Megabus.com offers inexpensive alternative for traveling college students

By Sara Cesky

News Editor

Despite the seventy-degree weather Maryland has recently been enjoying, it is the middle of November and Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching.

Students across campus have a week of classes left before it's time for turkey, green bean casserole, and Grandma's pumpkin pie. But in order for students to enjoy these tasty holiday traditions, they have to get home.

College students across the country have been forced to tighten their wallets and be more conscious of where their money is going, and that means cutting back on travel costs.

"I wanted to fly to South Carolina to visit my extended family for Thanksgiving, but when I looked at how much flights cost I wasn't sure it would be possible," said Kelsey Formalarie, '12.

As the economy reached its lowest points, travelers chose to stay local for vacations or found other ways to reach their destinations. Instead of planes, trains and cars, the low fare of buses caught the eye of many and is now becoming the go-to choice.

One of these up and rising bus companies is megabus.com, a spin off subsidiary of Coach USA which is one of the three largest transportation companies in North America. What is its claim to fame? It offers seats on its Greyhound buses for as low as $1.

Megabus.com started in April of 2006 and became the first intercity, express bus line dedicated to bringing high-quality, low-cost travel options to 17 Midwest cities and 11 Northeast cities.

"We brought the concept from the United Kingdom where it had been quite successful" said said Dale Moser, president and COO of megabus.com. The company used the fundamentals that worked there and brought it to seven North America cities.

It took two years for the company to reach 1 million customers, but with a declining economy and the introduction of double-decker buses and an expansion to 28 cities the company sold almost one million tickets in only five months.

"Rather quickly we found that it was popular and that we may have found a niche market with the concepts of express service, low fares, wi-fi, and center city locations for our bus stops," continued Moser.

A recent survey done for the company by conducted by Hanser & Associates showed that among the 92 percent who use megabus.com instead of other forms of transportation, 67 percent use their bus company instead of driving themselves, 43 percent take the bus instead of the train and 33 percent take the bus instead of flying.

Flat panel monitors, free wi-fi, power outlets for laptops, reclining seats, and wheelchair equipped, these buses are transforming the transportation system by providing an option to those who don't have money for a flight or a train ride.

"We have been successful in getting people to leave their car at home to take a trip and get on a bus. As opposed to airfare and gas, bus transportation saves time and money. It is a valuable travel option," said Moser.

Of the four million customers who have traveled with Megabus.com, one of their largest demographics is 18-30 or what they call the young professional demographic.

"College students, or young professionals, look for economical ways to live and are a value-driven consumer," said Moser.

Megabus.com is completely internet based because, as Moser stated, the future of most things in the world are electronic and customers primarily go online to book their traveling.

The further in advance a seat is reserved, the cheapest it will be. Seats start out at $1 and increase incrementally, but even the fare for the last few seats of a bus are lower than the other alternatives.

"I am planning on trying megabus.com for Christmas break when I go home to New Hampshire," said Kelsey Formalarie. "I would much rather pay $1 for a bus trip than up to $200 for air fare."

Travelers are always guaranteed a seat and the locations are in the heart of the city, within walking distance of subways and cabs. Bus stops are in major cities like Baltimore, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

"Megabus.com's service allows people the chance to vacation, visit family and friends or travel to business meetings without worrying about the cost," said Moser. "The rapid increase in our ticket sales and our quick climb to four million customers is clear evidence that travelers are and will continue to look for more affordable travel options."