How does standby for MegaBus work, and likelihood of success?
 

I have an NYC-Philly ticket for Sept. 2. I might prefer to go either earlier or later (right now it's the 3:45 PM bus). Can I use the same ticket for standing by in either case? Any way to gauge the likelihood of success?

When you get there you ask where the stand by area is and they put you in a line or pen or whatever it is they are using that day and location. If there's space they will let you on, don't know if there's a fee or not.

If you know you want the earlier or later bus, it may be to your benefit to change the ticket now, the buses may be pretty full on a holiday weekend

There is a $5 fee, payable only by cc. Generally MegaBus seems to be able to clear quite a few standbys but again you are on a holiday weekend. Also, power outlets are limited so its likely the time you get on the outlet will have been taken by someone else.

There is a small change fee (a couple bucks I think) to change your reservation.

Thanks for the tips.

My ticket was $1, and now it's $13 for numerous routes that day. So I presume I would also pay the difference in fare?

At any rate, I don't want to buy another ticket just yet, because I don't know if or when I would want to go instead.

I think it's just the five bucks, not the fare difference too.

In my experience it depends on the person checking the tickets. I haven't seen any consistency.

I usually Do NYC-DC 2-3x a year. I've witnessed standby's asked to pay the change fee but the one time I did go standby I wasn't charged anything.

The Bolt bus doesn't charge anything for standby