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LONG-DISTANCE BUSES

The bus is the cheapest form of long-distance transportation in
the United States, and the one with the most extensive system of
routes, taking people from the largest of cities to all but the
smallest and remotest towns in the country. You'll meet a lot of
interesting people on bus trips, but be prepared to share your life
story. Trips tend to be long, and people talk a lot.
Long-distance buses are not called "coaches" in American
English.
The largest American bus operator is Greyhound Lines, which
serves all major cities and towns. Travel to smaller towns is usu-
ally provided by local and regional bus companies.

AIR TRAVEL

There are so many airlines, national and regional, that flying is
an economical and popular form of transportation for many Ameri-
cans, and it's really the best way of covering long distances in the
United States. Businesspeople fly all over the country, and it's not
uncommon to "commute" between cities by plane. Frequent flyer
programs that offer rewards to passengers who rack up a lot of
travel miles are very popular, and you can earn air miles by using
special credit cards or even by using particular phone companies.
Some airlines operate on a no-frills basis, offering rock-bottom
fares, but slightly less comfortable planes and little more than
peanuts and pretzels to eat. Most airlines serve free soft drinks, but
all alcoholic beverages in coach class must be paid for in cash.
Airlines regularly overbook domestic flights, so it is important
to check in on time to avoid being bumped off a flight. However,
airlines do offer compensation in the form of cash or free flights to
passengers who volunteer to give up their seats on overbooked
flights.
When it comes to international flights, prices to and from the
United States are extremely competitive. Consolidators, or agencies
that sell international airline tickets at massive discounts, offer the
cheapest flights.
Something that might come as a surprise to people used to