Flixbus Discussion

[Class 33]

Update to my previous posting. I thought FlixBus journeys are non-refundable. But luckily I discovered this morning, that if you cancel you then get given a credit voucher code for the value of your booking to redeem against a future booking. So I cancelled my booking(due to later being allocated an aisle seat!), booked again including booking the seat next to me, and redeemed the credit voucher. I'll probably do the same for my journey back again even though I've been allocated a window seat. It would make for much more comfortable journeys that I'm guaranteed to have two seats to myself for both journeys.

The only possible problems though are:

Possible conflicts with people attempting to sit in the reserved seats next to me, and having to explain or even argue that I've reserved those seats. So I hope these seats are properly marked as reserved!

And the chance that the window seats I've booked for, being seats that don't line up with the windows properly and only having about half or a quarter window view! Hopefully this doesn't happen for me. Anyone got any tips as to which seats on the FlixBus coaches used on the continental services from/to London, don't have much of a window view?

 

[johncrossley]

Update to my previous posting. I thought FlixBus journeys are non-refundable. But luckily I discovered this morning, that if you cancel you then get given a credit voucher code for the value of your booking to redeem against a future booking.

But there is a cancellation fee, depending on how long in advance you cancel. The cancellation fees vary by currency. If you book in Czech Crowns or Polish Zloty, there is no cancellation fee

Cancellation Policy overview | FlixBus

Change of plans? No problem! With Flix, you can cancel your ticket and always get a full or partial refund. Here is an overview of our cancellation policy.

www.flixbus.co.uk

(top row shows days in advance of cancellation)

Currency	Code	>=30	14-29	>=3, <14	less than 3
Euro	EUR	0	1	3	5
US Dollar	USD	0	1	3	5
Swiss Franc	CHF	0	1	4	7
Czech Crown	CZK	0	0	0	0
Hungarian Forint	HUF	0	300	900	1500
Norwegian Crown	NOK	0	10	35	60
Swedish Crown	SEK	0	10	35	60
Bulgarian Lev	BGN	0	2	6	10
Romanian Leu	RON	0	5	15	24
British Pound	GBP	0	1	3	5
Polish Zloty	PLN	0	0	0	0
Croatian Kuna	HRK	0	7.53	22.60	37.67
Danish Crown	DKK	0	10	20	35
Serbian Dinar	RSD	0	100	350	550
Bosnian/Herzegovinian Konvertible Mark	BAM	0	2	6	10
Albanian Lek	ALL	0	125	385	635
Ukrainian Hrywnja	UAH	0	20	70	100
Macedonian Denar	MKD	0	60	185	300
Turkish Lira*	TRY	0	8	26	44
Canadian Dollar	CAD	0	1	4	6

 

[Class 33]

Only got charged a £1 cancellation fee. Only worked out at £9.49 extra to rebook again with two seats booked for myself. So not too bad after all that.

 

[route101]

Only got charged a £1 cancellation fee. Only worked out at £9.49 extra to rebook again with two seats booked for myself. So not too bad after all that.

Hope you have no problems with the extra seat and someone trying to occupy.

 

[317 forever]

As I knew a few weeks ago I was going to Leicester on Friday night and was concerned in case there would be train strikes, I booked Flixbus from Manchester (Shude Hill) to Leicester (Fosse Park) out Friday 11am and back Saturday 8.30pm.

On Friday morning I received notification that the return leg on Saturday was cancelled, and offered the choice of a voucher or refund. Being such short notice it was hard to think up the best alternative in a hurry. Thankfully the trains were running after all. I was thus able to book train tickets home.

Travelling via Uttoxeter I had the choice of around £28 Advance or £34 Off-peak splitting my ticket there. I chose the flexible fare in view of the inevitable relatively narrow difference at this late stage.

Anyway, it was such short notice without even a night to sleep on the news. Had they given me a night's notice, I may well have booked by train both ways. For good measure, they made no promise that I could have a full refund on the outbound leg, as this journey was still running.

There are 2 ways in which this could have been worse. Firstly, they did let me know by email and text. So, it's not like I did not know in advance that my coach home was cancelled. Secondly, this happened on a day the trains were running after all.

The coach driver was wearing a scruffy T-shirt and never apologised for arriving at Manchester 15 minutes late, leaving 25 minutes late, or arriving at Leicester 90 minutes late.

I do accept that I made 1 notable error of judgement. I was foolish to presume the trains would be on strike. I wish I had looked up availability for October 28th/29th, also for 2 weeks ahead of the date of my enquiry to gauge potential availability if a rail strike was confirmed, and merely kept it in mind as a fall-back option.

The final insults are that all told it proved more expensive than Heaton Chapel - Uttoxeter - Leicester Off-peak Returns on the trains and ... wait for it ... they sent me an email asking me to comment on how I found the service !!!!!

 

[WizCastro197]

As I knew a few weeks ago I was going to Leicester on Friday night and was concerned in case there would be train strikes, I booked Flixbus from Manchester (Shude Hill) to Leicester (Fosse Park) out Friday 11am and back Saturday 8.30pm.

On Friday morning I received notification that the return leg on Saturday was cancelled, and offered the choice of a voucher or refund. Being such short notice it was hard to think up the best alternative in a hurry. Thankfully the trains were running after all. I was thus able to book train tickets home.

Travelling via Uttoxeter I had the choice of around £28 Advance or £34 Off-peak splitting my ticket there. I chose the flexible fare in view of the inevitable relatively narrow difference at this late stage.

Anyway, it was such short notice without even a night to sleep on the news. Had they given me a night's notice, I may well have booked by train both ways. For good measure, they made no promise that I could have a full refund on the outbound leg, as this journey was still running.

There are 2 ways in which this could have been worse. Firstly, they did let me know by email and text. So, it's not like I did not know in advance that my coach home was cancelled. Secondly, this happened on a day the trains were running after all.

The coach driver was wearing a scruffy T-shirt and never apologised for arriving at Manchester 15 minutes late, leaving 25 minutes late, or arriving at Leicester 90 minutes late.

I do accept that I made 1 notable error of judgement. I was foolish to presume the trains would be on strike. I wish I had looked up availability for October 28th/29th, also for 2 weeks ahead of the date of my enquiry to gauge potential availability if a rail strike was confirmed, and merely kept it in mind as a fall-back option.

The final insults are that all told it proved more expensive than Heaton Chapel - Uttoxeter - Leicester Off-peak Returns on the trains and ... wait for it ... they sent me an email asking me to comment on how I found the service !!!!!

Not sure why FlixBus don't offer a service to Leicester St Margaret's as Fosse Park is truly awful for onward connections, into the city etc, and at least at St Margarets, there are other bus services and Haymarket Bus station is a short walk away. Perhaps it is a way to save money?

 

[NorthOxonian]

Not sure why FlixBus don't offer a service to Leicester St Margaret's as Fosse Park is truly awful for onward connections, into the city etc, and at least at St Margarets, there are other bus services and Haymarket Bus station is a short walk away. Perhaps it is a way to save money?

It'll be about saving time as much as anything. Fosse Park is pretty much right on the M1, so adds very little time to journeys, whereas going into Leicester would take much longer (and would also be more subject to traffic).

 

[RT4038]

It'll be about saving time as much as anything. Fosse Park is pretty much right on the M1, so adds very little time to journeys, whereas going into Leicester would take much longer (and would also be more subject to traffic).

And time is money. Travelling via St. Margaret's (on a through bus going along the M1) would add 30 minutes to the journey for through passengers (and therefore less competitive). Many coach passengers are likely to be picked/dropped off by friends and relatives in cars, to whom Fosse Park is probably easier than a City Centre location. For those put off travelling because local bus connections are not so good (the few that may be), the lost revenue is just not worth the downsides.

 

[WizCastro197]

And time is money. Travelling via St. Margaret's (on a through bus going along the M1) would add 30 minutes to the journey for through passengers (and therefore less competitive). Many coach passengers are likely to be picked/dropped off by friends and relatives in cars, to whom Fosse Park is probably easier than a City Centre location. For those put off travelling because local bus connections are not so good (the few that may be), the lost revenue is just not worth the downsides.

Using same logic, How come FlixBus don't terminate all buses at Finchey Road, considering travelling to Victoria also adds on an extra half an hour there as well?

 

[MCR247]

Using same logic, How come FlixBus don't terminate all buses at Finchey Road, considering travelling to Victoria also adds on an extra half an hour there as well?

Because as a terminus London is much more worth it than Leicester?

 

[Stan Drews]

Not sure why FlixBus don't offer a service to Leicester St Margaret's as Fosse Park is truly awful for onward connections, into the city etc, and at least at St Margarets, there are other bus services and Haymarket Bus station is a short walk away. Perhaps it is a way to save money?

They do serve St.Margaret’s bus station, but not on all routes/journeys.

 

[RT4038]

Because as a terminus London is much more worth it than Leicester?

Quite. London is a much more important (passenger traffic wise) place than Leicester.

 

[WizCastro197]

They do serve St.Margaret’s bus station, but not on all routes/journeys.

Yes you are correct, those from London sometimes terminate at St Margaret’s and some others, fosse park, I’m saying from a route from Manchester dropping you off at Fosse Park isn’t exactly helpful and other members have hinted upon some picking you up, but what if you are not travelling under that pretence?

 

[Robertj21a]

Yes you are correct, those from London sometimes terminate at St Margaret’s and some others, fosse park, I’m saying from a route from Manchester dropping you off at Fosse Park isn’t exactly helpful and other members have hinted upon some picking you up, but what if you are not travelling under that pretence?

Fosse Park now sees a number of Flixbus services (some just for driver change) as it's so close to the M1/M69.
Bus connections into Leicester centre are easy with 4 different routes.

 

[Mike99]

Also at Fosse Park there is some local off street parking, (no yellow lines) very close, which I found handy, Megabus use the same stop, so if you are a driver you can park. Fosse Park as has been said is a quick slip off of junction 21 of the M1 serve the stop and then rejoin the M1.

 

[Stan Drews]

Yes you are correct, those from London sometimes terminate at St Margaret’s and some others, fosse park, I’m saying from a route from Manchester dropping you off at Fosse Park isn’t exactly helpful and other members have hinted upon some picking you up, but what if you are not travelling under that pretence?

It’s certainly a lot more helpful than not including Leicester at all, which would be the likely alternative.

 

[markymark2000]

Fosse Park is a godawful stop really. It makes sense why operators go there but it's awful for passengers and connections. The stop isn't big enough to handle the amount of buses stopping there. There are no facilities for passengers. No toilets, shelter, displays to inform of delays. Zilch.

Connections, while they may look good on paper, in reality are awful with only the 104 going into Fosse Park. All of the others you have to trek to the dual carriageway. A good 10 min walk if you have to cross over as well.

With the number of coaches which stop there, it's essentially a gateway to Leicester but does nothing to attract people to the area. I brought this up with the county council. They haven't replied and nor has the local county councillor. Clearly they have no intention of improving facilities and wish to ignore the fact (the issue of county borders eh. Fosse Park, gateway to Leicester but under the jurisdiction of Leicestershire Council Council so no incentive to improve the facilities for bus and coach passengers)

 

[Robertj21a]

Fosse Park is a godawful stop really. It makes sense why operators go there but it's awful for passengers and connections. The stop isn't big enough to handle the amount of buses stopping there. There are no facilities for passengers. No toilets, shelter, displays to inform of delays. Zilch.

Connections, while they may look good on paper, in reality are awful with only the 104 going into Fosse Park. All of the others you have to trek to the dual carriageway. A good 10 min walk if you have to cross over as well.

With the number of coaches which stop there, it's essentially a gateway to Leicester but does nothing to attract people to the area. I brought this up with the county council. They haven't replied and nor has the local county councillor. Clearly they have no intention of improving facilities and wish to ignore the fact (the issue of county borders eh. Fosse Park, gateway to Leicester but under the jurisdiction of Leicestershire Council Council so no incentive to improve the facilities for bus and coach passengers)

Fosse Park doesn't come under Leicester, it's part of Blaby. It's still only in fairly recent times that Flixbus and Megabus have used it quite so much.
The 104 and X6 go in to Fosse Park, the 50 and X84 are on the main road (3 min walk).

 

[markymark2000]

Fosse Park doesn't come under Leicester, it's part of Blaby. It's still only in fairly recent times that Flixbus and Megabus have used it quite so much.
The 104 and X6 go in to Fosse Park, the 50 and X84 are on the main road (3 min walk).

Infrequent thought.

The main road, from the coach stop to the 50/X84 out of Leicester and 40 anti clockwise, that is around 5 minutes including crossing over safely. To head into Leicester though or clockwise on the 40, the walk is much longer to do it safely because of the crossings. It's further than you and Google think.

 

[Stan Drews]

Infrequent thought.

The main road, from the coach stop to the 50/X84 out of Leicester and 40 anti clockwise, that is around 5 minutes including crossing over safely. To head into Leicester though or clockwise on the 40, the walk is much longer to do it safely because of the crossings. It's further than you and Google think.

I’m not sure where you think you have to go to catch the local buses that don’t come right into Fosse Park, but it is just round the corner.
You have to cross the dual carriageway for the ‘to city’ direction, but there are signalised crossings next to the stop. Google suggests a fairly generous 7 mins. The ’from city’ stop is about half the distance, as can be seen here.

 

[markymark2000]

You're crossing over 1 signalised crossing, plus the car park exit (no signals, car priority). Plus then the 2 crossings to get over to the correct side of the dual carriageway.

3 separate signalised crossings where you have to, press the button, wait and then cross eventually. This takes time. Plus trying to cross the car park exit, depending on the time of day, crossing this will be interesting as cars don't like giving way to pedestrians.

I put it at around 9 minutes in all. Which rounds nicely to 10 minutes.


Would you believe it, from the coach stop to the 'out of city' stop, Google thinks 4 minutes. that's excluding 1 signalised crossing and crossing the car park exit. which conveniently brings us nicely to 5 minutes.

 

[WizCastro197]

You're crossing over 1 signalised crossing, plus the car park exit (no signals, car priority). Plus then the 2 crossings to get over to the correct side of the dual carriageway.

3 separate signalised crossings where you have to, press the button, wait and then cross eventually. This takes time. Plus trying to cross the car park exit, depending on the time of day, crossing this will be interesting as cars don't like giving way to pedestrians.

I put it at around 9 minutes in all. Which rounds nicely to 10 minutes.


Would you believe it, from the coach stop to the 'out of city' stop, Google thinks 4 minutes. that's excluding 1 signalised crossing and crossing the car park exit. which conveniently brings us nicely to 5 minutes.

I agree, that walk doesn't take 7 minutes only, now viewing that image from the aerial view, it now triggers my memory when my Grandma did show me where the stop in fact was and how she said the lack of the connections were quite obvious. I am off to Leicester tomorrow in fact, so I'll see whether it really does take seven minutes.

 

[markymark2000]

Fosse Park doesn't come under Leicester, it's part of Blaby. It's still only in fairly recent times that Flixbus and Megabus have used it quite so much.
The 104 and X6 go in to Fosse Park, the 50 and X84 are on the main road (3 min walk).

I know it doesn't come under the city and it's jurisdiction. It's essentially being treated as Leicester though by the coach companies and to be fair it is Leicester Fosse Park on Google and a number of other places. Take council borders out of it, it's in Leicester. The only thing which says otherwise is council boundaries.


As for its use, I thought Megabus has used it for a while? Flix of course rather new to UK Coach operations. The figures though are over 30 departures per day between Mega and Flix.

I agree, that walk doesn't take 3 minutes only, now viewing that image from the aerial view, it now triggers my memory when my Grandma did show me where the stop in fact was and how she said the lack of the connections were quite obvious. I am off to Leicester tomorrow in fact, so I'll see whether it really does take 3 minutes.

Every time you do the walk, it may differ slightly as it depends how the lights are set up, how well traffic flows. How many people are leaving the car park etc etc. Middle of the night with a fast walker, not waiting at crossings, just going when they deem it safe to cross, maybe 3 minutes. Busy time at Fosse Park, with heavy but flowing traffic (normally pedestrian crossing lights don't like stopping flowing traffic), you could be looking 5 minutes to the 'away from Leicester' stop.

 

[WizCastro197]

I know it doesn't come under the city and it's jurisdiction. It's essentially being treated as Leicester though by the coach companies and to be fair it is Leicester Fosse Park on Google and a number of other places. Take council borders out of it, it's in Leicester. The only thing which says otherwise is council boundaries.


As for its use, I thought Megabus has used it for a while? Flix of course rather new to UK Coach operations. The figures though are over 30 departures per day between Mega and Flix.




Every time you do the walk, it may differ slightly as it depends how the lights are set up, how well traffic flows. How many people are leaving the car park etc etc. Middle of the night with a fast walker, not waiting at crossings, just going when they deem it safe to cross, maybe 3 minutes. Busy time at Fosse Park, with heavy but flowing traffic (normally pedestrian crossing lights don't like stopping flowing traffic), you could be looking 5 minutes to the 'away from Leicester' stop.

Don't Flix own MegaBus anyway? Doesn't Stagecoach just operate the service? EDIT: Actually, never mind, only FlixBus only owns Mainland European Megabus operations not those in the UK it seems, according to Wikipedia...

 

[markymark2000]

Don't Flix own MegaBus anyway? Doesn't Stagecoach just operate the service?

No, completely separate.

 

[Deerfold]

Infrequent thought.

Infrequent? The 104 is every 15 minutes for most of the day. These days, that's a pretty good frequency.

 

[paul1609]

Using same logic, How come FlixBus don't terminate all buses at Finchey Road, considering travelling to Victoria also adds on an extra half an hour there as well?

Ive not used Flixbus yet, but going on National Express services that call at Finchley Rd 95+% of passengers continue to Victoria. In my experience it would be very unusual to get more than half a dozen passengers join/ leave at Finchley Road.

 

[markymark2000]

Infrequent? The 104 is every 15 minutes for most of the day. These days, that's a pretty good frequency.

AHH, ok, it was every 20 mins when I was on it. Looking at the timetable though, while it is every 15 mins for the main part of the day, anything outside of 7am-6pm Monday-Saturday, it's not the best.

 

[route101]

Ive not used Flixbus yet, but going on National Express services that call at Finchley Rd 95+% of passengers continue to Victoria. In my experience it would be very unusual to get more than half a dozen passengers join/ leave at Finchley Road.

Flix do terminate their services if there is disruption/cant get into Victoria Coach Station.

Not sure why FlixBus don't offer a service to Leicester St Margaret's as Fosse Park is truly awful for onward connections, into the city etc, and at least at St Margarets, there are other bus services and Haymarket Bus station is a short walk away. Perhaps it is a way to save money?

I used the N10 service earlier this year and quite a few got off at Fosse Park. At 1am I cant imagine there was any connecting bus.

 

[Deerfold]

I used the N10 service earlier this year and quite a few got off at Fosse Park. At 1am I cant imagine there was any connecting bus.

Which is equally true of Central Leicester (unless you're connecting to Skylink).

Presumably there's a similar issue at Meadowhall (I've caught a coach there at 0330, which was fun to get to).

Fosse Park does get around a dozen Flixbus services a day to/from London - I can't see anyone running that many from central Leicester.