Riding Flixbus: Tips for riding Europe’s largest budget bus service
Although traveling by train is a convenient and comfy option in Europe, tickets can be pricey if you don’t plan in advance. These days, price-minded European travelers often hop on the lean budget traveling machine: Flixbus.
Founded in 2013 by three young entrepreneurs in Germany, Flixbus is a low-cost bus service (“coach” in Europe), whose initial mission was to provide a “reliable and green alternative” to carpooling and the Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s train system. However, the business quickly took off. In 2015, Flixbus expanded into the international market. Then in 2018, Flixbus acquired Megabus to add even more routes than ever before. Today, Flixbus travels to more than 2,000 destinations, offering more than 300,000 daily connections Europe-wide.
And prices are cheap: in some cases, less than €10 one way. The buses offer comfy seats, free Wi-Fi with plugs for your devices and an on-board bathroom. Although in most cases Flixbus doesn’t make any unnecessary stops, you can buy low-priced snacks and drinks on the bus.
The bus service also offers eco-conscious travelers the chance to help compensate for their carbon footprint. To help offset their individual CO2 emissions, travelers can opt to add 1-3% on top of their ticket price, which Flixbus donates to an internationally certified climate project.
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Tips for riding (and saving on) Flixbus
Below we’ve gathered some tips for hitching a ride on Flixbus, as well as some ideas on how to save.
1. Book your ticket as early as possible
You can book Flixbus tickets about four to six weeks before your departure date. To do so, visit Flixbus’s website or download their app.
Important: Prices go up the closer you get to the travel date, so to secure the best deals, we recommend booking as far in advance as possible. For most destinations, you have a wide range of options for departure times, and some long-distance journeys also offer a night bus where you can snooze as you go.
Related: Germany’s discount bus craze: How to score a €1 fare
2. Cancel or change your ticket through their website
If you need to make any changes or cancellations, it’s generally not a problem. Just go to Flixbus’s “change/cancel booking” section on their app or website and make the changes up to 15 minutes before departure. A cancellation fee of €1 will be charged per passenger and trip. And if you book a new trip with a higher ticket price, you will have to pay the difference.
Arrive at least 15 minutes early for a ride on Flixbus. Photo: MP
3. Board the bus with the right docs
On the day of your trip, Flixbus recommends you arrive at the designated station 15 minutes before departure. To board the bus, you need to show either a printed version or QR code of your booking confirmation. If your trip takes you across country borders, be sure you have all relevant documents with you, such as your passport or visa, as needed.
4. “Open Tickets” can save the day
If your bus is delayed or the trip has been canceled, don’t despair. It still may be possible to travel to your destination on an “Open Ticket.” All you need to do is hand your booking confirmation to another bus driver headed to your destination. Once you have done so, they will scan your ticket and re-book you if a free seat is available.
Please note there is no guarantee here. If no seats are available on the other bus or too many passengers wish to re-book, you might not get a spot. The Open Ticket can also only be used for direct connections, not trips where you’re required to transfer at another location.
5. Know the baggage policy
As far as baggage goes, for each bus ride, you are allowed one small carry-on and two pieces of luggage marked with your name and address. The carry-on should contain all your valuables and be no larger than 16.5 x 12 x 7 inches and weigh no more than 15 pounds. Normal luggage should be no larger than 26 x19.5 x 10.5 inches and each passenger is limited to 66 pounds of luggage in total.
Extra luggage: If you need to book extra luggage, you can do so for a fee of €5, provided you contact customer service at least 48 hours in advance and the bag weighs no more than 33 pounds.
Please note this does not include on-board baggage, which is always limited to one carry on. If you need to bring bulky baggage, such as ski equipment, musical instruments or bicycles, you can do so for an added fee of €9. Again, to arrange this, you need to get in touch with customer service at least 48 hours in advance. Learn more about the baggage policies on the Flixbus website.
6. Save even more with group discounts
If you’re traveling with others, Flixbus offers a group discount on their regular service for groups between 3 to 40 people. You can add on the group discount during the booking process as long as you book at least one day in advance. If you’d like a bit more flexibility or wish to travel in a group to destinations not normally covered by Flixbus’s normal schedule, it is possible to charter your own bus at charter.flixbus.com.
7. Riding with kids or limited mobility travelers
Children and minors (15 and under) travel at a reduced ticket price. If you’re traveling with a child aged three and under, you must bring a car seat along which can be secured by a two-point seatbelt provided on the bus. Children and minors between 10 and 14 can travel alone if they have written permission from a legal guardian, and as long as they do not cross any international borders. Adolescents 15 and above are free to travel alone with Flixbus, but be sure they have all necessary documents if they’re crossing into different countries.
To arrange travel for passengers with disabilities or limited mobility, contact Flixbus customer service two weeks at the earliest or seven days at the latest before the date of the trip.
A few last-minute notes about Flixbus
Although Flixbus is definitely an amazing travel option for travelers on a shoestring budget, the company has seen its share of controversy. The media has occasionally covered stories of Flixbus’s “unfillable contracts with sub-contractors” which has led to both “excessive working hours for drivers and low salaries.” However, official inspections have appeared to disproved this claim, demonstrating that the working conditions are better than previously assumed.
But recently there has been speculation that Flixbus’s rock bottom prices might soon be a thing of the past. When Flixbus acquired Postbus in 2016, they gained around 80% of the German long-distance bus market, creating more or less a monopoly, which the media has criticized. Because they now have far less competition, Flixbus’s prices could well go up in the future. Our advice? Book now and enjoy the cheapest deals while they last.
Looking for more ways to travel for cheap in Europe? Use CheapoSearch to find affordable flights and car rentals.
Your tips for riding Flixbus
Have you taken a ride on a Flixbus? Tell us about your experience and share your tips for a smooth ride in our comments section below, and thanks!
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