So what's the catch?
Are there really bus rides from Pittsburgh to New York for $1 each way? Yeah, it’s true! Starting May 4, 2010, you can reserve a seat on a MegaBus.com charter from the Burgh to NYC. That might be your cheapest way out of Boring Pittsburgh to a land where businesses stay open past 8pm.
The Megabus stop for all arrivals and departures is located under the David L. Lawrence Convention Center just north of the intersection of 10th St and Penn Avenue.
Megabus uses seperate locations in New York for arrivals and departures. MEGABUS.COM departures are located adjacent to Penn Station, on the north side of West 31st Street at the northeast corner of 31st Street and 8th Avenue. MEGABUS.COM arrivals are located at the MTA bus shelter on the west side of 7th Avenue, just south of 28th Street. PLEASE NOTE that Academy services to and from Atlantic City depart and arrive at Port Authority Bus Station, Gate 1.
Some of you might have already taken a MegaBus ride before. The company operates low-fare bus rides between numerous major cities like Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Toronto, and more. The $1 bus tickets were actually available to Pittsburghers back in 2007, but they canceled the route because not enough people were taking advantage of it – probably because most people thought there was a gimmick or catch.
So what’s the catch? Actually there doesn’t seem to be one. We tried to reserve a seat on a bus leaving Pittsburgh May 5th and returning from New York City on May 7th. The price was $1 each way, plus 50 cents for a reservation fee. The grand total at checkout was $2.50 for round-trip transportation to the Big Apple. Like we said, no catch… but if you find a catch, let us know in the comments section below.
Oh yeah, there’s one more thing: these buses even have free Wi-Fi!
This is where you select your trip before placing the order.
Look! Round-trip bus tickets to NYC for $2.50
The only thing that may be considered a catch…and it could have changed because its been awhile since I used Megabus (since it was last in Pittsburgh), but you have to book your tickets early. The closer to the date of travel that you book, the more the price of the ticket goes up. It was always still an awesome good price though.
This is awesome! I love NYC, I’m definitely going to take this bus, you can’t beat it. It’s a freaking buck!
Yeah this is a great deal! I am actually from NYC and am going to use it to visit Pittsburgh this summer
Can’t wait!
I scheduled my ticket. Boring PGH is right I only paid $1.50. Now I have to figure out where I’m going to sleep in NEW YORK. Anyone want a couch surfer?
There is one big catch as far as locations you can travel to. There are apparently two hubs – New York City and Chicago – with the western PA border being the separator between them. You can travel to and from cities east of the border but you can not cross over into the Chicago group. You can’t even get from Pittsburgh to Cleveland or Columbus, unless you drive yourself. I don’t know if this is by design but it is a big handicap in chosing locations to visit.
Did you miss the part about $1 tickets and just decide to complain about what it is NOT offering? Dick.
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I agree with booking your tickets early, though this is true for all things requiring tickets. I waited only two days to buy a ticket a month in advance and the price went up by $8, though the total, $11.50, is still WAAAAAY better than the $80 or $90 you might pay for Greyhound or university services. Recommend for people looking to save some moolah.
This is awesome!
this is the best way to travel hands down
I have booked the tickets where to go in pittsburgh without a car
Update: check it out http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11088/1135492-147.stm
“Megabus.com planned to announce today that it is making Pittsburgh the sixth hub on its fast-growing North American network, with service to nine new cities: Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, in Ohio; Detroit, Toronto; Erie; and Buffalo, N.Y.”
“Trips to the new cities can be booked starting today, with service beginning on May 11.”
It’s totaly fake I have tried it many times…..Just waste of time
You have to book well in advance (usually 6-8 weeks ahead) to get the lowest fares! Also, you’re more likely to get cheap fares if you travel on a Tues. or Wed. rather than the weekend.
Can anyone say something about travel unforseen delays of megabus from Pgh to NYC? Is timetable punctual for departures in NYC or should I allow ample time between connections?
It’s always a good idea to allow plenty of time between connections…I suggest at least an hour, but the more time in between the better. Besides, after the first leg of the trip you will probably want to go grab something to eat anyway.
Bus arrives at 15:00 upon timetable to NYC downtown and I have to catch intercontinental flight departures at 19:00 from JFK. Do you think it’s enough time or should I go with earlier bus?
Does the bus stop many times during the trips? From Pittsburgh to New York, for example?
@DavidH
Because I would love to be able to stretch my legs, smoke a cigaret… and have some fresh air once in a while!
Has anyone else checked this recently because I tried booking and it was $120 before taxes or anything. It was too early to book the days I wanted, in December, so I just tested it out it the same days of the week that I would be using Saturday to Wednesday. Is there a promo code I should be using or something?
Putting in the same days of the week and not the actual dates won’t give you the fare you’d likely pay once those actual dates are bookable. I think they only do reservations 90 days in advance, so just mark you calendar for 90 days before your departure date to go back and check.
Megabus is great and their prices are for the most part unbeatable, unless you’re booking without a promo code or last minute. This page also give different companies where you can check out schedules and approximate prices :
http://www.busbud.com/en/bus-schedules/NewYork,UnitedStates/Pittsburgh,UnitedStates
Why?
Just now check and confrim…wanted to go this weekend to NY
But getting the ticket at $39 one way…..so is that fare?
you can’t fill your tank up for 39.00 in some cars, plus tolls and the inconvience of driving etc. I love this mega bus and whoever came up with it, God bless you….