What Is FlixBus? Is it Legit?

In the last decade, FlixBus has become a go-to long-distance bus company across Europe. It’s become an internationally recognized travel brand providing passengers with a convenient, inexpensive, eco-friendly bus and rail experience.

Here is what you need to know about FlixBus, how to book a ticket and how much it costs.

FlixBus is a European intercity transport operator based in Munich. The company was founded by three entrepreneurs with a goal of making travel affordable and convenient, and a sustainable alternative to private transport.

FlixBus claims to apply high environmental standards to its fleet of buses by using alternative drive and fuel technologies, so saving money goes hand in hand with saving the environment.

With the addition of FlixTrain, the company began offering intermodal travel options. Flix is now the largest long-distance bus network in Europe. It’s now available in more than 40 countries in Europe, North America, South America and India.

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Yes, FlixBus is available in the U.S. In 2021, Flix acquired Greyhound, the largest intercity bus company in North America, meaning you can book Greyhound buses through the FlixBus site or app for travel across the United States.

In terms of onboard amenities on long-distance buses, FlixBus passengers have access to free Wi-Fi, extra legroom and electricity outlets. Coach buses are also equipped with lavatories. As for luggage allowance, each passenger is allowed one carry-on and one checked bag that goes in the storage compartment under the bus.

FlixBus provides an easy-to-use digital booking platform. You can start booking your FlixBus ticket on the website or on the app.

Numerous cities in Europe are connected by FlixBus, so you should have no problem finding a bus on your preferred route.

Say you want to travel from Zagreb, Croatia, to Split, Croatia. You’d start your search by selecting a one-way or a round-trip journey, departure and destination cities, departure date and number of passengers. Once every field is filled out, click “Search.”

Bus departures are listed in chronological order, but you can re-sort them by lowest price, shortest duration or back by the earliest departure.

You can also toggle the departure and arrival time sliders to narrow down your search. This works well if you’re trying to be somewhere on a certain schedule. For example, you have tickets to a sporting event in the arrival city or need to be at an airport for a flight.

Among the results, the tickets with the lowest price and the fastest trip will be indicated in green. In some cases, the same bus departure can be both the least expensive and will get you to your destination the quickest.

Once you choose your departure time, fill out passenger information and complete your purchase by clicking on the “Pay now” button.

Once your ticket is reserved, you’ll receive a PDF confirmation with a QR code that you can use to board a bus. You don’t have to print your FlixBus ticket — a digital version will do.

As with all things travel, FlixBus prices vary based on demand and route. Bus tickets start at just 5 euros ($5.50) and go up from there. U.S. routes start at $4.99. Generally speaking, the earlier you book your ticket, the less you’ll pay.

All transactions charge a flat service fee of $4.49, so if you’re traveling with multiple passengers, it’s best to book all the tickets at once to lower your overall per-ticket cost.

At checkout, you'll also notice an option to pay a little extra to offset your carbon dioxide emissions through Atmosfair, a German nonprofit climate protection organization. These voluntary donations are used to develop renewable energies in developing countries and thus offset the carbon dioxide that fossil fuels would have created in those countries.

The FlixBus luggage allowance is as generous as you’d find on a full-service airline. Each FlixBus ticket includes one piece of hand, or carry-on, luggage and one piece of travel, or hold, luggage.

FlixBus baggage dimensions are as follows:

• Hand luggage: 16 x 12 x 7 inches (42 x 30 x 18 centimeters), weighing up to 15 pounds (7 kilograms).

• Hold luggage: 31 x 20 x 12 inches (80 x 50 x 30 centimeters), weighing up to 44 pounds (20 kilograms).

It’s worth noting that there may be exceptions to the policy, depending on the route.

If you have excess or bulky baggage, you can pay extra for additional luggage either at booking or by managing your reservation after completing the booking process.

FlixBus claims to provide maximum flexibility at the lowest price. If your plans change, you can cancel your ticket or rebook for a different departure date or time. If your new ticket is more expensive, you’ll have to cover the difference. If it’s less expensive, you’ll receive a voucher for the price difference.

Fees apply to both changes and cancellations. They are based on when you make a modification.

You can cancel your FlixBus ticket as late as 15 minutes before departure for a partial refund. Excess baggage and seat selection fees are 100% refundable, but note that the service fees aren’t.

Yes, FlixBus is a legitimate transport company that provides a great option for affordable travel, especially in Europe. Its user-friendly website is easy to navigate, and sustainability efforts are noteworthy. If FlixBus covers your route, there’s no harm in taking a ride and trying it for yourself.