Greyhound Lines

On July 27, 2009 I embarked on a Greyhound bus ride from San Jose, CA to Chicago, IL. I've been traveling on Greyhound since I was a teenager and I have always enjoyed this method of transportation. However, I enjoyed little on this particular (and last) trip via 'the hound.'

While the drivers were as friendly and professional usual (and now have snappy new uniforms), the buses were in poor condition -- posted instructions WRITTEN IN MARKER INK, gum and old food stuck in between the windows and seats, bus bathrooms without sinks and often without tissue. Also, the commodes are large enough for a toddler to fall into! The bus stations were unbelievable. Something that you might find in a fourth world country: filthy floors, garbage stewn about, bathrooms strewn with feces and paper towels and unknown liquids on the unwashed floors. Again, sometimes no toilet paper at all. JUST AWFUL. And, I felt, DANGEROUS. I can easily imagine an outbreak of swine flu starting in almost any Greyhound station. That's a strong statement, but until Greyhound gets its act together, I would advise people to take a plane or train.

I was traveling with my family ( husband and 5 year old child) today from Michigan (8-15-09) when i came to chicago. In chicago i asked to make sure ( as i was promised would not be a issue when i purchased the tickets) that i would be able to sit by my 5 year old child. However 4 different greyhound employees told me no i would not be able to accompany my 5 year old child along the 6 hour trip by his side at 1 am in the morning to st louis. They had no compassion or understanding of my need to be with my 5 year old and to be beside him on to take care of him on this trip. They quoted saying its first come first serve for the seats. That they would not be able to provide my child who is 5 a seat next to me or my husband. They said i would have to sit him by a stranger... Please keep in mind this bus travel 6 hours without any light whatsoever except one short stop. My child would have been sitted by a stranger where i would not have had any visibility or been able to observe him. had i not become hysterical and finally after 20 minutes almost of me crying and screaming saying i will not put my 5 year old child on the bus with a stranger in the dark night without even bus lights for 6 hours and I also begged for management which never came they finally made us a seat together. However this seat was right behind a man watching pornography. I had been under the impression that greyhound was a family site... but they tried to separate me from my baby and tried to force me to neglect his safety and allowed us to be exposed pornography... he is five years old... and when i complained about it all they said was go get a complaint form. When i tried they said they were out of complaint forms. Please alert other families who are concerned about there children's well being, that they very well may be separated completely from there young children, and there children and themselves can very easily be exposed to pornography, by alerting people to my experiences, so they can protect themselves, and there children from such traumatic happenings, by making this public. You may use my name and any other info you need.

I was appalled at service from all who worked for them.They were ignorant and rude.I was shoved, cussed at, spit on and that was before i left ny, to florida.I left upstate n.y. at 4 p.m. on friday, at 9 p.m. nothing open in port authority, with a 6 hour layover.Now we have 3 buses of people trying to get on one, that was almost the first riot.Since when do you put your own bags on and off the bus?I helped a young women with two babies, two carseats, two bags, because nobody from greyhound would help her.I am a 55 yo disabled female who helped all the way to fayetteville n.c.Thats where the second riot took place because the driver got lost and missed
raleigh n.c.have 2 c if i can continue my story.lol

I had attempted to purchase a ticket online, which would cost around $14.00, but Greyhound's server was not working properly, and I couldn't buy my ticket.
I then called greyhounds phone number to buy my ticket, and told them that the site was not working. They told me that I had to purchase my ticket over the phone, but I would now be charged an additional $6.00 for a phone order. I told them that the reason I had wanted to order online, was that I could keep from paying the extra fee. I asked if I could be refunded the extra amount on my credit card, since the problem was a website one after all.
They said that I would have to pay the additional money over the phone, then call the customer service dept later for a refund.
After buying the ticket, I called customer service (during non peak hours, and not on the weekend). I was put on hold for an hour. I gave up for the day and called again the next day. The next day I waited 2 HOURS! with NO RESPONSE from those idiots.
I was basically calling out of the whole principal of the thing (a $6.00 refund is not such a big deal), but the fact of the matter is, is that I was promised that money back, and NO ONE WILL HELP ME. The ticket purchasing dept insists that the customer service number I called is the only one available, and that I have to keep trying for a response.
DO NOT USE GREYHOUND SERVICES! I suppose if you had NO other way to get around, then use them...but please exhaust ALL other options before choosing them. Just imagine that you have purchased a ticket worth far more than mine, and you need a refund...
You might as well kiss your hard earned money goodbye!

I have used your facilities in Chicago, Wisconsin, Atlanta and Memphis and they all suck. I rode from Atlanta to Memphis and the stop we made in Tupelo, Ms was shameful. At everystop someone's bag was lost, when we reached Memphis my cousin was told her bag was lost but when we returned to Atlanta it turned out her bag was never put on the bus. When we left Memphis we arrived at the station at about 8:15 p.m., the ticket line was outside the door but the agent had went to lunch and would not be back until 9:00 but the bus that some of the passengers were taking was leaving at 9:15, there was no other agent and customer service desk was closed. Luckly we had purchased our tickets online. Every time I have traveled from Chicago to Wisconsin the bus has always been at least an hour late leaving. My last trip took 6 hours to go from Chicago to Madison Wisconsin. Greyhound is my very last choice to travel by bus.

We put our nephew, who is mentally challenged to a degree, unable to move his hands well, on the bus leaving db. To newark n. J. The woman wearing rubber gloves came to him for his ticket, he, not able to navigate much, placed ticket in his teeth to show her more id, and she refused to allow him to use it, forcing him to leave the bus and purchase a duplicate, thus he spent the $20.00 he had to his name for the trip to eat. He is so distrought, may never travel bus again. We want a public apology, and ticket refund now. I will notify every paper in area and out as to what this did to this sweet boy. How very cruel and inconsiderate and discriminating. I expect a reply [protected] have been on phone trying to reach real live person to no avail. But won't stop till this is resolved.

[protected]@cfl. Rr.com

I purchased a non-refundable ticket online about two weeks before my planned trip. The ticket informed that passengers arrive 1 hour before the scheduled departure. I arrived about 45 minutes before in Tallahassee. While checking my baggage and being issued a ticket the counter clerk informs me rather casually that I did not arrive 1 hour before the buses departure time and therefore may end up having to take the bus at 5am. Mind you, my departure time was 11pm. Inquiring into this, she informed me that the seats on the bus are "first come first serve physically" (does not matter when you buy) and that their are only 55 seats so I'd better get in line if I want to make it. Panicking I quickly scattered toward the line. Upon securing a spot in line I approached the counter again and asked for the supervisor.

First of all I asked where on my online ticket it states that seats are first come first serve? His answer was that if I had come to his station to purchase my ticket his agents are trained to verbalize that important bit of information.

Second I stated that it really does not matter then what time I get here because it is first come first serve. So if I really want to be on a bus I should arrive well before the 1 hour stipulated time then. The supervisor seeing my frustration started to become defensive. I tried to tell him that it is not his policy, but that he is the supervisor and I was trying to get somewhere on a schedule as laid out in my itinerary, and expressing my discontent with him. Nothing personal. But, really how the heck can greyhound sell more tickets than they have seats available. Then he started to attack me, threatening to not let me on the bus. Telling me not to let his greyhound uniform fool me. Ignorance. I was blown away by his behavior. I just told him to forget it and walked away.

So, missed the bus, but, fortunately they had another come about two hours later.

Next, I arrive in Orlando for a 3 hour layover. This time I was ready and in line as the crowd was getting large. Their are two lines. Originating line and Reboarding Line. Come boarding time the employee at the door of the reboarding line starts rudely telling the majority of the people in the line that they are in the wrong line, including myself. I said, no I came from Tallahassee. He angrily stated "well this line is for people that got off this particular bus that are reboarding to get their seats back". I was like ooohhkay! So I went into the originating line all the way in the back and missed the bus. I went to talk to the supervisor. Expressing my dissatisfaction, she unbelievable stated "what did you expect, this is greyhound". I said, I have never travelled greyhound and after her statement never will again. I tried to ask how I could possibly be an originating passenger, but she kept rudely interrupting me saying the same thing over and over about how next time I should stand in the right line. I asked her to listen and she told me it did not matter what I had to say...so I walked away in disbelief.

So, an 11 hour trip ended up taking 17 hours. I have never witnessed such a display of poor customer relations in all my life.

Customer srevice what is that thinks Greyhound. After many times of being on line to buy our son (who is on leave from the U.S. Navy) a ticket. He misses the bus because of flight delay and weather.
There is a 15.00 charge to buy ticket on line.
To buy second ticket on line there is another 15 dollar cost. so we now have to talk weith a person, Then they tell us to buy second ticket it has to be done in person. So I answer oh! This would be nice to have been on the website.
The agent then tells me I am being rude. So I ask how I wire money. She answers call Western Union.
Ok do you know where one is? She answers no.
Western Union tells us Greyhound is their agent.
So What a web of lies they do weave to tell me I am rude.
Son now sits waiting for money and next bus in 6 hours.

I went traveling on Greyhound twice, and on both times, one from San Antonio to Wisconsin, and San Antonio to North Carolina. If I didn't have a fear of flying I would have rather put up with the security checkins at the airport. I went both times to bee my husband before he went to Iraq and he was training in both those states, in both of those trips coming to and from I experienced agressive, rude drivers, when I would ask about where to go, they would respond with smart ### questions, they threw people off the bus for no reason, at one point in one state, the bus smelled of smoke, the bus driver slammed on his brakes, stopped on the side of a highway and demanded to know who was smoking on the bus, thing was noone had been smoking, we told the bus driver and for some reason he thought we were trying to cover up for the "mysterious smoker" well he put a shield up so noone could exit the bus, and called the cops, while we were all sitting there, some sparks flew out of a passenger's seat and when we told the driver about it, he said we were all lying! Then the troopers arrived and just pretty much yelled at the bus, it was unbelievable! and then to top that off, while I was coming back from Columbia, N.C and arrived at the Atlanta greyhound station, I asked a staff member which door do I stand at, they directed me to the wrong door and I missed my bus and had to wait 4 hours for the next bus to come along, it is horrible. It's bad enough that you have to travel with some odd people, but the staff doesn't make anything easier or better, either employees on the bus, or in the stations. Everyone is plain rude. Don't fall for the commercials and their deals, it's NOT worth it! Not to mention you get stopped randomly by immigration people and they ask you if you're from Mexico or not, it's crazy. Don't travel the Greyhound.

I arranged flight and bus travel to coincide with one another...it took me a lot of time and effort! I wished to have etickets, but could not. (Was not made clear, at the time of payment) I called a supposed Greyhound Canada number and found that the RUDE person on the other end was where else...The Carribean! She told to call the Canada #, and I told her that I was NOT expecting to speak to a person from soooo far away, whom has NO clue about my querie. I called every number possible, and spoke to at least 10 different people. I have ONLY received two consistent answers about my issue up to this point. Greyhound Canada hires out work, and does not make sure their employees have the proper knowledge to assist customers with correct information, nor POLITE manners. The lady from Missouri was polite, as was the one from New York, and the Vancouver employee. No way to connect directly with the Canad Headquarters without calling long distance!?! It is as if this is a 'mickey mouse' outfit...which it is not. I am very frustrated, as I better be able to PICK up my tickets in Vancouver, even though I am leaving by bus from Toronto. I can ONLY trust today's info from a call?!? Thanks for letting me vent. :)

I started on 6/3/09 to do computer bus ticket and gave all info and did not get a confirmation #. After two trys I called the bus line operator and told her (Ms Williams) my problem. She said I had to call in for a ticket and get a confirmation number and customer ID# and then call her back and she will check to make sure no other ticket had been purchased and to also change the price to the $98.oo amount that was listed on the computer 6/3/09. I was unable to get a operator until June 9, 2009 and at that time I was told that the ticket that had been made for me was unrefundable. I told her that I had asked for the refundable one as I did not know If this was ok with my sister ( She had to pick me up at the bus station). When I wanted to change the destination place from Huntington, WV to Lexington, Ky. the customer service said the ticket was unrefundable and she will cancel and I will have to pay for another ticket. I told her I was not going to cancel this one and not receive any refund and then turn around and purchase a ticket for the 16th of June instead of the 17 of June (1st ticket purchased) and not receive any money from the 1st one. I am posting this to let people know that the best way to purchase a ticket is to go to the bus station and do it yourself. There is much to be desired for the customer service or should I say NON customer service at Greyhound Bus Lines.

i delt with the 4 hour wait in atlanta on the way to mississippi to visit my sister for the first time i left valdosta at 5 15 am an i arrived at 7pm on the way back the bus was already 1and a half hrs late i was soppose toleave tupelo miss. at 11 40 pm the bus was already smelley like it haddent be clean we arrive in birminham ala, still 1 an a half hrs late then they had so many peole waiting they couldnt even fit every one on the bus they told people they had to wait on the next bus which would leave out at 10 the next day on top of that they let 6 people ride in the isles of the floor of the bus to atlanta u couldnt even go to the bathroom i get to atlanta of course we missed the bus to valdosta because we were still late i arrived at 9 05 am bus left at 8 i go to agent to find out if there is another bus they tell me tommorrow would be the next bus leaving out or i could take a bus to a place called cordele ga. ive never even heard of the place so in order for me to get home i should find someone to pick me up from there i panicked i dont no anyone who could get me im 2hrs away from valdosta and i have to be at work at 6 luckily i got afriend to pick me up they lied to me and told me cordele was only a half hour away i had to pay 25 more $ to get home i would like some of my money back because i did not go from destination to destination that i paid for it was a total nitemare grey hound u really need to let another bus company help or stop your services that u can not provide very unhappy customer the bus no is 6476 u cant forget that trip to all those suffered that dayplease let them no call

May 18, 2009

Dave Leach, President
Greyhound Lines Inc.
P.O. Box 660362
Dallas, TX [protected]

Re: Discrimination and Displeased with treatment

Dear Mr. Leach,

I’m writing in reference to a matter in which I am confident that will be of interest to you. Since I know you wish to uphold the good reputation of your establishment, I trust this information will be of interest to you.

Because I know your company is characterized by quality and service, I was quite surprised by my experience Sunday, May 10, 2009. Ms. Nia Lucus from the 1005 First Street, N.E, Washington, DC Greyhound Station gave me a bus ticket to Atlanta, Georgia for the driving class on Monday, May 11, 2009. When I arrived at the Atlanta, Georgia Station at 2:30 pm Monday, May 11, 2009 the employees at Atlanta station said I was not register for the class that my name was not in the system. I gave them my Employee ID Number 460553, they checked it and I was not in the system. I felt humiliated so I just cried. I have a couple of questions for you sir (1) How could a reputable company treat any human being this way? (2) Why did this happen? The Employees at Atlanta, Georgia station were shocked that she would send me to Atlanta, GA with a one way ticket. And when the employees tried to contact Ms. Lucus they got no response, no one could locate her.

As a result, the Atlanta, Georgia employees gave me a ticket to get home. I left at 3:30pm May 11th. When I returned home on May 12th at 8:30 am I called Ms. Lucus about the situation and all I got was her voice mail. So I meet with Ms. Lucus’s supervisor Harris Bailey the city manager at Washington, DC station on May 13th about what Ms. Lucus did to me. Nothing was resolved in my eyes, he yelled at me and I felt so disrespected. He did not believe anything I said. I believe that you are a man of integrity and values. I did not deserve to be treated in such a way. So for that reason, I have consulted with a lawyer about this matter.

To contact me about this matter I can be reached at [protected]. I’m looking forwarded to hearing from you.

Best Regards,

Roxan Kilpatrick

cc: Rhonda Piar MacAndrew, Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Myron Watkins, Vice President, Operations

I bought a round trip ticket from Canton Ohio to Clarksville Tn.The price was great, I bought it on the 14 day advance purchase and it was cheaper to go this way than to drive my vehicle. That is where the benefit ends. I am a larger male and I found the seats way to narrow so that when someone who is smaller or larger you become attached at the hips because you have no room. Then combine that with no leg room in front of you especially when the person reclines back into your lap. Very uncomfortable. The buses are so dirty that the only thing I could think of while riding the bus is what a great way to spread viruses. Bathrooms on the busses just about all of them had something wrong with them. But when you get off the bus to use the facilities those bathrooms are really dirty. Very disgusting, donot sit on the toilets. Also when you get off the bus and the bus driver announces which door to go to for your next connection you better check when you go inside more than half the times on my trip the bus driver was wrong and you would be standing in the wrong line. There are no signs or notices in the terminals to assist you which door you should go to. Greyhound should learn about electronic signs. On we go the bus driver in Cincinati, Ohio is one of the rudest and most arrogant and inconsiderent so called proffesional I have ever met he goes by the name of CJ. He has an attitude and acts like he is better than everyone else riding the bus. He wanted me to lug my luggage around the terminal to get a destination ticket for my luggage which the terminal in Clarksville failed to do there job and put one on. We had already made stops in Nashville, Louisville and it was fine. But he caused a rucus in cincinati. my other complaint is when you transfer busses and you get on a bus the other travelers will take up two seats and pretend like they are sleeping as so they donot want someone to sit by them, and some will cause a comotion when you try to sit there. I found this to be very accurate with african americans. This has to rate as one of the worst transportations ever to take if you have another option use it. But unfortunately some have no other choice, may God be with you and keep you safe.

Sunday, aprill 6, 2009 4pm, I boarded the bus bound for washington d. C. By way of new york city returning home. My boyfriend who was living in toronto accompanied me to the boarding area. He is pakinstanian and I am black. He kissed me goodbye and we hugged. While I was on the bus I remembered that I had left my food in the station. Your bus driver was on the bus but not ready to go yet. I said to him, "I left my food inside" and his remark to me was, "well I hope it doesn't stink. I could not understand why he would say this. After getting it, I got back on and told him it was only water and junk food. Then he came where I was sitting and asked me where was I going, I replied maryland by way of d. C. Your driver said" i"ve been to d. C., once before 911 and once after. This brought flame to my face, and now I understood. This was the worst ride of my life. I kept going over and over in my head about this situation. As a black woman, my race has been sterotyped all my life. I live within 6 miles of the pentagon and work within 500 ft. I know the tragedy of 911 and I also know that everyone from the middle east did not play a part in that. Just like I was not a black panther, nor in the rodney king riots, and I am just as afraid of getting my purse taken as any other race. I hoped that in the future your driver thinks before he speaks.

On March 28, 2009 I travelled from a location to Red Deer and my luggage was not on the bus, that I was riding on. I was informed from the bus driver that was located in Edmonton that my luggage will be placed on my bus and not to worry. Now I am sitting at home without my luggage and especially my work gear. I have filled out a luggage trace form and have been informed from the Red Deer office that my things will be here soon. They are unaware of what bus has my stuff, so therefore what the hell is the trace form for..when they don't even try to locate my luggage. I had asked the counter person if the buses will be checked for my bags and his response was (quote) "If we are not too busy, we will look outside at the bag drop off zone for your stuff".

I have called head office and other locations...they all had the same answer, that my luggage will be found when it is found. Look for the dam bags, [censored]! I paid money for both myself and my luggage!

WTF kind of service is that? I have not rode a bus 12 years and now this happens. In my honest opinion, Greyhound Bus Lines can kiss my ### for there ### service. Whether that is mature or not, who cares cause this is ###.

My mother in law purchased a bus ticket from Truckee, CA., and Greyhound had me scheduled out of a totally different city! After paying for a non-refunded ticket, I was told that she could get her money back for the ticket that she purchased. After several calls to the main line, I was given the number for customer service, which is located in Texas. I dailed the number and got a "disconnected" message. I would like to see that my mother in law gets her refund! There should be no reason why someone would have to pay for tickets that were issued wrong!

I left Kansas city Kansas for Las vegas, Nevada on January 27th 2009. Five hours out of Kansas city, the bus broke down and all passengers spent 7 hours at a roadside rest area until until another bus came to get us. Then when we got to Denver, we missed our connections and had to wait another 5 hours. I was late getting to Las Vegas and had a prepaid room that I didnt end up checking into until 3am and had to check out the same day. Greyhound never apologized or offered anyone on the bus compensation except for a lousy meal voucher for a sandwich and a bag of chips! How do they stay in business by treating people so shabby.? ?

Leaving Alantic City, N.J. going to Port Authority N.Y.City at 10:30
A.M. Bus #713 arrived on time, it was very cold inside the bus the driver said "the bus had to heat up before heat would heat the inside cabin", after about 1/2 hour the bus was even colder, the driver offered to return to get another bus but the passengers said "no" there were small childern aboard really cold. About one (1) hour from Atl City a fight broke out on the bus I assisted the driver in seperating the two males and keep the load talk down. Passengers were screaming and hollering, after awhile the bus contined to N.Y. C. I don't want my fare along with my wifw as other stated but I feel I should be compensated for my inconvience, perhaps a discount on my next trip
I have traval w Greyhound beforeto Richmond Va & Greensboro, N.C.
Greyhound is the way to travel no other problems. My next trip will be
to Greensboro, N.C. on /about July/09 Thanking you in advance

Joseph Jackson Sec/Treas Local 816 Ret Club