Get on the Bus: $1 Tickets in the Midwest

If Greyhound and the Chinatown buses are still too expensive for your traveling budget, we’ve got a sweet ride for you.

Megabus, the British discount bus line, is open for business in the USA. Tickets from their base in Chicago to cities like Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Minneapolis can run for as little as $1.00 each way, if you book far enough in advance. It goes up as you get closer to the departure day, but let’s face it, it’s still a bus fare. This isn’t flying first class to Australia.

And yeah, there’s a 50-cent reservation fee. So it’s really a $1.50 fare. The bus will burn that up in fuel as it idles, waiting for you to get onboard.

Megabus doesn’t have a terminal. They’ll pick you up and drop you off at a predetermined street corner. Classy. But for $1, you’re not buying class.

So, has anyone actually ridden the Megabus? Report! MARK ASHLEY

Bus line appeals to shoestring travelers with new routes [USA Today]
Would you take a $1 bus? [Jaunted]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.