FlixBus is a bus company that operates in the US and Europe, known for its low-cost travel options starting from €3. I traveled with my girlfriend several times in June 2023 across Europe, and we want to share a complete and honest review of our FlixBus experience, including customer service. We will share whether FlixBus is safe, reliable, and provide all the necessary information for potential travelers.
Is FlixBus punctual?
In general, our buses were always on time. Only one of our buses, at the Paris station, was delayed by 10 minutes. It is advisable to arrive at least 15 minutes before the departure time, as on two occasions, in Florence and Venice, the buses left 2 or 3 minutes earlier than the scheduled time.
Does FlixBus have reliable Wi-Fi?
According to their website, FlixBus offers onboard Wi-Fi. During the first few days of my trip in Europe, I had no internet connection. However, the Wi-Fi on FlixBus worked well for the majority of my journeys, so I would say it generally lived up to what the website claims, and the Wi-Fi is pretty reliable.
Does FlixBus respect the assigned seat numbers?
For those of you who may not be familiar, when purchasing a bus ticket with FlixBus, a random seat is assigned to you unless you opt to pay for a specific seat selection. Since I was traveling with my girlfriend, we decided to pay a little extra to ensure we could sit together during our bus trips—an additional cost of 4 euros. Unfortunately, throughout all five of our FlixBus journeys, we discovered that the assigned seat numbers were not adhered to by the drivers, as they instructed passengers to sit wherever they pleased.
This caused confusion for those who had reserved specific seats and created an unpleasant situation. In most cases, you can sit in any available seat, so it’s not worth it to pay extra to choose your seats with FlixBus. This is a point against FlixBus in the reliability aspect.
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Can you Track your FlixBus trip?
Although there are no screens on the bus displaying the minutes remaining to reach the next stop (something you can often find on trains, for instance), you can access this information through the FlixBus app. The app was incredibly user-friendly and provided real-time updates. If the bus experienced any delays, the app would show the exact number of minutes behind schedule and how it would impact the subsequent stops. It proved to be highly practical, and I had no issues keeping track of my FlixBus journey
Does the bus respect the scheduled time at each stop? is flixbus reliable?
Is flixbus reliable? The app displays the amount of time the bus will be stopped at each station. However, I noticed that on several occasions, the bus stopped for less time than indicated. If you get off to buy something or use the restroom, you need to be cautious that the bus doesn’t leave without you since they often reduce the scheduled stop time to arrive at the final destination on time.
Is it safe to travel on FlixBus?
During my five trips in June 2023, I never felt unsafe. There were instances where the seatbelt didn’t work properly, but I simply moved to another seat where it did, and I didn’t encounter any issues with that change. The Flixbus driver drove at an appropriate speed, and overall, it felt safe
Is it possible to change a ticket with FlixBus? FlixBus Cancelation Policy-customer service
If you accidentally chose a FlixBus ticket for the wrong day or the wrong train station, you can easily change it. You just have to cancel it and pay any price difference with the correct ticket you need. I once accidentally purchased a ticket for the wrong train terminal, but I changed it for another one without any additional cost or penalty. This was a positive aspect of FlixBus customer service that I appreciated.
Is it comfortable to travel on FlixBus?
FlixBus is generally comfortable. There is just enough legroom, and the seats can recline a little bit. However, it didn’t stand out compared to other buses. The only thing I didn’t like was that sometimes the air conditioning would blow cold air, making it chilly. We tried many times to turn it down but couldn’t find a way. We saw other passengers trying to do the same without success.
But is it comfortable enough for long trips? Well, if you’re planning an overnight bus journey, I must say you might not have the most restful night’s sleep. FlixBus seats don’t recline enough to provide optimal comfort. I would say it is quite similar to sleeping on an economy class seat of a low-cost airline, minus the foldable meal tray. For comfortable trips, you might like our article on Things Not To Forget When Traveling: 10 Big Travel Essentials!
Are the restrooms clean?
Flixbus bathrooms are reliable? Sadly, no. The bathrooms were small and had a strong odor, and unfortunately, flushing was not possible. However, I must admit that this is a common issue on most buses I’ve taken. Negative point about flixbus customer service
Is it necessary to print your Bus ticket?
No, simply showing the QR code from the FlixBus app to the driver is enough for them to scan it and let you board the bus. You can print the ticket sent to your email after purchase, but it’s not at all necessary if you have the app.
is safe to store your luggage with FlixBus?
Before you board the bus, you can leave your large suitcase in the spacious luggage compartment underneath the bus. Once inside, you’ll find a small shelf above the seats where you can place a medium-sized backpack. There’s also a grid on the back of the front seats where you can store small belongings.
Is there any luggage limit?
One significant advantage of FlixBus is that they don’t impose any limits on the amount or weight of luggage you can bring, unlike airlines, where carrying an extra bag can be very expensive. For packing tips for a month trip in Europe click here
Is it safe and accesible to find flixbus buses?
It is quite easy to find their buses, as they all feature the same logo and lime green color that identifies them. You won’t get confused. Additionally, they have a screen on the front of the bus displaying the bus number and its destination. They have a good variety of bus terminals, depending on the size of the city, of course. One of our journeys with FlixBus was from Florence to Rome, and we could choose between two different terminals, opting for the one closest to our hotel. As they are a low-cost company, their terminals are not always the safest.
Are FlixBus tickets budget friendly?
YES. The main reason we chose FlixBus for many of our Europe trips was that it offered the cheapest option compared to trains, airplane tickets, and other bus companies. We saved a lot by traveling with FlixBus, so it’s definitely a good idea to check their prices if you are traveling on a budget around Europe. My longest train trip here! If you are looking tips for long flights check this post!
Is FlixBus good? Our Honest Review on FlixBus
Overall, I believe FlixBus is good because it delivers what it promises on its website. It offers very affordable trips across Europe, and in my five bus trips, I didn’t experience any major delays. The overall comfort level was satisfactory. In terms of reliability, FlixBus is okay, and it is also considered safe.
There you have it! An honest review about our recent experience traveling on a budget with Flixbus. Have you used their services before? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
If you’re planning to travel to different cities in Europe in 2023, we recommend checking out our post on 3 Travel Mistakes To Avoid In 2023
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