Asking for Help at a Ticket Counter

You're confused about schedules or options at a bus or train ticket window.

You
Buenos días. ¿Me puede explicar los horarios? No entiendo bien.
BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs. meh PWEH-deh ehks-plee-KAR lohs oh-RAH-ryohs? noh ehn-TYEHN-doh byehn
Good morning. Can you explain the schedules to me? I don't understand well.
Starting with a greeting like "Buenos días" before asking for help is considered polite and expected.
Clerk
Claro. ¿A dónde quiere ir y cuándo?
KLAH-roh. ah DOHN-deh KYEH-reh eer ee KWAHN-doh?
Of course. Where do you want to go and when?
You
Quiero ir a Oaxaca. ¿Cuándo sale el próximo viaje y cuánto cuesta?
KYEH-roh eer ah wah-HAH-kah. KWAHN-doh SAH-leh ehl PROHK-see-moh BYAH-heh ee KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah?
I want to go to Oaxaca. When does the next trip leave and how much does it cost?
"Viaje" means trip or journey. For buses, you might also hear "corrida" or "salida" meaning departure.
Clerk
El próximo sale a las dos de la tarde. Cuesta cuatrocientos pesos. ¿Primera clase o económico?
ehl PROHK-see-moh SAH-leh ah lahs dohs deh lah TAR-deh. KWEHS-tah kwah-troh-SYEHN-tohs PEH-sohs. pree-MEH-rah KLAH-seh oh eh-koh-NOH-mee-koh?
The next one leaves at two in the afternoon. It costs four hundred pesos. First class or economy?
You
Primera clase, por favor. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
pree-MEH-rah KLAH-seh, pohr fah-BOHR. PWEH-doh pah-GAR kohn tar-HEH-tah?
First class, please. Can I pay with a card?
First-class buses in Mexico and Central America often have reclining seats, air conditioning, and onboard bathrooms — well worth the upgrade.