The Case for Not Ignoring Bus Loyalty Programs

Before I traveled across the U.S. in business class, I was a huge fan of bus journeys.

Hailing from southern Virginia and attending college in Washington, D.C., I never saw the point in flying home for winter breaks, even after I started to fly. This led me to rely heavily on buses—Megabus and Greyhound—to make my way home. Even after graduation, I took advantage of the affordable fares between D.C. and New York City, a place I frequently visited.

Bus travel may not be glamorous. It can be cramped and often runs late, with terminals that leave much to be desired. Yet, despite these drawbacks, I still feel a pull toward buses. There's a unique joy in experiencing the world from the ground that I’ve always cherished.

At TPG, we’ve focused extensively on airline and hotel loyalty programs, but we haven’t given much thought to bus services and their loyalty offerings. Isn’t it time we started? The pandemic has transformed our travel perspectives. Frequent flyers have been sidelined as travel came to a standstill. Now, travelers uneasy about inconsistent social distancing on flights are seeking alternative transport options.

What you need to know about the leading bus companies offering loyalty programs in the U.S.

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Greyhound Road Rewards Program

Love it or loathe it, Greyhound is a significant contender in the interstate bus market. With 2,400 destinations throughout North America, it caters to nearly 16 million passengers each year.

Greyhound offers a rewards program known as Road Rewards. The points you accumulate depend on the fare type purchased:

• 1 point for each one-way trip with Economy fares
• 2 points for each one-way trip with Economy Extra fares
• 3 points for each one-way trip with Flexible fares

You’ll collect points every time you travel, with round-trip fares earning a minimum of two points. Award redemptions begin at six points, providing various options:

6 points

• 15% discount on a one-way or round-trip ticket
• A companion pass to travel with a friend
• 10% off dining at a Greyhound station

10 points

• 20% discount on a one-way or round-trip ticket
• Companion pass included

16 points

• A complimentary round-trip ticket to any Greyhound stop

The companion pass appears to be the best offer here; purchase a full-price ticket and receive another for free. I would recommend skipping the other two options: Greyhound tickets are already quite affordable, and my experiences with food at Greyhound stations haven't been great. If you’re a frequent traveler, you should be able to earn a free ticket in no time.

As with all loyalty programs, it’s important not to accumulate points unnecessarily. Your points balance resets to zero every 12 months.

BoltBus Loyalty Program

Owned by Greyhound Lines, BoltBus serves locations on the East and West coasts, as well as Vancouver, British Columbia. Similar to Megabus, they often have inexpensive fares, with at least one $1 ticket available on every schedule. However, BoltBus has temporarily halted service in the Northeast due to the pandemic, while Greyhound continues operations in that area.

The Bolt Loyalty program is more straightforward than Greyhound's but comes with fewer rewards. After completing eight full-fare trips (more than $1) on BoltBus, you’ll receive a free one-way ticket (taxes and fees not included).

Although there are no elite perks, Bolt Loyalty members have priority boarding. Be sure to log in when booking your BoltBus trip, as credits are only applied that way.

Peter Pan Perks Rewards Program

Peter Pan was part of Greyhound Lines until 2017 and now operates in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

The loyalty program is known as Peter Pan Perks Rewards. Enrollment is free, but the benefits are quite limited. You’ll earn $1 in Perks Rewards for every $50 spent. Once you're a member, you can receive monthly travel deals and exclusive sale notifications for rewards members via email.

BestBus Rewards Program

BestBus might ring a bell, as it was previously called DC2NY. The company provides services in New York City, Washington, and Northern Virginia.

BestBus rewards initiative

BestBus features two membership levels: free and VIP, which is priced at $49 per year. Free members earn 1 point for every dollar spent, while VIP members earn 2 points. As a free member, you can change your travel plans up to 12 hours before departure, whereas VIP members can adjust their bookings within two hours.

Redeeming your points is straightforward. You’ll need to exchange 8 points for every dollar of the ticket fare. For instance, a $34 ticket from New York to Washington's Dupont Circle would require 272 points.

Remember that bookings made through third-party sites like Groupon, Amazon Deals, or LivingSocial do not earn points.

Go Buses Rewards Program

Go Buses operates along the East Coast, reaching smaller areas such as Tysons Corner in Virginia and Greenbelt, Maryland. Its loyalty program, Go Buses Rewards, is among the most extensive bus loyalty programs available.

Go Buses Rewards features four elite tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. You can achieve Bronze status after spending just $1, while the top-tier Platinum requires an expenditure of $301 or more. As a rewards member, you’ll enjoy free wi-fi, complimentary bottled water, no luggage fees, and exclusive email offers.

Go Buses members have the ability to adjust their travel plans, and Silver, Gold, and Platinum members can utilize points to cover part of their fare. Platinum members also enjoy priority boarding privileges.

With every ticket purchase on Go Buses, you’ll earn 100 points for each dollar spent, and you can start redeeming at 1,000 points per dollar. This means you can qualify for an award redemption after spending just $10.

Sadly, the company suspended operations in August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains uncertain when Go Buses will restart their services.

FlixBus

FlixBus, a well-known bus service in Europe, made its U.S. debut in 2018. While it lacks a loyalty program, it offers very affordable fares, with one-way tickets on routes like Los Angeles to San Francisco starting at just $20.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

Almost every major bus company has implemented COVID-19 protocols mandating that passengers wear masks while traveling.

Megabus claims to clean its buses every day and ensures that customers have an empty seat beside them until the end of September. OurBus has limited its capacity to 50 percent and will engage in contact tracing if someone tests positive on one of its buses. Additionally, BestBus is conducting temperature checks for passengers.

Furthermore, Greyhound and BoltBus do not allow masks with valves or vents, unsecured bandanas, or plastic face shields without a mask underneath.

In contrast, Peter Pan does not limit the number of seats available on its buses.

Top Credit Cards for Bus Travel

Before you finalize your next bus ticket purchase, ensure you’re using a credit card that offers maximum rewards. Here are the top cards to consider for bus travel:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 2x points on travel
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 3x points on travel
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Earn 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases (including travel) each account anniversary year
• Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card: Earn 3x points on travel, dining, gas stations, and select streaming services
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 2x miles on all purchases

The Wells Fargo Propel card is no longer accepting new applications. The information about this card has been independently gathered by Dinogo and has not been verified or endorsed by the card issuer.

Key Takeaways

As mentioned previously, bus travel may not appeal to everyone. Even with social distancing measures in place, buses can feel cramped. Many routes are direct, but those that aren't may involve lengthy stops at less-than-pleasant rest areas along the highway. Some loyalty programs provide limited benefits beyond a few discounts, while others, like Go Buses or Greyhound, offer considerable advantages for their most dedicated travelers.

However, if you’re seeking an economical alternative to flying or train travel and don’t mind giving up some comfort for your journey, bus travel can be a reliable transportation option.