Flixbus Discussion

[Butts]

Well there was no one in our seats when we boarded for our trip to Inverness - 1C/1D.

I glanced enviously down the coach and observed a set of seats with a huge expanse of floorspace in front of them-disabled area? Can you book these and what row are they.

It was a Volvo Coach operated by McGills.

The seats didn't seem to have more legroom than others and as correctly predicted the view was obscured by the drivers sun blind.

It was not a pleasant experience with the seats being uncomfortable for a long journey - not sure if this was attributable to the make of coach.

 

[markymark2000]

Strange it runs to Swindon. Cambridge to Heathrow/Luton I can understand.

When I first saw this route, I thought it was going via Oxford!

I am a bit bemused by it to. The only thing I can think of is they have see the Swindon to Heathrow demand on the 044 Gloucester service and this is one way to do it.

I think it'll be interesting to see what demand there is at Luton. Will passengers be happy using the DART to/from the airport rather than having the bus stop at the terminal entrance? Will the people of Luton use a coach if they have to travel out to Parkway station for it?

 

[henryb]

I used one Flixbus service and everyone was sat at the back, front half was empty. No one moved for more space.

I recall on the McGills Merc coaches when Flixbus first launched in Scotland, every second row as unreserved. I believe now everyone is allocated a seat.

All it takes on a busy service is a few people to move and it causes confusion. Some people just plonk themselves wherever. Even booking the seat next to you, you will still get people sitting next to you.

Prefer no seat reservations.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==


Strange it runs to Swindon. Cambridge to Heathrow/Luton I can understand.

When I first saw this route, I thought it was going via Oxford!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==


Yes, on the long distance services to Inverness, Fort William and Aberdeen. Perhaps more ticket flexibility on the railway.

Runs to Swindon for drivers hours, and wouldn’t be able to lay over in Heathrow. I would have thought Reading would be a better connection location for Cambridge over Swindon so feels like an odd choice.

 

[extendedpaul]

Flixbus seem to be steadily building up passenger numbers despite that reservation system. Maybe some unattached people like to meet and greet a stranger on a coach journey, it could even lead to a lifelong friendship or more.

I'll stick with National Express though.

 

[route101]

Well there was no one in our seats when we boarded for our trip to Inverness - 1C/1D.

I glanced enviously down the coach and observed a set of seats with a huge expanse of floorspace in front of them-disabled area? Can you book these and what row are they.

It was a Volvo Coach operated by McGills.

The seats didn't seem to have more legroom than others and as correctly predicted the view was obscured by the drivers sun blind.

It was not a pleasant experience with the seats being uncomfortable for a long journey - not sure if this was attributable to the make of coach.

The legroom on the Yutongs is pretty tight. My legs touch the seat in front and I'm well under 6ft.

 

[318266]

The legroom on the Yutongs is pretty tight. My legs touch the seat in front and I'm well under 6ft.

I'm 5'7" and tend to think it's designed for me!

 

[Butts]

Completed my return journey from Inverness to Edinburgh Airport this afternoon.

Got our seats okay 1A / 1B - arrived on time and the driver was excellent - we stopped for a smoke break in Peth.

The A9 not being dualled certainly adds to the journey time which was about 3 hours 40 minutes.

Even though for me it's free it's just to slow and uncomfortable.

Put it into perspective at Edinburgh Airport my jumps on a plane and is in Birmingham less than an hour later.

 

[johncrossley]

The A9 not being dualled certainly adds to the journey time which was about 3 hours 40 minutes.

It does Inverness to Perth in about 2 and a half hours. That is roughly 110 miles, comparable to London to Birmingham, which usually takes over 3 hours by coach. Train from Inverness to Perth takes about 2 hours 10 minutes.

 

[Butts]

It does Inverness to Perth in about 2 and a half hours. That is roughly 110 miles, comparable to London to Birmingham, which usually takes over 3 hours by coach. Train from Inverness to Perth takes about 2 hours 10 minutes.

With Dual Carriageway all the way would be quicker than the Train - indeed arguably should be Motorway all the way.

In my opinion it's just a horrible way to travel long distance - perhaps it was the diddy Volvo Coach ?

 

[johncrossley]

With Dual Carriageway all the way would be quicker than the Train - indeed arguably should be Motorway all the way.

In my opinion it's just a horrible way to travel long distance - perhaps it was the diddy Volvo Coach ?

Even if you justify a motorway (which is doubtful given the population levels in this region) it wouldn't make that much difference to the attractiveness of coach services on this route, whether Flixbus, Citylink or National Express.

 

[Butts]

I can't believe the volume of traffic justifies a motorway. Inverness has less than 50,000 population. You don't even get a motorway going to Norwich or Plymouth, much bigger places. Norwich only recently got a dual carriageway.

You probably can't justify the Sleeper Service to Inverness but that exists

 

[JonathanH]

You probably can't justify the Sleeper Service to Inverness but that exists

The problem with a motorway is that it comes with restrictions on what traffic can use it. Far better to have a trunk road where there is only one serious option for that route. Dual carriageway A road all the way to Inverness is sufficient for the coach to be the quickest way of making the journey to the central belt.

 

[johncrossley]

The coach is already pretty competitive with the train even on the existing Scottish road network. Taking my London to Birmingham example again, the fastest train takes less than half the time of the coach.

 

[computerSaysNo]

The A9 not being dualled certainly adds to the journey time which was about 3 hours 40 minutes.

And how much extra traffic would be using the road if it was dual carriageway all the way? I've no doubt some people would switch from using the train to driving, so that would add to congestion at Inverness and Perth at least.

Put it into perspective at Edinburgh Airport my jumps on a plane and is in Birmingham less than an hour later.

Okay - and how much more pollution is caused by the plane? Significantly more by mass but also the effect it has is worse as it's being released at altitude.
What are you trying to compare here? Are you suggesting there should be flights from Inverness to Edinburgh?

 

[Butts]

And how much extra traffic would be using the road if it was dual carriageway all the way? I've no doubt some people would switch from using the train to driving, so that would add to congestion at Inverness and Perth at least.

Okay - and how much more pollution is caused by the plane? Significantly more by mass but also the effect it has is worse as it's being released at altitude.
What are you trying to compare here? Are you suggesting there should be flights from Inverness to Edinburgh?

There are Flights between Edinburgh and Inverness

 

[route101]

There are Flights between Edinburgh and Inverness

Not for a while. Flybe/Loganair did.

Glasgow/Edinburgh - Inverness/Aberdeen on the coach is pretty good timewise compared with the train.

 

[Butts]

Not for a while. Flybe/Loganair did.

Glasgow/Edinburgh - Inverness/Aberdeen on the coach is pretty good timewise compared with the train.

My mistake - bloody AI !!! - sorry.

The elephant in the room regarding Flixbus seems to be the level of comfort - do others find it acceptable or have I been unlucky with the diddy Volvo Coaches ?

Also in January I am travelling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on Greyhound which is operated by Flixbus.

Please tell me it will not be the same vehicle as Edinburgh to Inverness - Got Front Row for the three of us.

 

[nick291]

My mistake - bloody AI !!! - sorry.

The elephant in the room regarding Flixbus seems to be the level of comfort - do others find it acceptable or have I been unlucky with the diddy Volvo Coaches ?

Also in January I am travelling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas on Greyhound which is operated by Flixbus.

Please tell me it will not be the same vehicle as Edinburgh to Inverness - Got Front Row for the three of us.

In America the vehicles are wholly different to the UK, most, if not all coach buses in the US have split winscreens. If it's an MCI I feel bad for you, last one I rode the seats were rock hard, guess you'll find out on the day.

 

[Butts]

In America the vehicles are wholly different to the UK, most, if not all coach buses in the US have split winscreens. If it's an MCI I feel bad for you, last one I rode the seats were rock hard, guess you'll find out on the day.

Bejesus - was going to get a Train but there isn't one on the day we are travelling at least not all the way and combo journey is 11 hours odd.

Kids will never forgive me if it's some old banger - that will make Edinburgh to Inverness seem like a Pullman Service.

 

[gingerheid]

New 990 has now appeared too. Cambridge to Swindon via Trumpington, Luton Airport Parkway (or as Flix are calling it, Luton DART Parkway), and Heathrow Airport. Two trips per day each way. Starting 3rd November.

Trips bookable via Flixbus website now.

Interestingly, the bustimes data for it suggests there was an idea of it going to Southampton at some point!

 

[markymark2000]

Interestingly, the bustimes data for it suggests there was an idea of it going to Southampton at some point!

Flix has never been very good with their open data and they have had a good few routes show similar incorrect or 'planned' descriptions.

 

[Martin1988]

Used Flixbus for a journey between Stoke and Birmingham yesterday afternoon. I'd paid for a front seat but upon boarding the driver told me the front seats were unavailable. Two were belted off and the other two were being used for the driver's bags.

I questioned why Flixbus were allowing passengers to book front seats if they're not available for passengers and was told "nothing to do with me, contact Flixbus and get a refund"! After this I think I'll be very careful about paying for front seats again.

Alongside this, I've found that traveling between Stoke and Bristol with Flixbus requires a wait of over 2 hours in Birmingham (coach from Stoke arrives at around 1435 and then coach to Bristol goes out at about 1650) so to avoid this I opted to use NX for the second part of yesterday's journey but its quite a long trek between the Flixbus stop and Digbeth Coach Station and depending on the route it seems to require walking through The Bull Ring and using the lifts, escalators or stairs.

I do sometimes wish NX and Flixbus would just join forces and run a more integrated network as I feel this would provide much more flexibility for passengers.

 

[Wolfie]

Used Flixbus for a journey between Stoke and Birmingham yesterday afternoon. I'd paid for a front seat but upon boarding the driver told me the front seats were unavailable. Two were belted off and the other two were being used for the driver's bags.

I questioned why Flixbus were allowing passengers to book front seats if they're not available for passengers and was told "nothing to do with me, contact Flixbus and get a refund"! After this I think I'll be very careful about paying for front seats again.

Alongside this, I've found that traveling between Stoke and Bristol with Flixbus requires a wait of over 2 hours in Birmingham (coach from Stoke arrives at around 1435 and then coach to Bristol goes out at about 1650) so to avoid this I opted to use NX for the second part of yesterday's journey but its quite a long trek between the Flixbus stop and Digbeth Coach Station and depending on the route it seems to require walking through The Bull Ring and using the lifts, escalators or stairs.

I do sometimes wish NX and Flixbus would just join forces and run a more integrated network as I feel this would provide much more flexibility for passengers.

Re your last para it's never going to happen. The competition authorities would have a fit about what would effectively be a coach cartel. If permitted it would inevitably lead to less consumer choice and higher prices.

 

[Butts]

Has anyone any experience of Flixbus in the USA ?
Got a ride booked in January from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for me and kids.

Reviews seem to be mainly negative - booked through Greyhound but ended up with Flix.

 

[signed]

Reviews seem to be mainly negative - booked through Greyhound but ended up with Flix.

Greyhound has been aquired by Flixbus a few years back, and I believe looking at trip reports on YouTube (so taken with a pinch of salt), that it's still the same greyhound

 

[nick291]

Has anyone any experience of Flixbus in the USA ?
Got a ride booked in January from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for me and kids.

Reviews seem to be mainly negative - booked through Greyhound but ended up with Flix.

The one and only time I used Flixbus USA it was 30 minutes late into Charlotte NC, the driver was kind of rude but the journey itself was fine. Vehicle was an own liveried one of a company based down in Georgia. Arrived into Washington DC relatively on time, maybe 5 minutes late at most. As much as the actual operations suck in terms of late running, it's a good way to see the US! Still find it Ironic that Flixbus bought Greyhound from First and now First are a UK contractor for Flix.

 

[Rab Smith]

I can't believe the volume of traffic justifies a motorway. Inverness has less than 50,000 population. You don't even get a motorway going to Norwich or Plymouth, much bigger places. Norwich only recently got a dual carriageway.

Inverness might only have a population circa 50,000 but the A9 is the main route to the Highlands and parts of Moray area. Add the tourists who come North then dualling the A9 is more than justified.
Making it a motorway though would be a bit far off the mark.

 

[InOban]

It isn't justified. There are other roads which are more urgently in need of major improvement but can't get it because the available money is tied up with the A9. Eg the A83.

 

[Butts]

It isn't justified. There are other roads which are more urgently in need of major improvement but can't get it because the available money is tied up with the A9. Eg the A83.

In 2007 the SNP said it would be completed this year - where did it all go wrong?

 

[David M]

In 2007 the SNP said it would be completed this year - where did it all go wrong?

The opposition parties demanded Edinburgh trams instead.