What does ALSA do when a bus is full?

Posted by fung_jaau on 09/05/18 05:41 AM

Hello fellow travelers,

I am planning to take the ALSA bus from Malaga to Granada, and I have some questions.

(1) For those who have experienced, what would ALSA do, when a bus is full? Do they just add another bus? Or the over-follow passengers have to wait for the next bus?

(2) Is there any price advantage when buying tickets in advance?

(3) For those who were on a cruise, did you travel from the cruise port to the bus station in Malaga by bus/taxi?
If taxi, how much was it?
If by bus, there appears to be a bus from Plaza de la Marina, where did you buy the bus tickets? Is there any multiple pack tickets that are shareable? Did you pay by credit card or cash? If credit card, did the chip-n-signature card work?

Thank you

Posted by acraven

Washington DC

09/05/18 07:49 AM

27122 posts

I bought most of my Spanish bus tickets (many on ALSA) at the company's vending machines, which are present in the larger stations. I saw buses listed as "Sold Out" or "Full", so it appears they use the power of computers to be sure they do not sell too many tickets out of the origin point. I don't know what happens at intermediate points (if they allow people to board in small towns with no bus stations), but I believe if you have a ticket (they always seem to have seat numbers, though not everyone cares about sitting in those precise seats), you will have a spot on the bus.

It was my impression that money could sometimes be saved (not necessarily on every route) by buying early, but I never did it and the fares still were not excessive. On some routes ALSA runs a few premium buses, so that is one source of possible fare variation that has nothing to do with when you buy your ticket. The regular buses are perfectly fine.

I'd want to buy the return bus ticket as I headed out if I was returning to a cruise at the end of the day.

Posted by Marco

Oxford, United Kingdom

09/05/18 09:11 AM

5326 posts

1 - ALSA sell tickets until the coach is full, then they don't sell any more. Their website is a bit creeky.
2 - can be substantial. First tickets sold can be a fifth of the price of the last. Exception is any more premium service, aleays generally sold a bit above the top price of economy.
3 - pass

Posted by fung_jaau OP

09/05/18 03:20 PM

32 posts

acraven and Marco;

Thank you for sharing of your experience and your information!

I think I will buy the ALSA tickets in advance.

Best regards!