This Company Adds an Affordable Travel Option to the Low-Fare Bus Landscape

Imagine traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for about the price of a Starbucks Venti latte.

That is what FlixBus, a European bus company coming to the United States, is offering travelers.

FlixBus’ signature green buses will hit the roads May 31, although customers are able to book trips now. Routes are concentrated along the West Coast and Southwest, with departures from about two dozen cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Diego.

According to the company, FlixBus hopes to expand to offer more than 1,000 connections by the end of 2018.

With fares as low as $2.99, FlixBus seems to rival other economy bus companies like Megabus and BoltBus. Adding a $2 service fee still puts the lowest total under $5.

A representative from FlixBus told The Penny Hoarder the company will begin offering 99-cent fares starting May 24. The highest price I came across while searching various routes and travel dates was $34.98 for a one-way trip from L.A. to Vegas.

One reason FlixBus is able to keep its fares low may be that the company doesn’t own the buses in its fleet. Instead, the buses are owned and operated by six regional bus partners, and FlixBus manages the ticketing, marketing, technology and customer service.

Passengers are allowed to travel with one carry-on bag under 25 pounds and one piece of luggage under 50 pounds at no cost. An additional bag costs $10.

Passengers also can opt to select their own seats with prices starting at $1.49. FlixBus says each seat has spacious legroom, free Wi-Fi and power outlets.

Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.