24/11/2008

• Credit crunch-busting giveaway helps consumers battling rising bills
• Passengers can save money and help the environment at the same time

megabus.com, the market-leading budget inter-city coach service, is giving away 100,000 free seats on its services in North America to help consumers beat the credit crunch.

Around 150,000 passengers a month are snapping up bargain travel, with fares from just $1 available via the internet. 

Now megabus.com, part of Stagecoach Group, is giving 100,000 customers in North America the chance to reserve a seat for free as consumers face rising bills in other areas of life.

According to an October GfK Roper report, 64% of Americans are cutting back on their travel budget and looking for ways to save money.

megabus.com research shows that 90 percent of customers have used the budget service as an alternative to the car, train or plane. Some 60% are former car users, 19% previously travelled with an airline and 11% used to take the train.

Dale Moser, President and Chief Operating Officer of megabus.com in the United States, said: “Americans are doing all they can to stretch their dollar in the current economy and these free tickets are megabus.com’s way of helping. Megabus.com is rapidly becoming the value-for-money choice for quality travel.”

The free seats can be booked now via www.megabus.com for travel between 14 January and 18 March. Customers must enter the promo code greenbus for the opportunity to receive a free seat.

Customers who book free seats will not only be saving money – they will also be doing their bit for the environment.  Since launching service in April 2006, megabus.com has become one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel. 

Each megabus.com single decker bus has the potential to remove 56 cars from the road and is among the most energy and fuel-efficient way to travel. Megabus.com buses are 6 times more fuel-efficient than a 737 aircraft and 16 times more fuel-efficient than a single-passenger car per passenger per mile.

megabus.com’s new double-decker coaches are even more environmentally friendly, each having the potential to remove 81 cars from the road. The double decker is 10 times more fuel-efficient than a 737 aircraft and 25 times more fuel-efficient than a single-passenger car per passenger per mile.

ENDS

For further information contact:

For further information contact:
Lindsay Reid, Corporate Communications Manager
Stagecoach Group
Phone: 01738 442111
Fax: 01738 443076
Mobile: 07500 446896
email: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

• megabus.com is the first intercity, express bus line dedicated to bringing high-quality, low-cost travel options to 17 Midwest cities and 12 Northeast cities for as low as $1 via the internet.
• Since its launch on April 10, 2006, megabus.com has served almost 2 million passengers.
• Full details of routes, timetables and fares are available online at the secure e-commerce website www.megabus.com.
• Passengers can quickly book their travel and purchase tickets from the comfort of their home, office or wireless handheld device. They can also sign up for mobile phone text alerts providing updates on travel reservations and schedules.
• East Coast cities served by megabus.com include: Albany, Atlantic City, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto and Washington D.C in the United States; and Toronto and Niagara Falls in Canada.
• Midwest cities served by megabus.com include: Ann Arbor, Bloomington-Normal, Chicago, Champaign, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Madison, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Toledo. 
• Links to FAQ, About, maps and hi-res photos:

megabus.com fuel efficiency
megabus.com double-decker fuel efficiency
www.hanser.com/megabus_side_view.jpg
www.hanser.com/megabus_double_decker_frontview.jpg