Flixbus Discussion

[Bletchleyite]

I imagine this is a little harder to pull off if the reserved seats are Row 1 and you are getting on at the origin or 1st stop on the route ?

Because many drivers can't be bothered to ask people to move, the only way they work is from the origin and where reserved passengers board first.

Edit: In many ways Flix is the Evri of public transport, run by cheap contractors with varying levels of customer care and wildly inadequate maintenance of standards. But because the coach market is almost exclusively about price, people put up with it, while NatEx goes for the small number of people who might pay a quid or two more not to be absolute rock bottom or those who want coach for reasons other than price, e.g. older people who might feel better with a member of staff close at hand on a coach as against a train.

 

[Mikw]

I imagine this is a little harder to pull off if the reserved seats are Row 1 and you are getting on at the origin or 1st stop on the route ?

Are the Edinburgh-Inverness Single Decker Coaches ?

True, but the front seats are "Panoramic" and incur an additional charge.
I've found it to be ok if you're one of the first on at an origin departure, but if you get on midway through a journey the seat is often taken, much like on a train.
Also, i have long legs and the Flixbus Yutongs (fine coaches) have rather tight legroom. The Seats immediately behind the toilets are fine and the very back row, but the others are very tight for me.
I get more legroom with the National Express free for all, at no extra cost. I do take Flix sometimes though.

 

[Butts]

Because many drivers can't be bothered to ask people to move, the only way they work is from the origin and where reserved passengers board first.

Do the seats have a physical or electronic method of showing they are reserved ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2025 ==

True, but the front seats are "Panoramic" and incur an additional charge.
I've found it to be ok if you're one of the first on at an origin departure, but if you get on midway through a journey the seat is often taken, much like on a train.

Do they have a lot more leg room ?

 

[Mikw]

Do the seats have a physical or electronic method of showing they are reserved ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2025 ==



Do they have a lot more leg room ?

I don't think so. the back row is ok and the seats immediately behind the toilets. so i'll pay extra to reserve those on a long journey, but there's often someone else in them.

 

[Butts]

I don't think so. the back row is ok and the seats immediately behind the toilets. so i'll pay extra to reserve those on a long journey, but there's often someone else in them.

At least no one can recline on you in the front row (or behind toilets/back seat)

 

[Mikw]

At least no one can recline on you in the front row (or behind toilets/back seat)

True! Someone reclined their seat on me recently, seeing as my knees were already touching his seat in front it was a rather painful experience.

 

[CN12 AWU]

Any idea when the hull service stopped it just seemed to disappear always looked busy

 

[A S Leib]

One of the least good bits. Paying £2 for a seat reservation leaves a sour note, especially as it's often filled by someone pretending to sleep when you get on.

On the other hand, I booked a FlixBus service a week or two ago which didn't have the option to reserve a seat at the time, but I've since got an email assigning me a seat (and pushing the departure and arrival time back by 50-60 minutes, removing the time savings I would have got over going by train).

 

[markymark2000]

Any idea when the hull service stopped it just seemed to disappear always looked busy

It disappeared a few months ago. Belle Vue took on 2 trips on the 021 and then couldn't staff it so either than throw back newly won work, they threw back Hull and York duties.

These were due to return either end of July or end of August but due to ongoing issues at Belle Vue (namely they keep taking on completely new trips and then just ditching the core established trips), I think Flix just saw sense and gave up. Even if advertised, the trips were highly unlikely to operate given Belle Vues much higher than average cancellation rate.

I think if the Hull (and York) come back, it will be under a new operator as Belle Vue really ran it into the ground when they had it.

 

[CN12 AWU]

It disappeared a few months ago. Belle Vue took on 2 trips on the 021 and then couldn't staff it so either than throw back newly won work, they threw back Hull and York duties.

These were due to return either end of July or end of August but due to ongoing issues at Belle Vue (namely they keep taking on completely new trips and then just ditching the core established trips), I think Flix just saw sense and gave up. Even if advertised, the trips were highly unlikely to operate given Belle Vues much higher than average cancellation rate.

I think if the Hull (and York) come back, it will be under a new operator as Belle Vue really ran it into the ground when they had it.

I never seen belle vue on it, it was always a different company they had a Flixbus Youtong and a white one think it was ashcrofts but could be wrong

 

[markymark2000]

I never seen belle vue on it, it was always a different company they had a Flixbus Youtong and a white one think it was ashcrofts but could be wrong

Ashcroft ran since it started until 17th April then Belle Vue took over (Ashcroft moved their 2 buses onto the 021 Liverpool to London, from the same date Belle Vue took on 2 round trips on the 021 as well) and by 12th May they were temporarily suspended for 2 months (didn't matter much anyway as it was very often cancelled or partially cancelled) and they have since been removed from the system altogether.

 

[Eyersey468]

Any idea when the hull service stopped it just seemed to disappear always looked busy

Whenever we saw them in Hull there was never anyone on it

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I imagine this is a little harder to pull off if the reserved seats are Row 1 and you are getting on at the origin or 1st stop on the route ?

Are the Edinburgh-Inverness Single Decker Coaches ?

All the Flixbus fleet in Scotland are single deck coaches

 

[CN12 AWU]

Whenever we saw them in Hull there was never anyone on it

Seen the 4:30pm one very frequent used to leave hull with a healthy load

 

[Kieran_MF135]

One of the least good bits. Paying £2 for a seat reservation leaves a sour note, especially as it's often filled by someone pretending to sleep when you get on.

or that when wheelchair user like me needs 4 or 8 ppl to shift to over seats. i had one recenlty 45 seats and me wheelchair everyone had to sit in all as i took 8 seats on teh coach , not my fault , but sometimes this does causle issues , i mean i knonw ppl brought to trvael somewhere tho choice but they shuld give warnings that if wheelchahir user then be prepred to vacunete them seats

 

[route101]

I imagine this is a little harder to pull off if the reserved seats are Row 1 and you are getting on at the origin or 1st stop on the route ?

Are the Edinburgh-Inverness Single Decker Coaches ?

Yes, all Flixbus services operated in the UK are single deck except a few that go from London to Europe.

The risk with row 1 is sometimes if there is a second driver they use that row.

Legroom on new Yutongs is terrible and just of someone reclines in front of you good luck.

I always find there is a few chancers that move seats or just come on and sit where they want.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==

True, but the front seats are "Panoramic" and incur an additional charge.
I've found it to be ok if you're one of the first on at an origin departure, but if you get on midway through a journey the seat is often taken, much like on a train.
Also, i have long legs and the Flixbus Yutongs (fine coaches) have rather tight legroom. The Seats immediately behind the toilets are fine and the very back row, but the others are very tight for me.
I get more legroom with the National Express free for all, at no extra cost. I do take Flix sometimes though.

The front seats on the Yutongs usually have a view straight into the sun blind rather than the road ahead.

 

[Butts]

Yes, all Flixbus services operated in the UK are single deck except a few that go from London to Europe.

The risk with row 1 is sometimes if there is a second driver they use that row.

Legroom on new Yutongs is terrible and just of someone reclines in front of you good luck.

I always find there is a few chancers that move seats or just come on and sit where they want.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==


The front seats on the Yutongs usually have a view straight into the sun blind rather than the road ahead.

Do the Drivers have a list of reservations - if so I can't see what the problem could be particularly for Row 1 where no one can recline on you.

Is there a customer service hotline to resolve seating issues ?

 

[henryb]

Do the Drivers have a list of reservations - if so I can't see what the problem could be particularly for Row 1 where no one can recline on you.

Is there a customer service hotline to resolve seating issues ?

The drivers can see seat reservations through their app

 

[dmncf]

Yes, all Flixbus services operated in the UK are single deck except a few that go from London to Europe.

Have Flixbus ever explained why they standardised on 12m single deck coaches in the UK?
National Express considered similar factors and standardised on 15m single deck coaches.

 

[LUYMun]

Had an interesting journey on the N31 from Glasgow to Leeds the other night.

The drivers were taking no prisoners with food, phones on loudspeaker, bags on seats and socks being removed. She lectured every passenger that got on and she even told someone off for eating a stinky sandwich.

Talk about a power trip.

 

[Porty]

I have never travelled on Flixbus before but am making my debut in October between Edinburgh Airport and Inverness along with my son (Route UK094) and back again.

Being able to book the tickets now and going from the Airport (he if flying in) was a bonus, Citylink haven't even got bookable fares yet for the journey which is only 2 months away.

Timewise it's not that different from the Train and pricewise at less than £20 each way for the two of us (mine free) including seats in row 1 both ways. I was a little concerned that someone mentioned they don't always honour seat reservations ? These made up £8 of the fare each way.

Also it stops at Perth (I think) on the way up for 10mins - can you get off and have a cigarette ?

There's also Ember with a "free" tram ride included from Airport to Ingliston P&R for the bus.

 

[Stan Drews]

There's also Ember with a "free" tram ride included from Airport to Ingliston P&R for the bus.

…but they don’t (yet) run between Ingliston (or Edinburgh city centre) and Inverness, so it’s either FlixBus or Citylink for coach options.

 

[route101]

Talk about a power trip.

The person was certainly in that mood. Certainly notice this with some of the Scottish Crews. I think they have deal with all the problems on the overnight runs, that makes them act like this. I noticed every person boarding got a lecture on the rules.

 

[Stan Drews]

The person was certainly in that mood. Certainly notice this with some of the Scottish Crews. I think they have deal with all the problems on the overnight runs, that makes them act like this. I noticed every person boarding got a lecture on the rules.

A lecture? …or simply told what was expected, so that everyone could hopefully enjoy a pleasant journey?

 

[LUYMun]

A lecture? …or simply told what was expected, so that everyone could hopefully enjoy a pleasant journey?

No idea in what tone the driver could've spoken with, but if going by route101's words then that would be off-putting for passengers and quite petty on her part. Loudspeakers understandably, but bags on seats for a long-distance route with few picks-up and exposed food which may only linger for a short while? She definitely sounded she was on a power trip.

 

[henryb]

A few cancellations on the 045 and 049 today… seems First are more willing to throw in the towel in the event of delays compared to Berry’s. They would always push through the disruption, but only 1 1/4 delay cancelled the 045 at Bristol ex Plymouth and the entire 049 from London to Falmouth this evening has gone… not the best look for the new service

 

[RS465]

When I see the new 066 service around Stratford, it’s not doing particularly well. Most buses are pretty empty and the service isn’t being well advertised. I think it will be withdrawn sooner rather than later.

 

[henryb]

When I see the new 066 service around Stratford, it’s not doing particularly well. Most buses are pretty empty and the service isn’t being well advertised. I think it will be withdrawn sooner rather than later.

Do Cozy’s operate anything else?

 

[route101]

When I see the new 066 service around Stratford, it’s not doing particularly well. Most buses are pretty empty and the service isn’t being well advertised. I think it will be withdrawn sooner rather than later.

Flixbus don't seem to do specific advertising for routes.

I am planning to do this route at some point.

 

[markymark2000]

When I see the new 066 service around Stratford, it’s not doing particularly well. Most buses are pretty empty and the service isn’t being well advertised. I think it will be withdrawn sooner rather than later.

The advertising is awful. This would have been a great opportunity to advertise an East London to Gatwick link (save people going into Central London) but instead it's just been dire. Sadly it's the way of Flixbus. They dig their own grave in some areas.

Do Cozy’s operate anything else?

They also operate the 006 Cambridge to London Greenline