Flixbus - Any thoughts?

A snowHead

Anyone used Flixbus to get from resort to Airport? I see the go from La Plagne to Geneva airport and was wondering if anyone had used them as their online reviews are pretty terrible (but going on the theory that good experiences don't often get reviewed) Thanks

A snowHead

We’ve used them a handful of times - maybe more - between Chamonix and GVA and never had any problems.

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Thanks, good to know.

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don't know about overseas but use them regularly in the UK and find them to be of a high standard. They seem to have more services on different routes as opposed to say National Express, have modern coaches with toilets / air con and often cheaper tickets

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Used them in the UK this week and was really impressed.

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Often use them to get from Geneva airport to St Gervais (or vice versa). In this case we change at Sallanches for the town bus service, the Flixbus continues to Chamonix.

They always worked.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

My daughter has used them a few times from London to Nottingham and says they are fine and her tickets have been under £10!

After all it is free

My daughter also used it to get from geneva airport to St Gervais la Fayet and Sallanches and they were fine

@trmacc, what do the reviews say? I've not had an issue except some of the journey times seem to be optimistic. The busses catch fire and break down occasionally but that probably goes for all busses.

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If you're taking skis, double check there's space to book additional/special luggage. I didn't for a trip between Innsbruck and Aosta next weekend, and i've had to cancel and receive a voucher (minus a fee) and go by train instead.

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Any recent experience with Flixbus?
Thinking of booking Arc 2000 to Geneva in March but their reviews aren't great.
We've used Bens Bus in the past and they've been great but the timings don't really work for our return flight.

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Use them fairly regularly between Aosta and Geneva, including as recently as yesterday, and occasionally to Milan, and never had any problems. A recent trip which left Aosta at 01.45 was on time and fine, and trips via Martigny when the Mont Blanc Tunnel has been closed were problem free, though longer, obviously. Have occasionally had to rebook, including yesterday because of an EES related delay at Geneva Airport, and it has always worked fine.

@Kenski, Thanks that's reassuring. I think I'll go ahead and book.

You know it makes sense.

Used them in the Czech Republic. No issues at all. On time, cheap, clean, wifi.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Used them for several Geneva - Courmayeur trips, timings usually link well with the free bus to Pre St Didier & La Thuile.
They’re cheap, reliable, clean, have a decent app where you can track your bus and take ski bags. Be aware that you have to pay for ski bags as outsize luggage, the drivers will check your booking. Saw a guy trying to chance it and get caught out on our last trip.

A snowHead

i had never thought about flixbus for airport transfers, thought they were only for using between European cities, though i did see a couple of them at Moutier's train station in December, but didn't put 2 and 2 together Very Happy

out of interest, I just looked up a sample timetable for Geneva to Val Thorens for a couple of Saturdays time (currently i have no need to use them this season)

they seem to have lots more buses departing Geneva, at least every hour, (sometimes 2 to 3 buses departing at the same time, but different arrival times) and at some times during the day every half hour, with a similar price to bens bus, whereas it seems like there could be a two hour gap between bens buses.

though ski bag is an extra £10 where bens bus is £4.

also, unlike bens bus, they operate every day of the week, compared to weekends only.

certainly something to think about in future if planning a solo trip, when trying to keep the costs down

A snowHead

Thanks for all the speedy replies.
When I did a final comparison before booking, another bus had appeared on BensBus which matched our return flight so we've gone with them again this time.

Interesting that Flixbus have so many buses, every hour Geneva to Arc £2000. Cost wise they're a bit dearer than Ben's. 4 people plus 1 ski bag £384 with Ben's against £473 with Flixbus.

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If you look on the details page on Flixbus, not all the busses are operated by them directly, they also sell tickets for other operators - from Geneva that includes operators like Alpine Fleet and Alpy Bus.

I have used Alpine Fleet a few times in the last couple of years, as they have been a bit cheaper than Bens Bus and seem to have a lot more busses running. In reality, they don't and then consolidate passengers onto busses. Not been an issue leaving frm Geneva (on busy Saturdays when its chaos anyway and the busses are never exactly on time!), but leaving resort back to the airport have had the pickup time moved up to 2 and a half hours earlier than stated/booked. This has happened to me a couple of times, leading to a couple of very early (4am!) pickups and then long waits at Geneva before my flight. When it has happened has not been due to traffic or weather, so can only concieve its moving people spread over 2 or 3 busses onto 1 to fill it up and save on the running costs.

But they are cheap and have got me to resort, and back to the airport. However, if Bens Bus had busses that suited my travel plans I would probably now pay that bit extra as they do, in my experience, stick a lot mroe to the times stated, and the busses listed for sale are actual busses that are going to operate.

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Appreciate the review of Alpine Fleet @jonnyboy93, thank you. Looking at the Flixbus website, Alpine Fleet seem to operate from Geneva Airport on more days of the week than Ben's do, but good to be forewarned that they consolidate passengers and timings may well change.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Further to my previous reply I should point out that I’m talking about Geneva city, rather than the airport, as there are many more services there. The bus station is a very straightforward 5 minute walk to Cornavin station where there is a frequent train service out to the airport (3CHF), which takes about 7 minutes. There is also a bus service but I’ve never used it.

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Be aware that on the airport runs, they can bring forward the dep times to ensure they arrive on time if heavy snow is forecast.
This happened to me with the Moutiers to Lyon airport route run by Alpine fleet. I had booked their 10am bus, but the day before I got an email saying it had been brought forward to 8.50am.
This wrecked my plans to get down in time from Arc 2000, and instead I had to stay overnight in Bourg to ensure getting the bus.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@WD40, The forecast heavy snow wrecked your plans not flixbus!

After all it is free

I've got a booking on a (now full) bens bus in a few weeks, Geneva > Val thorens. during the process it didn't mention booking extra baggage, skis etc as far as I can see, and I can't see anywhere to add this on the edit booking page, I'll have a hold-all and single set of skis in hard case to put in the bus "hold" will this be an issue or will they just throw them in? I'm happy to pay for them but can't see anywhere to actually do so! Anyone have any suggestions?

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is the extra baggage thing a relatively new thing with bens bus?

i have not used them for a few years, last time was first season after covid, but do not remember having to pay extra for my roller ski bag Puzzled

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snow reports

Been through and can't see this, possibly as it's booked through the UCPA initially?

Junior booked a GVA to Tignes return transfer with them. It was a private operator that just used Flixbus for the booking.
The transfer to Tignes was fine, but the return got moved from a non-stop 4am start to a 1:30am start that was a number of different buses. He wasn't impressed.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

We had a trip to Tignes in December and booked Bens Bus for transfers. Easyjet cancelled our ourward journey with only 8 hours notice. We had to travel the following day - a Monday- so no Bens Bus. We booked Flixbus last minute which was operated by Alpybus. It was all fine including our ski bags, and cheaper than Bens Bus. We would book them again as we often want to travel mid-week.

A snowHead

Journalist for The Times tried it out - their report on their £68 journey to the Alps here
https://www.thetimes.com/travel/inspiration/ski-holiday/new-overnight-flixbus-to-the-french-alps-r3pkvq3bq

A snowHead

Just thought I'd look into this to see if it was that much of a saving compared to a private transfer. Return to La Rosiere (assume Les Arc/La Plagne would be similar distance) is around £75pp leaving at set times starting at 10am and doesn't seem to flex regardless of day of the week/half term. A private transfer is roughly £100pp return (for the distances mentioned above), but will pick you up when your flight arrives, with no waiting for others (potentially on different flights) and you have the comfort travelling in a smaller vehicle and the likelihood of a quicker transfer time. Private transfer wins hands down for me and I dont mind paying the extra £25.

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Flixbus - Any thoughts?

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