Arizona Shuttle, a bus service between Tucson and Phoenix, is offering an online discount through tomorrow.
Competing with Greyhound Bus Lines on every day student discount fares, the reason for the discount is the company's urge to increase online booking because customers save money when they book early, and it helps Arizona Shuttle better manage their business, said Kenna Smith, vice president for marketing at Arizona Shuttle.
This is the first Web-based offer, Smith said, and the company hopes to reintroduce student discounts since the change in ownership last year.
Arizona Shuttle and Greyhound Lines are the two major bus lines between Tucson and Phoenix, but Arizona Shuttle does not compete with Greyhound Lines, Smith said, because it would be equal to comparing "Apple computers with Compaq."
Unlike Greyhound Lines, Arizona Shuttle transports only small groups and goes directly from airport to airport, but also picks up travelers at convenient stops on the way, Smith said.
Arizona Shuttle might be more convenient for students, but it is also more expensive. Students pay $52 for a round trip to Phoenix with Arizona Shuttle, and $32 with Greyhound Lines, according to the companies' Web sites.
Kim Plaskett, spokeswoman for Greyhound Lines, said students make up about 23 percent of all customers nationwide.
"We offer a pretty good deal there for students," Plaskett said. "They can sit back and study and don't have to watch the road. It's a comfortable bus with reclining seats and foot rests."
Greyhound Lines are working on faster connections, Plaskett said, and have eliminated redundant stops because slow travel and a large number of stops were the main complaints from customers.
Plaskett said bus travel is the safest way to go from point A to point B. Other advantages of Greyhound include a low cost of travel, especially at the steadily rising gas prices.
"We are changing how we are reaching out to our customers," Plaskett said. "In the coming months, customers will see changes in a number of things, including our appearance and image."
Brittany McGeorge, a marketing freshman said she has taken the Arizona Shuttle about three times and likes it because it "gets you to your destination, and the prices are pretty reasonable."
McGeorge said she has also considered taking the Greyhound bus because it is cheaper, but the pick up and drop off locations are not as convenient as the Arizona Shuttle's.
Margeaux Snell, a pre-physiology freshman said she uses the Arizona Shuttle to go home once or twice a month because she said it is not too expensive and leaves every hour.