NEW YORK (Sept. 23, 2008) – Budget Travel magazine today announced that megabus.com, an intercity, express bus service with fares as low as $1, has been selected as a winner of the 2008 Extra Mile Awards, honoring travel companies that have done the most in the past year to make travel easier or more affordable. This year, Budget Travel recognizes megabus.com for its devotion to reinventing bus travel for new generations with service to 25 cities, high-tech amenities and extremely low fares. Budget Travel editors chose megabus.com for giving travelers an inexpensive alternative to driving or flying when they needed it most – and for simultaneously revolutionizing the way people think about bus travel.

Budget Travel is once again setting the standard for innovation within the travel industry with its 4th annual Extra Mile Awards. Since 2005, Budget Travel has recognized noteworthy innovations, large and small, that make travel easier, more enjoyable and affordable across all aspects of the industry. Read more about the eight winners of this year’s Extra mile Awards in the October 2008 issue that highlights the oft-forgotten joys of travel.

This year’s additional 2008 Extra Mile Awards winners include:
The TSA: The TSA’s color-coded, self-erect security checkpoint lanes let passengers choose their lane based on their travel expertise, and in doing so have made the journey through security up to 40 percent faster.
Inside Trip: InsideTrip.com rates specific flights by compiling statistics on every factor that makes for a good flights experience and giving each a score from 1 to 100 so consumers know where they stand.
Orbitz: Orbitz’s new Traveler Update system allows anyone to use computers, PDAs or text messages to share their insider secrets on flight delays, security wait times, taxi lines and any other observations while traveling.
Cathy Pacific: Cathy Pacific stepped outside the box to revamp their economy class with new seats that slide forward as they recline, more leg room, 9-inch TV screens and a diverse entertainment library aimed at an international audience.
Hotels.com: Hotels.com’s loyalty program makes it easier than ever to earn a free room when you travel. After 10 nights in any of the 35,000 hotels that apply, you’ll get a free stay for your next trip – no catch involved.
Hertz: Hertz is speeding up the lines at their rental car desks by instituting a new system it promises will get you on the road in minutes, or you’ll receive $50 off your rental.
Southwest Airlines: Still holding firm against fees, Southwest is staying true to a policy of “what you see is what you pay.”

About megabus.com
Megabus.com is the first intercity, express bus line dedicated to bringing high-quality, low-cost travel options to 17 Midwest cities and eight Northeast cities for as low as $1 via the Internet. Service for megabus.com operates daily. Fares shown are one-way and include all government taxes. Since its launch on April 10, 2006, megabus.com has served more than 1.5 million travelers. Midwest cities served by megabus.com include: Ann Arbor, Bloomington-Normal, Chicago, Champaign, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Madison, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Toledo. Northeast cities served by megabus.com include: Atlantic City, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington D.C. Visit www.megabus.com for additional service routes to and from the listed cities.

Chicago-based megabus.com is a subsidiary of Coach USA. Paramus, N.J.-based Coach USA owns and operates more than 20 local companies in North America that operate scheduled bus routes, motor coach tours, charters and sightseeing tours. Coach USA is a subsidiary of UK-based Stagecoach Group.

About Budget Travel Magazine
Featuring must-know tips, hidden gems across the world, humorous stories, smart deals and timely news, Budget Travel has become an indispensable guide for 2.1 millions educated and sophisticated consumers. Surpassing the usual lineup of fantasy coffee table magazines, Budget Travel redefines the travel category by integrating breathtaking imagery with valuable, practical knowledge, and inspiring yet affordable strategies for real vacationers. For more information, please visit BudgetTravel.com.

Posted: September 23, 2008 at 2:32 pm by Amanda