting in line at some point unless you head to the bus station during a non-busy time. If you happen to live in or near a town or city with a Greyhound station, you can go 30 days in advance or less to purchase the priority boarding. If you want to take your chances, you can purchase priority boarding 20 minutes before your trip.
In order for your priority seating to be honored, you need to be at the gate 20 minutes before your departure time.
If the bus station is as packed as it was when my dad attempted to take the bus from Columbus to Cincinnati, having priority boarding would have assured him a seat if I had gone to the bus station a day or so earlier to get it. The day of the trip would have been too late, although he was traveling the day before Thanksgiving so bus travel was at a high. If you're traveling in the summer, I bet it's a similar situation.
The thing is, you can't get priority boarding yet out of Columbus, but all buses out of Cincinnati and Cleveland have the option. Still, if there's a smoother way out of those two cities, it should translate to an easier time in Columbus. My dad's bus was delayed for hours in Cleveland which is why he never managed to actually take the bus.
For a list of all the available priority boarding cities, click here.
Filed under: Stories, United States, Transportation, Budget Travel, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Patti Mar 31st 2008 11:33PM
For those who have tried this, I have a question. I was a frequent traveller on Greyhound from MS to Dallas to MS. I have stood outside in Dallas in 100 degree and up temperature waiting to board a bus while hanging on the my bag. I never check my bag because of past bad experience. My complaint, is boarding the bus and people refusing to let me sit in the seat next to them and having to have the bus driver make them move their many things, including pillows, comforters etc. I also resent paying for a full price seat and being forced to ride for 8 hours next to an obese person or a person with a child over 2 years of age in their lap. Brian, you are right. If Greyhound focused on making the trip more comfortable for those of us who travel by bus because we neither drive long distances, do not have an airport within a 100 miles, and just like to go at a moments notice and they would stay booked a lot more. When I mention travelling Greyhound to my friends, they say "Aren't you afraid? How do you stand those people you have to ride with?" Yes, I can be scary and I have had to ask drivers to please do something about the odor. I have gotten sick on the bus and told, I would be put off at the next stop for throwing up. I was sick because of the stench. Hope you read these Greyhound. I have over 3 thousand dollars in tickets I have used in the past 5 years visiting my niece some times for a day and night. I quit doing this because after paying 200.00 and being treated like crap, I started using AmTrak and now I visit my niece on this side of the MS River.
Patti Mar 31st 2008 11:33PM
I tipped a Greyhound employee 10.00 for putting my bag overhead for me and allowing me to preboard because the last bus had failed to stop and I had to sit in the lobby for 4 hours waiting on the next bus. (NO FAULT OF MY OWN) and I was told the next time I came through the terminal on my next trip, she had been reprimanded. How dare an employee assist a customer. SO if I have a priority seat and I board a bus that is full, do they throw someone off. I do not see this working. I would pay 5.00 just to have someone assist with my bag in the terminal. Greyhound has a long way to come in customer service. What public transportation system announces over an intercome to 50 people "IF IT GETS TOO HOT OR TOO COLD, COME UP FRONT, TELL ME AND I WILL ADJUST IT" I have been so hot and uncomfortable going through Texas in July with 50 other passengers and someone yells out turn off the air and the driver does. You cannot open a window, you cannot breath and the driver puts the A/C on 80. DO LIKE THE AIRLINES. THE AIR STAYS ON 65 AND PASSENGERS BRING A WRAP OR SWEATER.
Donna Jan 14th 2009 12:53PM
Hello, I was able to add priority boarding and I purchased my ticket online. My departure city was NY and my arrival city DC.
Jamie Rhein Jan 14th 2009 12:55PM
Great to hear that Donna. It's good to know that the system is improving. Priority boarding is so worth it.
Brian Jan 8th 2008 1:02PM
I love how it is now considered "Priority Seating" to actually get a seat on the iternary you actually reserved and paid for already. It is quite amazing how much customer service has gone to shit, I could understand this treatment if I had asked for a cheaper standby ticket but even on regular fares for airlines, trains and busses your reservation does not seem to mean crap anymore, meanwhile if you do not show up actually then you get raped by cancelation fees.
Jamie Rhein Jan 8th 2008 1:04PM
Good point, Brian. Since you can buy a ticket on-line, it seems that it would be logical that you could pay for priority seating as well. But, then you have a totally different kind of transportation system.