Why doesn't Megabus have an app?

[Bletchleyite]

With it being very much aimed at the youth market, I was surprised to find on Tuesday (when I used it to buy a cheap Glasgow-Edinburgh ticket on the 900) that Megabus only has a clunky website and no app. This is most surprising given that that market generally prefers apps.

Does anyone know why this decision was made - simply cost cutting? Is it likely that under its new ownership one will be developed?

 

[zwk500]

Presumably cost-cutting is the only thing that makes sense. An App would need ongoing maintenance as well - probably not that much cost, but to Megabus pennies count. The fact they have a clunky website also suggests they don't want to shell out for updates.

 

[Dai Corner]

I suppose that as Megabus' target market is tech-savvy and cost-conscious they feel that they won't mind using a clunky website if it saves them a few quid or enables a journey they otherwise couldn't afford?

 

[borage]

There are several third party apps that sell Megabus (and National Express) tickets – Omio, Uber, Trainline – so I wonder what proportion of passengers use them (although booking directly is better for both the passenger and the operator)

I've not found the website to be that clunky – better than Nat Exp's website and app – but I guess clunkiness is in the eye of the beholder

 

[Buzby]

Perhaps they just bookmark the page and use it as if an app? I’ve had no difficulty in booking their services in this way.

 

[route101]

I didnt know National Express had an app. Flixbus do. I do book coach tickets on the go sometimes at short notice, use the website.
Scottish Citylink don't have an app either.

 

[Spsf3232]

Most apps are just the website wrapped up on an app

 

[Bletchleyite]

Most apps are just the website wrapped up on an app

The good ones aren't, but I agree there are plenty that are.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Just had a quick look at the Megabus website and I would say it appears to look and work in pretty much the same way I would expect an app to. I certainly wouldn't refer to it as clunky.

(As a side note, I often find apps to be either too clunky, far too basic, or direct me to a web page for half the things I want to do anyway. Perhaps I just don't match their target audience?)

 

[Dai Corner]

(As a side note, I often find apps to be either too clunky, far too basic, or direct me to a web page for half the things I want to do anyway. Perhaps I just don't match their target audience?)

I'm with you there. I'd much rather use a website, putting a link on my home screen if I use it frequently, than download and install an app. Two examples are my local bus operator, where I have a link directly to the page tracking my local route, and BBC News where I only get nagged, rather than forced, to create an account.

 

[Fleetmaster]

Can't be any other reason than the fact their website already works and converting it to an app would cost money, which if things went well might not be a lot, but if things went badly and services were disrupted, could be very expensive in both real terms and the PR hit.

 

[PeterC]

I'm with you there. I'd much rather use a website, putting a link on my home screen if I use it frequently, than download and install an app. Two examples are my local bus operator, where I have a link directly to the page tracking my local route, and BBC News where I only get nagged, rather than forced, to create an account.

Same here, I use apps for things like streaming but see no point in installing them redundantly when I have a perfectly good browser

 

[Bletchleyite]

Same here, I use apps for things like streaming but see no point in installing them redundantly when I have a perfectly good browser

I did expect to see the "usual suspects" pop up and express why it's far better to sit down and do your online stuff using Netscape Navigator on your 486 DX2 66, Windows 3.1 desktop PC with a monochrome CRT monitor and print it out on your 9 pin dot matrix

More seriously, the key benefit of an app is a slicker UI (user interface) designed specifically for that class of phone, and that UI being built into the app rather than downloaded each time, meaning a slicker experience when in poor signal and offline.

And "da yoof", who make up most of Megabus' custom, like them.

 

[gingerheid]

They can also drive brand loyalty, as your app only contains details of your product but a brower contains details of everyone's!

 

[telstarbox]

Do they issue QR codes for the driver to scan now? Back in the day I remember writing down the long code on an old receipt to show the driver

 

[JonathanH]

Do they issue QR codes for the driver to scan now? Back in the day I remember writing down the long code on an old receipt to show the driver

No, still the long text string with a unique four digit number as the 'security'.

For example, someone travelling on the M15 from London to Leeds tonight might have the following, if they were the first booking and had reserved seat 3
1-4657-060523-M15N-2300-LON-LEE-3

Only the four digits are unknown, but clearly couldn't be guessed. Who needs QR codes?

I used to just memorise the four digit code each time and not show the phone, but some drivers don't like not being able to see it on your screen.

 

[Lewisham2221]

No, still the long text string with a unique four digit number as the 'security'.

For example, someone travelling on the M15 from London to Leeds tonight might have the following, if they were the first booking and had reserved seat 3
1-4657-060523-M15N-2300-LON-LEE-3

Only the four digits are unknown, but clearly couldn't be guessed. Who needs QR codes?

I assume the bit in bold is the 4 digit security code?

 

[JonathanH]

I assume the bit in bold is the 4 digit security code?

Yes, that is the format.

 

[telstarbox]

That's what I remember. If it ain't broke?

 

[Mojo]

Thread opened for @Starmill to provide an update

 

[Starmill]

Thread opened for @Starmill to provide an update

Thank you very much

Just to let members know that Megabus services to and from Scotland are now bookable via the new Citylink Coaches app.

Available on Google Play at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.versko.citylinkapp