AAAHH!! help, serious problem ...

[exarch]

Greyhound is only accepting American credit cards with US addresses. Those smegging nationalist b*stards

I cannot book my ticket from LA to SF, (the form specifically states: "U.S. addresses and credit cards only please.") so I'm not even going to try, since they might reject my reservation but credit my card anyway just because they had to do paperwork and because they are evil
What is the bloody point of booking online if you can't?

Can anyone in the US please make this reservation for me, as the 7 day advance internet purchase rate is about to run out, and I'd like to make sure I do have a seat on the right bus ...

I'll PM the exact details needed for the booking (date, departure time, bus number and my full name) to whoever could help me out. You will be refunded at TAM, or alternately, if you're from LA and willing to pick me up at the airport and drop me off at the Greyhound bus station, I will refund you right away, and even throw in a nice bonus (probably in the form of Belgian chocolate) who can refuse such an offer?

Please, any help is appreciated.

 

[renata]

I never had to book Greyhound in advance, you can usually buy tickets at the bus station.

Why are you taking a bus instead of a train or a plane anyway? A plane to SF can be very cheap, and certainly faster. Check www.southwest.com

 

[MLynn]

There is Amtrak train service from L.A. to SFO. Here is their website: www.amtrak.com

 

[Hutch]

There is Amtrak train service from L.A. to SFO. Here is their website: www.amtrak.com

Ahh, as one who did schedule that trip this past June, a couple of notes.

Amtrak tends to run late...often 4-5 hours late. If you're not in a hurry, that's fine, but if you have a schedule to meet.....

Amtrak goes to Oakland Jack London Station, from where you take a bus to 3-4 locations in the city of SFO. You're friends would have to meet you in Oakland or at one of the bus stops.

As for Greyhound, if noone else has said anything, drop me a PM with the details and I'll see what I can do. But you shuld be able to buy it walkup as renata suggested.

 

[exarch]

Originally posted by renata
I never had to book Greyhound in advance, you can usually buy tickets at the bus station.

Why are you taking a bus instead of a train or a plane anyway? A plane to SF can be very cheap, and certainly faster. Check www.southwest.com

The main problem is I arrive in LA just before 7PM, and there weren't any Amtrak trains out to SF any more that day, unless I spent about 9 hours waiting for the one leaving at 3-something AM which arrives late in the afternoon anyway (that's a whole day wasted). And it was a tad more expensive than a bus too.

Also, by the time I finally picked up my credit card at the bank (I asked them to send it there so I would have it faster), it was still too late to book the Southwest flight at a reduced rate (it has to be booked 14 days in advance, I was a day late for that, they are very punctual ). Which meant it wasn't quite as cheap any more, and would cost me almost $140 for a return flight.

So I figured I might as well spend the next 12 hours on a bus, sleeping, arrive in the morning, and save a days hotelroom fee in the process, and book a one way flight back to LA for a week later. Hopefully, I'll be able to sleep off some jet lag, and still save at least $70 in the process. I think that's worth the bit of extra hassle, even though I haden't counted on this :/
And buying the busticket walk-up is a bit of a risk during the holiday season I think.

Anyway, a kind JREF-er (who I presume wishes to remain anonymous) has already helped me out of my predicament. Thank you very much, you truly are an angel