I recently took my first two trips with FlixBus (21 and 22 November), and both experiences were so unsafe and unprofessional that I will not be travelling with them again.Trip 1 – Canberra → Jolimont (AU101)Before we had even left Jolimont, the driver struck an object with the bus. This was incredibly concerning given FlixBus claims their drivers are fully trained and prioritise safety.The journey itself was extremely uncomfortable due to another passenger repeatedly kicking my seat, making loud noises, and resting their feet on me. There were no announcements about expected behaviour or respect for other passengers, which might have helped.Trip 2 – Jolimont → Canberra (AU100)This trip was significantly worse. Before boarding, the driver told me the toilet was “full,” meaning it was locked and unusable for the entire trip — despite FlixBus advertising onboard toilets as a standard service. Passengers were not told before departure, and someone only found out when they tried to use it mid-journey.The driver appeared unfamiliar with the route and relied heavily on an audible GPS. They looped around Sydney Airport for over an hour, went down the wrong lane, and hit a sign. Later, they also drove around Botany Bay — nowhere near the route. On arrival, we weren’t even dropped off at the bus station but at an unsafe ACTION bus stop.My father with a disability was travelling with me, and the lack of a toilet combined with the massively extended trip made this even more unacceptable.Service issuesFlixBus advertises free working Wi-Fi, but it didn’t function at all. Worse, when a passenger asked about it, the driver didn’t seem to know what Wi-Fi was and pointed to the charging ports instead. I had to check my own phone and tell the passenger myself.Safety vs. Marketing ClaimsFlixBus’s website states things like: • “Your safety will always be our main priority.” • “Our drivers are fully trained and follow the most appropriate route.” • “You are guaranteed a safe trip.”My experience showed the exact opposite. Two different drivers hitting objects, one looping the airport for over an hour, confusion about basic services, and an unsafe final drop-off point directly contradict these claims.Customer service responseAfter raising these issues in detail, FlixBus’s response was a generic apology and a 20% off voucher — wildly inadequate given the safety failures, misleading advertising, and poor service delivery. They did not address the specific concerns or provide a meaningful resolution.OverallFlixBus markets itself as a premium competitor in Canberra. Based on my first two experiences, the service was: • Unsafe • Unreliable • Poorly communicated • Misaligned with its own advertised standards • Inappropriate for passengers with accessibility or medical needsI cannot recommend FlixBus and would strongly suggest choosing other operators such as Murray’s, who have consistently been more professional, reliable, and safe.
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Travel through Europe with FlixBus on one of our green buses. With over 100,000 daily connections to around 800 destinations in over 18 European countries you really can explore Europe! FlixBus is a long distance bus operator connecting cities and towns throughout Europe. A strong partner network and an innovative ticketing system have made FlixBus a leading long distance bus company, with a fast growing, extensive European route network. FlixBus offers an alternative to traveling by car, plane or train and guarantees each customer a reliable, comfortable and safe means of transport.
Customer satisfaction has the highest priority at FlixBus. We at FlixBus continually strive for the satisfaction of our customers. We appreciate all the feedback and positive reviews that our passengers have given and would be delighted to welcome you on board on one of our green buses again.See more
