Flixbus - Midtown — Local services in New York

As many reviews mention, this station is very poorly organized and if you miss your bus because of this, well tough luck.

Long version:

There are multiple buses coming in and out, parking spots have no labels, and there were no buses with the bus number on the ticket purchased. It's a guessing game on which is your bus, with barely any staff letting you know which bus is going where. There is no designated space for passengers to stand, and even standing close to a booth we almost got hit by one of the buses coming in to park.

We got there with enough time to walk around the parking lot a few times to make sure we weren't missing the bus. The buses there were either empty with door closed or with passengers deboarding and no new passengers boarding. We waited by the small booth with the screen where other people were standing. The screen also did not indicate which parking spot for which bus.

While there about 5 buses left empty. We noticed one bus leave from the corner furthest away from the booth with maybe 20 passengers, but again, no bus number or destination and the screen next to us still had our bus listed. After 10 minutes of waiting past the departure time, I checked the website to see if there was anyway to track where the bus was as the screen was not showing a delay, and it was was in New Jersey already.

Confused, I saw someone talking to what appeared to be possibly staff in the booth and asked where the bus was, to which they reply that it had left. They also said the bus number I was asking about was our ticket number, which it clearly wasn't as I searched by that bus number on the tracker.

They gave us card to call customer service, but they were no help either. They give you the same script any way you try to reach out, as the rep willingly admitted, taking all accountability away from Flixbus. They will pretend to be looking into it only to tell you "only x out of x passengers did not make it on the bus", which translates to any reasonable person to "you were the only idiots", and that the system wont allow them to do anything after 15 minutes before departure.

Another passenger that had been waiting there over an hour before missed the bus as well, which meant he'd missing his connecting bus in Atlanta as well. After a lot of back and forth explaining the situation, Flixbus gave no option but to purchase a new ticket and forfeit the money spent. Money is tight so this was a considerable blow having spent $200 as they were purchased the night before. If it was the fault of the passanger, yes we would walk away admitting our mistake, but that was not the case.

I had high regard for the Flixbus brand after using it in Europe some years ago, but I would not recommend it in the US if you have any other options. We were evevntually able to purchase for a later bus operated by Greyhound. Unfortunately, Flixbus also acquired Greyhound so they are still getting our money, but at least those buses leave from Port Authority, which is a luxury experience in comparison.

At Port Authority the sceeen had the gate number. When we went to the gate it was closed of for maintenance, so the bus wasn't there. However a greyhound employee saw us and walked us to the bus. The Greyhound driver was very friendly and helped us feel less undervalued as customers than any at the Flixbus stop or customer service line.

I frequently take buses that ticket through OurBus and MegaBus, and never experienced this disorganization/inefficiency. Definitely the worst operating station in 10 years of living in NYC. If you have that many buses coming in and out, you cannot be operated this way. Leaves anyone visiting NYC with a sour taste.

If you have any other alternative, do not leave through Flixbus next to NY Penn Station. Unfortunately this was the only way for my friends to get back home by the time they had to, otherwise I would have helped them pay they extra money to take the train and have a much more...

For my trip from Washington D.C. to New York, I choose to use FlixBus since I am a frequent customer of #flixbus in Germany and Europe. I am excited about the trip but it turns out to be a horrible experiences

thay, the bus stop at a gas station and the driver announced to take a break forOn e w 30 minutes. I went for food and when I came back in 25 minutes, the bus was gone. I left all of my belonging containing my suitcase, my computer; Ipad; keys; warm clothes; and especially my passport and money. I have nothing with me except for my jeans, hoodie, and smartphone. I am in the middle of nowhere and not even have enough warm clothes

I immediately search for #customersupport of FlixBus but on G+oogle search, I only got the German one. i call but no one picks up since it is like 2 am in Europe, I even call #911( image) for help and the police got me the hotline number of FlixBus in the US

I got into the hotline after 30 minutes of waiting, I explain my situation and ask a favor of the CS team to call the driver and preserve my luggage. The guy told me that they do not allow to or do not have it but they will note it to the driver. I got socked, I have nothing with me, I booked Uber to Greyhound Bus stop nearby but they sold out a ticket to New York that day. The lady at Greyhound told me that I should come back to the gas station, wait there and just add for a ride. I call FlixBus again since my bus has arrived at Newyork, they said that they have no info from the bus driver about my luggage. Then I ask further info about any FlixBus will come from DC to NY ( I know that there are more via my app) would go this way; might stop at this gas station that I can buy a ticket go to NewYork with them. The guy said I can not do so due to company policy... even though I explain to her that I have nothing with me, not even warm clothes in minus degree weather in the middle of nowhere. I even urge to talk to her supervisor to further assist me but they said they only got Danish supervisor atm. I ask for their flexibility and understanding but nothing comes. I remember what they said to me " I HEARD THAT BEFORE AND I AM SURE YOU COULD FIGURE IT OUT YOUR SELF".That hurting me a lot, I feel like being betrayed by my friend since I like FlixBus a lot like a friend just turn back on me while I am facing difficulties I wait, and luckily a guy from Dc Trails Hop On Hop Off (image) just say " get on" let me go to New York for free and remember this guy "COUNT CUSTOMER BEFORE LEAVING THE GAS STATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE LEAVE BEHIND" I am in New York, I am depressed, I have no clothes in -8 degree, no passport no cash but still I got my smartphone and Google Pay.

I just ask FlixBus to call the driver to ask whether he found something. If he found st; I wait for the return process if he did not I just make a new passport and fly back to Germany right away. After 14 days of waiting; after your drivers costing me lots of money from losing computers, iPad, clothes to cancel the hotel, flight making a new passport, I received an email " as stating in the procedure after 14 days" they said that they can not find it. I have no hope of it and will go through the process to make my new passport and fly back to Germany. Bye-bye #newyork and FlixBus

Just wonder how can FlixBus in US is so bad The driver is the worst, do not have clear communication with the customer, do not count customer onboard to avoid missing one 2..The Operation systems are the worst, they do not know who drives the bus and keep control it, they can not even contact their own driver the customer support team is the worst, very bad communication with customer, long waiting time and have no solution and sympathy for...

I can only share my own experience, but I think it's indicative of how FlixBus works and operates as a business. I hope that I'm honest about the experience without deceiving anyone.

Personally, I had a great time with my trip from New York to Boston. Hurricane Ida hit the city harder than eleven freight trains, and the driver still showed up relatively on time, got everyone on board efficiently and got where he needed to on time. The bus is fairly old and smudged with grime, but Flixbus doesn't provide their own buses. That's when you realize why the company is littered with amazing and horrendous reviews.

Flixbus is an app that pretends to be a bus company: it basically offers existing bus drivers, regardless of reputation or otherwise, a chance to drive people constantly with bottom barrel prices. All Flixbus does is give stickers denoting seat reservations and a green coat of paint to a driver's bus.

And honestly, Flixbus is a great app. It's efficient, fast, and guarantees prices significantly cheaper than Amtrak and Greyhound. It even gives you practical full refunds, even at the very last second...In the form of a voucher for another Flixbus trip. Whether you like it or not, once you buy that ticket, you're stuck with Flixbus. And Flixbus is a gamble.

You might get a ride on par, or even better than a standard Greyhound ride; you might get a ride straight out of a horror movie and have your belongings stolen. Depending on when you book a trip, you might be stuck with regular people, or some sketchy folks who can't get a credit card without getting arrested. You might even be stuck with a seat right next to a broken septic tank of a toilet, caked thick with excrement. You're paying as little as possible to gamble your enjoyment of a bus trip.

This isnt a denouncement of the company, or a condemnation of the angry reviewers who warn new customers to never book a trip with Flixbus. This is to say you'll get what you pay for at worst, or be pleasantly surprised at best.

Here's some helpful tips to maximize the chances youll be fine on any potentially sketchy bus ride:

Reserve your seat. It might not be honored judging from the dozens of 1 star reviews, but having agency to sit as far away from the bus toilet is probably step 1 to a great bus ride.

Book for early mornings and weekdays. Why try and risk booking at nights and weekends when it's the busiest? It'll also help ensure your reservation stays valid even as you board.

Carry light and don't leave your belongings while you leave the bus. Sometimes the bus driver can be thoughtless and unprofessional enough to leave 5 minutes early from the promised 30 for a rest stop. But don't act shocked when your unattended belongings get lost.

Anyway, if you want consistency, take Amtrak. It might be potentially hundreds of dollars more expensive booked last minute, but you'll never have a bad experience taking a train. Or stick to Greyhound, Peter Pan, Wanda Bus, or the many other established bus companies for the extra 20 dollars.

But hey, 20 dollars is a lot of money you can save for something nice...