Greyhound fares, does price go down on day of travel? so far gone up

Last Updated:
Jun 28th, 2015 11:14 am

Tags:

None

SCORE
+1
1
0

Reply to ThreadReply

Search this thread

Search this thread

Jun 24th, 2015 3:47 am

RaptorsGuy [OP]: Newbie; Aug 1, 2012; 54 posts; 3 upvotes; Mississauga

Jun 24th, 2015 3:47 am

Greyhound fares, does price go down on day of travel? so far gone up

Need to get from Toronto to Ottawa and back on Thursday and seeing the Greyhound price it has gone up web fare was 87 to 135, I couldn't confirm going until now just want to know if I were to wait till Thursday would price drop back down as a last minute drop?

I called them but person I talked to could only say price is subject to change and couldn't and give any other info.

Anyone bused before know they way fare price changes work?

13 replies

Jun 24th, 2015 5:37 am

makaturing: Deal Addict; Jul 23, 2013; 3038 posts; 1051 upvotes; A small town north o…

Jun 24th, 2015 5:37 am

I know how they work. Well, I know *something* of how they work, because I don't think anyone on this planet completely understands their baffling fare structure. Their own CS people don't, that's for sure.

It would take forever for me to type out what I've learned over the last couple of years dealing with this unspeakably horrible company, but I can tell you this:

The price of your trip will not go down on Thursday.

There's a 7 day window ending on the day of departure. Once you get inside that window your discounts disappear.

The "web only" fare you see now is the best you can expect to achieve for this trip.

+2

Jun 24th, 2015 6:46 am

IceBlueShoes: Deal Addict; Dec 18, 2007; 4731 posts; 645 upvotes

Jun 24th, 2015 6:46 am

for the price that greyhound is gouging you, you're better off taking the train. VIA has their sales released every Tuesday. Its not uncommon to see under $50 from TO > Ottawa/Montreal.

And yes greyhound does raise their last minute tickets like a plane.

+2

Jun 24th, 2015 4:23 pm

chrl120: Sr. Member; Dec 17, 2014; 723 posts; 237 upvotes

Jun 24th, 2015 4:23 pm

Don't do it!! Buy it now.
I went on a trip to Montreal with some buddies and it was already expensive 15 days in advance.
We waited until 5 days prior and it shot up by $55.

Btw, try via rail, amtrak, or Megabus. I realized Amtrak was a little bit cheaper after my trip.

Young and foolish. HAHA.

+2

Jun 25th, 2015 4:59 pm

makaturing: Deal Addict; Jul 23, 2013; 3038 posts; 1051 upvotes; A small town north o…

Jun 25th, 2015 4:59 pm

Well, it's now Thursday, so it appears OP has accepted his fate and coughed up the $135. Bon voyage.

Lesson to be learned: always buy Greyhound tickets at least eight days before you intend to travel.

+1

Jun 25th, 2015 5:16 pm

beaulieu22: Member; Jan 19, 2012; 270 posts; 93 upvotes; Montreal

Jun 25th, 2015 5:16 pm

Carpool, Kijiji

+1

Jun 26th, 2015 9:51 am

CorSter: Deal Addict; Mar 30, 2004; 4822 posts; 2247 upvotes; Durham Region

Jun 26th, 2015 9:51 am

Too late now, but OP should have bought a ticket from Toronto to Montreal on Greyhound - it's cheaper and requires you to switch buses in Ottawa anyways (so just leave the station in Ottawa and throw away the Ottawa-Montreal ticket)

+2

Jun 26th, 2015 11:48 am

makaturing: Deal Addict; Jul 23, 2013; 3038 posts; 1051 upvotes; A small town north o…

Jun 26th, 2015 11:48 am

CorSter wrote: ↑Too late now, but OP should have bought a ticket from Toronto to Montreal on Greyhound - it's cheaper and requires you to switch buses in Ottawa anyways (so just leave the station in Ottawa and throw away the Ottawa-Montreal ticket)

Ha ha! Yes, just one of the many examples of weirdness in Greyhound's fare structure. I wanted to bring this kind of thing to his attention, but he was leaving the next day and there was no time.

+1

Jun 26th, 2015 12:28 pm

Mulder and Scully: Deal Fanatic; Aug 3, 2006; 5085 posts; 1809 upvotes

Jun 26th, 2015 12:28 pm

I can only speak for my experience with Megabus/Coach, but fares go up closer to the date of departure. Fares are lower priced the farther out you purchase.

+1

Jun 26th, 2015 12:44 pm

makaturing: Deal Addict; Jul 23, 2013; 3038 posts; 1051 upvotes; A small town north o…

Jun 26th, 2015 12:44 pm

Mulder and Scully wrote: ↑I can only speak for my experience with Megabus/Coach, but fares go up closer to the date of departure. Fares are lower priced the farther out you purchase.

With Greyhound, fares go up and down at random, with no apparent rhyme or reason. You have to go to their web site and open multiple windows, then seek variations of the same trip.

It's hard to explain, just trust me on this one.

It is true, however, that no matter how many loopholes you find, the fare will increase dramatically once you're less than seven days from departure.

+1

Jun 26th, 2015 1:00 pm

djdestroyer: Deal Addict; Jul 10, 2014; 3495 posts; 1614 upvotes; Ottawa, ON

Jun 26th, 2015 1:00 pm

$135!? You can fly for an extra $80. Megabus is a great alternative for next time.

+1

Jun 27th, 2015 4:22 am

RaptorsGuy [OP]: Newbie; Aug 1, 2012; 54 posts; 3 upvotes; Mississauga

Jun 27th, 2015 4:22 am

Thanks everyone, I took the advise and did not wait till Thursday and ended up paying $35 for ride share and a greyhound ticket from Ottawa back for $50.

Also notice it's quite absurd the way Greyhound calculates round trip fare, they just take fare going to the destination and multiply that. Checked the price buying ticket separately and it would have saved 20 but still less me using ride share.

Next time it's needed Ill probably check Via rail and book ahead with discount Tuesday deals...

Jun 27th, 2015 11:59 am

makaturing: Deal Addict; Jul 23, 2013; 3038 posts; 1051 upvotes; A small town north o…

Jun 27th, 2015 11:59 am

djdestroyer wrote: ↑$135!? You can fly for an extra $80. Megabus is a great alternative for next time.

I don't think you can do Toronto-YOW for $215 return. And I don't see Ottawa on Megabus' list of destinations.

Jun 28th, 2015 11:14 am

IceBlueShoes: Deal Addict; Dec 18, 2007; 4731 posts; 645 upvotes

Jun 28th, 2015 11:14 am

makaturing wrote: ↑I don't think you can do Toronto-YOW for $215 return. And I don't see Ottawa on Megabus' list of destinations.

$220-240ish isn't uncommon during a seat sale with AC/Porter. I presume WJ would be in the same ballpark as well.

Reply to Thread

Top

Thread Information

There is currently 1 user viewing this thread. (0 members and 1 guest)