Overall: Today was my first experience with Megabus and unfortunately it may be my last as well. My journey was from Ann Arbor to Chicago, out of which I was taking a flight. The bus was initially an hour and a half late in arrival. Which is understandable - breakdowns can happen. What made the experience frustrating however was the poor way it was handled. We were informed 20 minutes before scheduled departure of a 45 minute delay - when it reached an hour we called customer service to determine if there was a break-down or if the bus was on the road, to be told they had no idea. Which was very frustrating as it left us in the wind. They should at least know a reason. The drivers poor service was the worst part however. Extremely abrasive and threatening throughout. From threatening to leave people at rest stations if she could even hear their conversations, to refusing to reopen bus doorsto the almost comedic line, "Megabus I has provided you with wifi. I do NOT have the wifi password! Call customer service it you want it," it contributed to an overall environment of "scared silence" amongst the customers. Rather like being driven by an ornery Chris Farley. The most jarring was her treatment to a fellow passenger with a visual impairment - refusing to allow her onto the bus until she showed her the reservation number on the ticket. Not being helpful to to the disabled in the service industry is never ok. Perhaps I have lived a charmed life, but generally service personnel on airlines, Amtrak and Greyhound have been extremely polite and helpful. Megabus needs to step up its game. Overall, we got to Chicago which is great since that's what I paid for. But it was done in a very rude fashion. Negatives: The very poor customer service. It's unreasonable to expect amazing service for a $22 bus ticket, but out and out rudeness is unacceptable. Then rudeness to the disabled is infuriating. And talking on your cell phone is unacceptable. Just a general feeling of being treated more as cargo than a person. Positives: With any kind of travel, the number one priority is safely arriving at your destination. In that regard, I was very pleased with the experience. The driver drove at a comfortable pace and got us there safely, for which I am thankful. The chargers on the bus were also very much appreciated and a pleasant surprise. Additionally, the low cost of $22 is extremely affordable. read more

The bus from Chicago to Ann Arbor was one hour late!!! Everyone had to wait outside in the freezing cold. When I called customer service, they had no idea why the bus was running late and told me to call back later. This company deserves an F for customer service!! read more

The Megabus management seems to be set up so that in the case there are significant delays (1 hour or more), overbooking, or other problems -- You can't find anyone with the information or ability to make final decisions to help you. This puts passengers as well as drivers in a tough position. I am also guessing that they may be under-staffed. My friend is visiting me in Ann Arbor, and we waited for the 7:30 AM bus to Chicago until 8 AM. Almost everyone else waiting for this bus had left. We asked someone who had just called the company, and according to this person, they said that the 7:30AM bus would not be coming -- that people should come back for the 9 AM bus. We left and returned to the bus stop at 8:55 AM. A lot of people were waiting. We waited until 9:30 AM. Got in line for the luggage, got in another line to get on the bus... and I get a call at 10AM from my friend saying they ran out of seats. The bus driver tried to help, but there was nothing he could do given that the bus was overbooked. We later found out that the 7:30AM bus was NOT cancelled, but had come and left at 8:40 AM. My friend called customer service to change the reservation for a later bus. The agent said that (1) He cannot guarantee that we can get a refund, so she should write an email, and (2) She should go ahead and purchase a new ticket for the later bus. That means she would have paid for 2 tickets, been delayed for one day, and very likely not receive a refund. He gave us another number for a "customer service specialist" (he was just with customer service). My friend called and got through after 55 minutes. The first thing the agent said was that they could not give us a refund, because the bus was delayed due to weather, and the 9AM bus was full. After we explained everything that had happened, she was at least able to change our reservation. I'm glad we were able to change the reservation without having to purchase a new ticket, but I would not trust this service or company. Everyone we spoke with were doing their best to be patient and understanding, but when all was said and done -- it seemed all they could do was to re-state their policy. read more

Pros: -It got to Ann Arbor to Chicago and back basically on schedule (return trip was about 30 minutes late). -The driver on the way there was funny and entertaining. Cons: Everything else. Haha no, but seriously, I feel the need to describe my experience. As several other reviewers have noted, the boarding process is complete chaos. So when the bus rolled up in Ann Arbor, I kind of just tried to make my way to the front of the hoard of people so I could get in quick and get a seat. I'm glad I did, because there were more people than there were seats. The driver assured them that the other bus would show up in "about 10 minutes." Then as the door closed and we drove away, he admitted to us that "about 10 minutes" is code for "I don't have a clue when the next bus is coming." We all chuckled, but I'm still curious to know if there even was another bus for them and if they did get to Chicago. This driver didn't exactly go by the book. He didn't take our tickets when we boarded. He didn't stop at the normal rest stop for this route (exit 112 on I-94), instead he waiting at did the stop at exit 12. More food choices there and by that point we were ready to stretch our legs. Overall the journey there was good. The return journey. The Megabus loading area at Union Station in Chicago is dirty. Plain and simple. At least three bums approached me asking for money (one of them forgot and asked me twice). There are people everywhere and nowhere to sit. So we all kind of sat on top of our luggage on the dirty ground. There was a little guy there who actually worked for Megabus who told us there were buses coming every 15 minutes for the next hour and a half or so. Ours was first, but still arrived a little late. Boy was the loading process a mess. Once again I tried to get to the front of the hoard, cause I sure didn't want to be stranded at this nasty stop here in Chicago for any longer than I had to. Got in without any problems and met the driver. This driver, to put it mildly, was on a power trip. I could write a book about this driver and still not scratch the surface of his psychosis. His rules: -Do not show him your cell phone to give him your ticket number. It must be read to him aloud. Anything else is RUDE. -Do not put your feet in the aisle while he is driving. He WILL stop the bus if he sees anything in the aisle (apparently this is a safety violation and people will sue if they trip over someones foot in the aisle. I was wondering what was more dangerous, someones foot being in the aisle, or a giant Megabus swerving on and off the road constantly because someones foot was in the aisle). He stopped at least twice because of this during our trip, the last time when we were at mile 173 on I-94 (4 miles left to go). At this point the lady across from me said, "I know where I want to put MY foot!" -Do not leave any trash on the bus. He WILL walk around and inspect the bus once before opening the doors to let us off. As we were waiting around to get our luggage, we were finally free so a man shouted, "Gather around everybody, we need to hear the rules for collecting our bags!" Everyone laughed. The driver didn't seem amused. So yes, I got to and from Chicago successfully. But the lack of organization and the staff's varying levels of competency just make it too much of a gamble for me. Would I take Megabus again? No. read more

Stay Away. Unreliable. If you want to wait forever for the bus (if it arrives at all), then take Megabus. Customer support is not helpful and dispatchers are clueless about bus schedules and delays. If you have an important appointment or need to arrive on time....then DON'T take Megabus. You get what you pay for. read more

Salty bus drivers!! Unfriendly, can't hear the announcements, they leave 5 minutes earlier than they say they will at every "break." It's convenient but I won't do megabus again. I'll gladly pay a little more for better service. read more

Wow, reading some of these reviews makes me feel really lucky. The worst thing I felt about my Megabus experience was them being 10-20 minutes late from A2 to Chicago and 20-30 minutes late from Chicago to A2. PROS: -Cheap fare! A roundtrip A2/Chicago ticket cost me $32 for a Mon-Wed trip. -Enough legroom -Overhead outlet plugs to charge laptops, phones or other portable devices -Free Wi-Fi; BUT the Wi-Fi was very spotty and wouldn't always work. Maybe I should put this in the cons section... -They stop in Marshall, MI for a restroom/food break. There's a Hardee's where you can refuel your stomach. The break they gave us was 30 min each time. Going from A2 to Chicago, it's about 45 min into the trip. From Chicago to A2, it's about 4 hours into the trip. I'd suggest they spread it out better and have the stop about 2-3 hours into the trip, rather than 45 min/4 hours. I'm guessing they chose it like this based on proximity to the desired route or some sort of connection they have with the businesses there. -Both times I boarded the bus there was someone to help place my luggage into its storage area. Caution: this apparently has not been the experience every reviewer/passenger has had. CONS: -No structural area to wait for bus to arrive. Waiting outdoors, especially in the winter, is brutally cold. Not only is it cold, but if there's mushy/melted snow, you'd hesitate to place your belongings on the ground, but can't hold it for 1 hour. -Lack of prominent signs also make it difficult to find where the bus stop is for first-timers. They're out there, just keep your eye out for them. -Wi-Fi is pretty spotty and doesn't always work. It got frustrating when I wanted to do some work. -Seats are uncomfortable. Maybe it's the shape or the positioning of the seats, but I had a hard time falling asleep during my trip. And I'm usually one who can fall asleep anytime, anywhere....even on planes. -I appreciate that they were trying to keep the passengers warm from the 20degree weather outside, but it got really hot to a point where I started to sweat a little. There's also no overhead coat bin or anything like that, so my coat was around my seat while I was seated and it made it a little warmer than it should've been. OTHER -You get a 50lb luggage to bring with you, which they'd store in the luggage area under the bus. You will NOT have access to it during the trip. You may also bring personal item onto the bus to hold with you. -BRING A SNACK! The trip could feel really long for you before they make a rest stop. -There is a bathroom on the bus. But the bus may get bumpy and (guys,) things might get wet around you if you're splashing around everywhere on bumpy roads... OVERALL A 4-5 hour trip would be appropriate for Megabus. Anything more would feel too uncomfortable for me (ie A2 to NY might be too long for the level of comfort in the bus). I'd recommend Megabus-ing for those on a budget going to Chicago, but if you're not on a budget or have your own car, maybe flying or driving yourself could work out better. Personally, if I were to go to Chicago again, I'd give Megabus another try, since I did not experience any of the previously mentioned horror stories others have reviewed. Plus, it saves me the stress of driving. I'd also consider trying out the Amtrak, though... read more

My bus ne'er showed up. We waited for it for 2 hours. and there was little to no communication about what happened. I received a refund, but this lack of consistency and service screwed with my travel plans read more

Having read the reviews below - I am a little astonished. Maybe I am just lucky, but I have taken MegaBus from Ann Arbor to Chicago return trip 3 times now and have enjoyed the ride each time. Trip 1: Thanksgiving weekend 2 years back Trip 2: random weekend in May last year Trip 3: Easter weekend this year. Pros: - The bus is on time in Ann Arbor and the drivers always help you with the luggage. Even when returning from Chicago, the bus has been on time all three times I have taken it. - The bus itself is quite comfortable. The seats are decent and the buses themselves are pretty clean. Additionally, the temperature in the bus is very comfortable - neither too cold nor too warm. The 4.5 hour ride is pretty smooth and the bus reaches the destination on time. - Buying the ticket online is really easy. The online system is hassle free. - Travellers: since I take the bus from Ann Arbor to Chicago and back, the travellers are mostly students. Every time I have taken the bus, there have been thankfully no incidents. - Timings: The bus leaves at three different times during the day. That gives a passenger some options to plan their itinerary. You are not stuck to just one time. Cons: -Bus Stops: the bus stops have no formal stands. A standing MegaBus sign is all that identifies a bus stop. This is a con because in cold weather, one has to stand outside while waiting for the bus to arrive. There is no shelter where one can wait. - Taking the bus from Chicago: the stop is outside union station and on a busy road. Hence, the stop can get really crowded, esp. when buses for multiple destinations arrive at the same stop and there are no lines for the passengers to stand in. Additionally, when I go from Ann Arbor to Chicago there is one bus that comes to the stop. When I am taking the bus back from Chicago, there are two-three buses that are going to Ann Arbor/Detroit. Sometimes, they make one bus go to Detroit and the other one to Ann Arbor to avoid multiple stops. They announce this in the bus, but they announce it late and it can be a hassle to get off a bus and get on another bus. I don't really use the Wifi on the bus (because I just sleep :P) - so don't know how well the Wifi works. Honestly, I believe that for the price you pay, MegaBus is great! As a college student in Ann Arbor this is a very convenient, comfortable and economical way to get to Chicago. read more

My wife and I had two tickets for a trip on a Megabus from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois It was scheduled to depart from Ann Arbor yesterday at 7:30 a.m. We arrived early and waited for it in the cold at the parking lot. It did not come. By 8:15 other ticket holders who had called Megabus told us that the bus was delayed in Detroit and would arrive over an hour late, at 8:45. To confirm what I'd heard I called Megabus and was told that the bus would now be departing from Ann Arbor at 9:02 a.m. Before we left to get warm at a stop-and-go nearby, I called a second time, about 10 minutes later, and was told now it would be departing from Ann Arbor even later, at 9:09 a.m. So my stepson drove us to a stop-and--go where we used the facilities. We arrived back at the bus stop at 8:38 a.m. to see the Megabus leaving with many empty seats. When I called back Megabus to report what happened and to find out if we could meet up with the bus at the scehduled rest stop, we were told they could not call the driver and did not know wehre he would be stopping. When I asked to speak to the supervisor, I was given the customer service number and told they would have more "information." I called this number, but after over half-an-hour on hold my cell phone ran out of time. Our stepson, consequently, had to drive us in increasing snow to Kalamazoo, Michigan, an hour-and a half west of Ann Arbor. Somehow we were able to get last minute tickets on a fully booked AMTRAK to Chicago. This was a stressful situation for the three of us. But even moreso, I am concerned, as a retired educator, about the unhelpful way Megabus deals with its customers, who are obviously mostly college students. In conclusion, I would recommend not taking a Megabus under any circumstances. The favorable hype I've read about this bus service, which is supposed to be so much different and better than Trailways and Greyhound, is totally underserved and uninformed. read more

I don't think we could have had a worse experience with this. My handicapped sister and her mentally impaired companion took the Megabus from Grand Rapids to Ann Arbor. It was over an hour late picking them up. We looked on the website and they did have the delay posted so that was on us. For the return trip, I checked the website and it said they were running about and hour behind. We got there with time to spare. After 2 hours of waiting, and several phone calls to Megabus a bus finally showed up. I put them on the bus and drove home. As soon as I got home my sister was on the phone. The driver let them on the bus and when he realized they were on the wrong bus he DUMPED THEM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD and took off with her wheelchair footpedals on the bus!!! My husband had to drive them the 2.5 hours to Grand Rapids and then home!!! HORRIBLE experience. read more

This was the worst experience I've ever had while traveling. As stated in the email from Megabus, I arrived 15 minutes early than the scheduled departure time for Chicago. The bus was supposed to arrive at 10:30. Me and everyone else waiting for the bus waiting outside for almost 40 mins. Finally, one bus came and said that they can only take 20 passengers and the other bus is 10 minutes away. So, I waited because I thought it wouldn't be long and that there would be less people on the bus. Another 30 minutes went by and at this point, my body turned into an ice cube because I had been standing outside in 1 degree weather for over an hour. Other than the incorrect 10 minute ETA, no one called or alerted us about the delay, which really made me mad. What that says is that "we don't care about you, as long as we got your money!" The bus finally arrived and we left for Chicago. The drive itself was ok, except the wifi is a joke (I'm not sure why they advertise free wifi because it doesn't even work). Of course, I complained to the company and received a lousy two sentence apology about how they hope I ride with megabus again. This was the first time I rode the megabus and it was certainly the last I'd ever think about taking a megabus to any destination. read more

Great experience. Hassle free with quick service from Ann Arbor to Chicago as well as Chicago back to Ann Arbor. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an easy way to get to Chicago! read more

I bought a round trip ticket for my daughter to come home for Christmas from Ann Arbor to Chicago. The bus was not only 1 1/2 hour late, we tried to call the company and they had no idea that it was running late or where their bus was at the time and asked that I call back in 15 minutes. In the meantime, my daughter was waiting outside at the bus stop, in the dark, in the cold elements of winter for over 2 hours (as she had to be there 20 mins. before departure time). When the bus finally showed up, their explanation was that the bus in front of them broke down. Oh well. Really??? I understand circumstances may make buses run late now and then, but we experienced this twice now (2 for 2). Neither time was there an issue with snow or bad weather. The least they could do is to look into stops with inside waiting areas for the patrons. Time to look for alternatives. read more

Never. Take. This. Bus. Ever. If I could give this 0 stars, I would. I have taken the Megabus multiple times before and didn't really have many issues with it being late other than about a half hour. However, this time, I waited over two hours for the bus to arrive and it never did. I called the service center over four times and they kept telling me they needed to get additional information. They couldn't even update me on where the bus was at. Never take this bus unless you have nowhere to be at a certain time because I guarantee you will be waiting half of the night for it to show up. read more

Very hit or miss. Took a bus from Michigan to Chicago for a Cubs game in the first week of October and it was pretty good, no complaints. Cubs go to the World Series and this is how I got there last time so I bought tickets again for Oct 29-30. The bus got to East Lansing right at 11:30 when we were supposed to leave and the driver took the wrong exit to Grand Rapids and we got there an HOUR LATE. "Sorry, it was my fault I took the wrong exit but also the construction messed it up." People were angry. Finally, over 5 hours later (supposed to be a 3 1/2 -4 hour trip) we made it!!! I believe she was going well below the speed limit because semi's and other buses were passing us. I let it go because a wrong exit or going slow can happen, it's whatever. The next day I board the bus and the workers are not professional. No sign to where they are going. People were asking "Where is this bus going?" and they would mess around with them "WELL WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" with 2 minutes until the bus left. We finally leave and we get to Michigan and drop off Grand Rapids people. Get to the rest stop they planned to stop at. They stop for about 20-25 minutes. 45 minutes later I was wondering why we were sitting in the parking lot still. The worker comes up to the second deck after an hour of sitting and says "We're experiencing issues and cannot go any further. If you are going to East Lansing we are bout 30 minutes away you might want your ride to pick you up here because we don't know when we will get another bus to come here." Oh thanks it's 10:30 on a Sunday night and the bus is full of EL and AA (MSU , UM) students who have class the next morning. The reason I took the bus is because I had no ride to Chicago so how do you expect me to have someone pick me up 30 minutes away at this time?? Thank God I met a very, very nice lady who's family was coming from the EL area and they took me back to campus. God bless them. The prices might be cheaper, but Amtrak is my #1 choice for now on. I can't rely on Megabus. Oh, can I get my money back for that trip or do I just lose it on that horrible experience? read more

I think sometimes people only will write bad reviews, because they are upset. This was the first time for me to travel from Ann Arbor to Chicago round trip. My girlfriend has used a lot, due to her daughter near Chicago. So she wanted me to go, and booked far enough to get $1.00 each way for us. We left this past Tues, and came home Thurs. The bus drivers seemed nice enough, and the bus was on time both ways. I would for sure try this again. read more

For $1.00 I didn't expect much and got what I expected. Glad I was able to wait in a friend's car during the torrential downpour when the bus was over an hour late. read more

I had an extremely negative experience with megabus from Toledo to Ohio. Our departure time was 3:30 AM and at 5 AM, the bus still hadn't arrived. We tried to figure out what was going on using the company's app, the website, and the phone number, but none could provide us with any information regarding where our bus was and when it was going to show up. We ended up having to rush to the train so we could make it to Chicago on time, and had to spend more money for train tickets. The cashier at the train station said that she saw this happen all the time. We were so upset that we didn't use our meagbus reservations to get back home and bought more train tickets instead. Then, when we contacted megabus to complain, we received terrible customer service and they told us a refund wasn't possible. Our experience with this company was a complete disaster. I do not plan on using this company ever again and suggest you don't either. read more

Terrible! Terrible! Terrible! Waited an hour and 15 minutes In the cold for the bus to show up. No explanation. No status updates. No tracker. No number to call. Never use Megabus. read more

I traveled on Megabus from Michigan to Tennessee and it was the worse traveling experience I've ever had! First, the buses are old, they breakdown, no wifi, no plugs to charge your devices, the bathroom was not working on more than one of the buses. I was dropped off in the rain in the middle of the night in the intercity with NO shelter, twice (Cincinnati & Cleveland, OH). And I was dropped off in a parking lot, no building or access to shelter, once. The bus drivers were very professional and hard-working, but not very informative. I DO NOT recommend this service if you are traveling alone, or with children or traveling state to state. Safety if not important to Megabus. read more

I just had an awful experience and will never take megabus again . The driver steps out and says he will not be taking on large luggage . I explain to him that my luggage is regulation size and he starts yelling and telling me he makes the rules . He then told me I could not go on the bus . I then try to enter the bus and he tells me I have the wrong reservation number . He kicks me out of line and yells at me and tells my father he needs to teach me how to talk to people ( hysterical , because I'm a psychiatrist ). . The girl behind me in line tries to stand up for me and he tries to kick her off. He then tells me if I speak another word about my suitcase he will kick me off the bus. My father eventually convinced him to take the suitcase. I am currently on the bus just hoping he won't make up a reason to kick me off. No person, especially a person at work, should treat another like this . This man should not be allowed to work at megabus anymore read more

I cannot believe how bad this company is. The bus, which was scheduled to leave Ann Arbor at 5 pm, going to Chicago, did not arrive in AA until 6:20. This was on a sunny summer Tuesday evening. No explanation was offered, and no one said anything, so when I boarded I politely asked the driver if such delays were common, as this was my first time using megabus. He replied that the bus was not late. I stated that we all waited for an hour and twenty minutes, to which he responded that the bus was on time, because it was an hour earlier in Chicago. I replied that that did not make any sense because the bus was scheduled to leave at 5 pm. He continued to insist that he was not late because of the time zone change. He kept repeating himself, at which point I became uncomfortable. I asked him if he could please just let me on so we could leave because i didn't want to keep everyone waiting for any longer than we had already waited. He let me on but even when i walked past him, he continued to insist that the bus was on time. It actually made me nervous to get on this bus but by this point I really had no alternative. I will definitely never use this company again. read more

Sometimes you get an affordable on-time transportation experience. However, my two previous experiences with Megabus have taught me never, ever to use it again if there is ANY possible even moderately reliable way to get from my parents' place in Michigan to my home in Chicago. On my last trip, I waited 40 minutes on a freezing street in Chicago outside at the Megabus stop trying to find out when the bus would arrive. My last trip from Ann Arbor I waited an hour before realizing that the bus tracker indicated the bus arrived 40 minutes beforehand. Then I called and found out that my bus had not left, but that the time of departure had be altered from 7:55 to 10:55 (after 9 p.m., so it's not like I could plan around Megabus' failure to inform or provide remotely adequate service). When I arrived back at the bus depot at 10:35, the bus had already departed. Customer service informed me that I would get a refund but that there was nothing they could do to ensure I would get on the next bus nor would I be automatically rebooked for their error in giving me the incorrect departure time. If either their applications or customer service worked, I would have made it home. Instead, I booked a Greyhound for the next morning. No way will any of my money ever be going to Megabus again. **As an addendum, Greyhound's fare was cheaper for the morning trip out of Ann Arbor. I will admit that I like Greyhound less overall, but their wi-fi generally works better and they haven't completely screwed me over.** read more

I just wanted to write a review since people usually only right complaints about this company. I know multiple people who have taken Megabus with absolutely no problems despite several complaints about this company. I usually take the Megabus once or twice a month from Ann Arbor to Chicago. Yes, the bus stop is labeled and no there is no "shelter" for you while you wait. I suggest waiting in your car depending on the weather or just stand outside with everyone else. Today I received an email and text message saying that the bus was delayed due to a mechanical issue by 15-30 mins and an affiliate bus company would be sent out. Although the affiliate bus was an additional 15 minutes late, he apologized and was very genuine about responding to the call to come help us out. The name of the affiliate bus service is S&S. Once all 25 of us were loaded on, we were told we had to wait for a Megabus driver who actually had other passengers on an affiliate bus and led the way to Chicago. Before departing he came on the bus and apologized to everyone and ensured we would arrive safely in which we did. The affiliate bus did not have wifi but there were outlets. Can't really complain. read more