Did you find this discount, or did a friend from the University of Southern Maine send it to you? I think you should qualify your statement by saying that studentrate.com is just a third party site that only some people are eligible for, not some megabus promotion that should be available for all. Megabus actually runs their own promotions, including fares like $1.00, $5.00, and $9.00 seats on many routes to those who book early, or fares as low as $0.50 or $1.50 or $10.50 to a new destination just to get the hype up with people in those areas. You should check out those promos, and book early.

As for your topic, yes I have used megabus and have been mostly satisfied with their operation and on time status, especially versus other routes. The pre-boarding process could use a little bit smoother communication, and depends entirely too much on the people in line to tell you where they are going. Regardless, their process is still quick, streamlined and friendly compared to other bus lines. The busses are far clean, and with few maintenance issues.

The busses are often crowded, due to popularity of these routes and the bargain prices. Don't expect to stretch out across the aisle. I have had two seats to myself all of about once.

There are headphone jacks on most busses which allow you to bring your own headphones and listen to either whatever station the bus driver chooses, or the movie, if a movie is screening. I have only been on one megabus where the passengers voted to screen a movie. Usually this is not offered but many people do bring their own laptops with earphones, ipods, portable DVD or smartphones.

One caveat to megabus is their rebooking policies. This supply and demand method on individual bookings is how they keep the prices down, so understand the system. If you don't use an amtrak/greyhound ticket, you can usually trade it in for ticket of the same value, perhaps even receive a full refund, up to one year. But if you miss your megabus, you're out the money unless you give 24 hours notice and switch to a different bus with available seats at that price, which usually means upgrading your ticket, and paying $0.50 again online or $5 by phone. Just make sure when you book that you will be on that bus.

Also for your NY-Boston trip, check out boltbus.com, a service provided by Greyhound and Peter Pan. This may give you more choices in departing if the megabus times you want are not available. Generally, megabus provides more busses for longer period of the day, however bolt schedule may fill in some voids depending on your schedule. Bolt's few advantages over megabus are: comfy leather seating, and a points/rewards program for earning free trips.