Using Grey Hound to get to Interviews

[Typical Average Student]

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I'm broke.

Has anyone had any experience using a Grey Hound to get to their interview as opposed to flying? I know it's like 10 times slower but is it worth the money saved/time wasted? Would you do it again?

I'd realistically probably be saving 50% on travel and I don't plan on staying at a hotel while before or after my interview and I won't be traveling cross country, but only across a few states. So........... Yeah... Please let me know how your experiences were.

 

[ajj70]

Check ontime schedules, they aren't very reliable in many areas. You could check the Megabus too. You are probably better off renting a car and driving--you can sleep in the car at rest stops if you need too.

 

[midman19]

Just fly. Put it on your credit card and pay it off over the next six months. Well worth the cost to fly.

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

Fly, greyhound is not too reliable from my experience. I've arrived 6 hours late one time. You don't want the added stress.

 

[whitepapertree]

I'm broke.

Has anyone had any experience using a Grey Hound to get to their interview as opposed to flying? I know it's like 10 times slower but is it worth the money saved/time wasted? Would you do it again?

I'd realistically probably be saving 50% on travel and I don't plan on staying at a hotel while before or after my interview and I won't be traveling cross country, but only across a few states. So........... Yeah... Please let me know how your experiences were.

Don't do it man. Don't do it.

 

[Typical Average Student]

Lol thank you for the comments! I'll definitely be flying now.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I heard that sometimes Greyhound just gives away your spot even if you paid for the ticket, so.....go Megabus or Amtrak if you don't want to fly

 

[cacajuate]

Yea, agree with above. If money really is tight- megabus.

 

[RuffDay]

If your interviews are in state, take the bus.

 

[Weakfart]

I'm biking to all my interviews. Got a Fischer price big wheel.

 

[CraigHack]

FWIW, I had a spirit airlines flight from ATL to LAS get punted three days about two hours before takeoff. It was the first time I'd booked with them, and will be the last. Strongly recommend avoiding them when you start booking flights.

 

[tropicarrie]

You can try ride share if you're going to another major city.

 

[Faux]

Just fly. Put it on your credit card and pay it off over the next six months. Well worth the cost to fly.

Fly, greyhound is not too reliable from my experience. I've arrived 6 hours late one time. You don't want the added stress.

Don't do it man. Don't do it.

Lol thank you for the comments! I'll definitely be flying now.

Surprised to hear all the negative comments.

I actually took two grey hound busses.

I took one grey hound bus to Buffalo, booked a hotel for the night and flew back the next morning. Everything was fine and the bus actually arrived a bit early.

I took one grey hound bus to Ohio, but I did an over night trip so I would arrive for my interview when I woke up. I arrived on time, but I actually wore my suit on the bus and forgot my tie on the bus. So you can imagine me fixing my self up in McDonalds as fast as I could and then taking a cab to Target and being the first one in the store, running in for a tie, and taking the same cab to my interview. So, yea that was really nerve wracking. I did get accepted too, even though my interviewer looked at me up and down like I was a confused child lol.

If you plan on staying a night somewhere, a bus wouldn't be that bad of idea. If you're not working/hours are flexible, the savings cost between a bus and a flight is very attractive, especially since dental schools don't really give you 2-3 months notice.

 

[SM555]

I went to 3 interviews, 12 flights total, 11 were delayed more than 2 hours... I would have been better off driving or with greyhound

 

[Typical Average Student]

Surprised to hear all the negative comments.

I actually took two grey hound busses.

I took one grey hound bus to Buffalo, booked a hotel for the night and flew back the next morning. Everything was fine and the bus actually arrived a bit early.

I took one grey hound bus to Ohio, but I did an over night trip so I would arrive for my interview when I woke up. I arrived on time, but I actually wore my suit on the bus and forgot my tie on the bus. So you can imagine me fixing my self up in McDonalds as fast as I could and then taking a cab to Target and being the first one in the store, running in for a tie, and taking the same cab to my interview. So, yea that was really nerve wracking. I did get accepted too, even though my interviewer looked at me up and down like I was a confused child lol.

If you plan on staying a night somewhere, a bus wouldn't be that bad of idea. If you're not working/hours are flexible, the savings cost between a bus and a flight is very attractive, especially since dental schools don't really give you 2-3 months notice.

I went to 3 interviews, 12 flights total, 11 were delayed more than 2 hours... I would have been better off driving or with greyhound

Thank you for the input, I'll definitely look into both options when the time comes.

 

[ajj70]

Rental car discount codes that waive the underage fee:

Enterprise
XVC1092

Hertz
1911795

National
XVC1093 This one also waives the fee for additional drivers so good if you are sharing a car with someone

These codes not only waive the underage fee, they usually give you a hefty discount if you rent the car for long enough. If you can include a Saturday night rental into your plan, that will save you the most money, they usually give unlimited miles too.....all of this info from my Mom, elite status with these rental agencies since she travels a lot.

Also, there are a lot of credit cards out there that give you 50,000+ miles just for signing up. That is enough for a few flights usually and some hotel sponsored credit cards also will apply your points to your stay so you could get in a few trips for little to no money.

 

[cacajuate]

Rental car discount codes that waive the underage fee:

Enterprise
XVC1092

Hertz
1911795

National
XVC1093 This one also waives the fee for additional drivers so good if you are sharing a car with someone

These codes not only waive the underage fee, they usually give you a hefty discount if you rent the car for long enough. If you can include a Saturday night rental into your plan, that will save you the most money, they usually give unlimited miles too.....all of this info from my Mom, elite status with these rental agencies since she travels a lot.

Also, there are a lot of credit cards out there that give you 50,000+ miles just for signing up. That is enough for a few flights usually and some hotel sponsored credit cards also will apply your points to your stay so you could get in a few trips for little to no money.

what credit card gives you enough miles for a couple flights? Those miles don't convert to literal miles..

 

[whitepapertree]

If money is real tight, you might as well do a 0% interest 15 month credit card or whatever but be sure to pay it off before that period ends otherwise you'll get hit with a bomb

 

[ajj70]

what credit card gives you enough miles for a couple flights? Those miles don't convert to literal miles..

https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/southwest/2rtfosam1

http://milecards.com/1031/top-bonus-mile-offers-with-credit-cards/

If you can qualify, yes, they do turn into miles to use for travel. You have to spend so much in the first 2 or 3 months to get the miles usually and there is a time limit but worth the effort for the savings.

 

[cacajuate]

https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/southwest/2rtfosam1

http://milecards.com/1031/top-bonus-mile-offers-with-credit-cards/

If you can qualify, yes, they do turn into miles to use for travel. You have to spend so much in the first 2 or 3 months to get the miles usually and there is a time limit but worth the effort for the savings.

I have the southwest CC and 50000 miles doesn't get you a round trip ticket hardly anywhere.

They make it sound so awesome but you really have to be spending a lot of money on them to get round trip tickets.

 

[CraigHack]

I have the southwest CC and 50000 miles doesn't get you a round trip ticket hardly anywhere.

They make it sound so awesome but you really have to be spending a lot of money on them to get round trip tickets.

So I can get a roundtrip flight on SW from ATL to LAS next week for under 20,000 points (wanna get away fare). Google says the value of each point is approximately 1.4 cents as well, which would mean 50k points is about $700. I signed up for the SW card for the express purpose of flying to interviews, and it is totally worth it. Now, after the bonus, the card only nets 1 pt/dollar spent (outside of SW), so it won't become my daily card, but it's a great "churn". Also worth noting you have to spend $2k on the card over 3 months to qualify for the bonus.

 

[BobbyBeavis]

Rental car discount codes that waive the underage fee:

Enterprise
XVC1092

Hertz
1911795

National
XVC1093 This one also waives the fee for additional drivers so good if you are sharing a car with someone

These codes not only waive the underage fee, they usually give you a hefty discount if you rent the car for long enough. If you can include a Saturday night rental into your plan, that will save you the most money, they usually give unlimited miles too.....all of this info from my Mom, elite status with these rental agencies since she travels a lot.

Also, there are a lot of credit cards out there that give you 50,000+ miles just for signing up. That is enough for a few flights usually and some hotel sponsored credit cards also will apply your points to your stay so you could get in a few trips for little to no money.

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