How can I exchange my ticket?

Ticket Exchanges: What You Need to Know

If the Terms & Conditions of your ticket allow exchanges, you can request to change the date or time of your trip by contacting the bus or train company directly. Keep in mind that most companies do not allow changes to the departure or arrival locations. Busbud cannot exchange or modify a ticket on your behalf under any circumstances.

Before requesting a change, review your ticket’s Terms & Conditions. You’ll typically find them in your Busbud confirmation email and in your Busbud account under My Trips > your booking > Terms and Conditions.Tickets are valid only for the specific date and time booked; you cannot travel earlier or later without completing an exchange. If your ticket is marked non-exchangeable, the date cannot be changed. See the “If your ticket is non-exchangeable” article for your options.

Please note that changes to the origin or destination city, or to the boarding or drop-off station, are considered route changes and are generally not permitted after a ticket has been issued. In most cases, only the date or time can be adjusted.

• If you booked the wrong city or station and your ticket is cancellable, cancel it and rebook the correct route.
• If your ticket is non-cancellable or non-exchangeable, you may contact the operator to request an exception; assistance is not guaranteed.
• Depending on the operator, exchanges may be completed online in your Busbud account, directly with the operator (by phone or email), or only in person at the station. If you don’t see an Exchange/Change option in your Busbud account, the operator likely requires you to contact them or visit the station.
   

As an online aggregator, Busbud does not have access to modify issued tickets or change route details; only the operator can make such changes.

What Busbud can and cannot do for date changes

• Busbud is an online aggregator and does not have direct access to bus companies’ reservation systems. We cannot change or modify tickets on your behalf after purchase. • We can help you understand your fare rules, point you to your operator’s contact details, and guide you on the correct process (online, operator, or station). • For cancellation-eligible tickets, you can cancel through your Busbud account. Any exchanges must follow the operator’s policy, which may mean contacting them directly or going to the station.

Contacting the Operator of Your Trip:

• You can find the contact information for your trip operator here.
• You can also find this information in your Busbud account and in your confirmation email. If you’re unable to locate the contact details, please reach out to us here.

Some Tickets Must Be Exchanged at the Station:

Certain bus or train companies only allow exchanges to be done in person at the station. If your ticket requires in-station exchanges, you will need to visit the station and follow the conditions outlined in your purchase agreement.

Are There Exchange Fees?

Some bus or train companies charge fees for exchanging tickets. All applicable fees related to ticket exchanges are outlined in the Terms & Conditions of your purchase.

Please note that exchanges can only be requested within the timeframes specified in your reservation’s exchange policy.

Fees and fare differences: Many operators charge a change fee and may require you to pay any fare difference for the new date or time. Examples seen across operators include fixed fees (for example, £5.00 GBP, €3.00, or R50–R150 ZAR) or a percentage of the ticket price (for example, 50%). Some operators allow free changes within their exchange window.

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Happy travels!