A few questions about Megabus

[jednick]

I was thinking, sometimes it seems with Megabus it's cheaper to book a longer journey on the same coach. (Something like - London to Middlesbrough is at times a few pounds more expensive than London to Newcastle, on the same service).

What's stopping somebody wanting to go from, say, London to Middlesbrough but saving money by buying a London to Newcastle ticket which is cheaper, and then simply alighting at Middlesbrough? There are no ticket barriers when you get off, and nobody would know you've got off early.

Also, what would happen if somebody bought a shorter-distance ticket on a Megabus coach, say for example London to Bristol, and then getting on the coach but staying on until Swansea, who would know? (I know that in the unlikely event of a crash and you were on the coach with a ticket not valid for that part of the journey, then you would be in a very tricky situation).

Otherwise, how would anybody know? Yes, there are ticket checks as you get on the coach, but nobody comes around to check your tickets again once you're travelling on the coach, and there are no ticket barriers, or ticket checks at the coach stations when you get off.

 

[185143]

I was thinking, sometimes it seems with Megabus it's cheaper to book a longer journey on the same coach. (Something like - London to Middlesbrough is at times a few pounds more expensive then London to Newcastle, on the same service).

What's stopping somebody wanting to go from, say, London to Middlesbrough but saving money by buying a London to Newcastle ticket which is cheaper, and then simply alighting at Middlesbrough? There are no ticket barriers when you get off, and nobody would know you've got off early.

Also, what would happen if somebody bought a shorter-distance ticket on a Megabus coach, say for example London to Bristol, and then getting on the coach but staying on until Swansea, who would know? (I know that in the unlikely event of a crash and you were on the coach with a ticket not valid for that part of the journey, then you would be in a very tricky situation).

Otherwise, how would anybody know? Yes, there are ticket checks as you get on the coach, but nobody comes around to check your tickets again once you're travelling on the coach, and there are no ticket barriers, or ticket checks at the coach stations when you get off.

Absolutely nothing I suspect. I used a Manchester-Newcastle ticket to Sunderland last year. I mentioned to the driver that my plans had changed and I was now wanted to get off in Sunderland and that was fine.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The stopping short thing shouldnt be an issue but mindful of any luggage you may have going into and being berried in the wrong locker. I know from observing it happen that a dim view is taken of booking a shorter trip than the one intended so dont try it.

 

[DuncanS]

The couple of times I've used Megabus and National Express they have done headcounts before setting off from stops - they've had printouts which tell them how many people they should have.

Never had a situation where its been a problem though but they do check to make sure they have the numbers they expect.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You could only be at all safe doing it if you had only hand luggage, and only for getting off short, not on. And there's the risk you get directed to a duplicate coach not serving your intended (but not ticketed) destination.

 

[paddington]

I used a Manchester-Newcastle ticket to Sunderland last year. I mentioned to the driver that my plans had changed and I was now wanted to get off in Sunderland and that was fine.

I did something similar and the driver was confused about what I was asking... in the end he said "you can get off where you like mate"

 

[route101]

You could only be at all safe doing it if you had only hand luggage, and only for getting off short, not on. And there's the risk you get directed to a duplicate coach not serving your intended (but not ticketed) destination.

If your doing Victoria to Glasgow and going to Glasgow they often make you go on the duplicates .

 

[sammyg901]

Not sure if the anomaly still exists but it used to be much cheaper to book a ticket to London vs Heathrow. I didn't have luggage but the coach assistant (?
- overnight coach) was insistent no one was exiting at Heathrow who was booked to London

Of course I was down the middle stairs and off like a shot before she had chance to attempt to stop me though obviously would have been much more difficult with luggage as they do organise that by destination

Though not sure what they would have done in reality as they'd have been holding up the coach and they can't detain you!

 

[dvboy]

Bear in mind that if no-one has been booked to alight or depart from the stop you want to stop short at, it may not stop there at all.

 

[Great_Western]

Isnt it now that you can book a journey on megabus even after the coach has left its origin? That was certainly the reason the driver gave last year when a coach I was on from London to Cwmbran stopped at Swindon without anybody getting on or off. If thats the case, the coach not stopping at your destination shouldnt be a problem

 

[Adlington]

The couple of times I've used Megabus and National Express they have done headcounts before setting off from stops - they've had printouts which tell them how many people they should have.

And what happens if the headcount is less than what the printout says ? Press gang a bystander aboard?

 

[Bletchleyite]

They do headcounts not for revenue protection, but so they know how many seats they have free to sell from stops further down the line. If someone didn't show up that's one more seat to sell.

 

[Adlington]

Fine, but they don't need any printouts for that.

 

[skyhigh]

After a couple of Megabus trips recently I've got a question but don't think it's worth opening a whole new thread for, hope that's okay.

Are drivers given freedom to take the best route between stops? When taking the coach from London to Leeds two weeks in a row, the first time we went via the A1(M) while the second we went on the M1.

 

[pjnathanail]

After a couple of Megabus trips recently I've got a question but don't think it's worth opening a whole new thread for, hope that's okay.

Are drivers given freedom to take the best route between stops? When taking the coach from London to Leeds two weeks in a row, the first time we went via the A1(M) while the second we went on the M1.

I believe they are, yes. A few weeks ago I was on a Megabus and got chatting to the driver and as we got to my local area he asked me to show him a bit of route he'd been wanting to learn as a potential diversion route; we just took to coach that way instead. Didn't miss any stops or add any time to the journey so he seemed quite pleased with the route and clearly has permission to divert as he sees fit.

 

[telstarbox]

Yes - the routes heading north of London usually go up the A41 Baker Street/Finchley Road, but once I was on one which went up the A5 Edgware Road instead presumably as it was less congested.