Flixbus: $10 rides between San Francisco, Los Angeles Thrifty travelers with more time than money can save big bucks

Interiors and exteriors of Flixbus buses that travel between SF, LA and several other US cities Interiors and exteriors of Flixbus buses that travel between SF, LA and several other US cities Photo: Flixbus Photo: Flixbus Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Flixbus: $10 rides between San Francisco, Los Angeles 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Intercity bus travel has undergone somewhat of a renaissance in recent years, and now, a German company is hoping to seize some of that momentum by expanding its operation into the Bay Area.

On Thursday, FlixBus expanded its U.S. network into Northern California with new routes serving several Bay Area cities, including San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. The company jumped into the US market in May when it launched bus routes in Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona.

To woo new passengers onto its fleet of snazzy orange and lime green buses, FlixBus is offering one-way tickets as cheap as $4.99 on rides between San Francisco and Sacramento, or $9.99 one-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The promotional fares will be offered until at least August, said FlixBus's Senior Public Relations Manager Ryan Marquardt. FlixBus stops will also be located in Oakland, Fremont, Millbrae, Gilroy, and Richmond.

FlixBus said its buses are all equipped with in-seat power, free wifi internet, an on-board bathroom, and ample legroom for long journeys.

There's also free entertainment that passengers can watch with their own smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

"This system operates on its own without using up any of the passengers' data plan or the wifi," Marquardt explained. "The entertainment platform we use (Icomera, which is actually the same platform United Airlines uses) allows passengers to access a free library of offerings during their trip including movies, TV shows, audiobooks, magazines, and video games."

Unlike some competitors, FlixBus identifies itself as a technology company — not a transportation operator. It markets the routes, sells the tickets, and handles customer service duties, but doesn't employ bus drivers or maintain a fleet of buses. The company contracts with local charter bus com

panies, which it calls its partners, to handle that end of the business.

The strategy has allowed the FlixBus brand to become a major player in Europe, where its bargain bus rides between cities have become popular with backpackers and thrifty travelers. The company's roots date back to 2013, when it launched its first routes out of Munich after Germany deregulated its bus market.

FlixBus will face stiff competition in the San Francisco Bay Area where we've seen the growth of several budget-friendly intercity bus operators like Megabus, Greyhound Bus Lines, and Bolt Bus, which is owned by Greyhound.

Bus rides with those companies are comparable with what FlixBus offers: in-seat power, free wifi, and extra legroom seating. Megabus also offers free streaming entertainment that can be accessed by downloading its app onto your personal device.

Another start-up bus operator that's serving the busy San Francisco to Los Angeles market offers a pricier and higher-end product. Cabin markets itself as a boutique luxury bus system that provides sleeping berths, rather than seats, on its double-decker buses. Trips operate overnight with the goal of allowing people to get a full night's rest while traveling.

Photo: Martin MICANEK.NET, Flixbus Interiors and exteriors of Flixbus buses that travel between SF, LA...

How much do the rides compare?

A round-trip FlixBus ride between San Francisco and Los Angeles for a four-day weekend in late-July prices out for one passenger to be approximately $32. You can bring one piece of checked baggage and one piece of hand luggage for free. Travel times are approximately seven to eight hours each way between the two cities.

A MegaBus ride for the same itinerary costs $45 without paying fees for seat reservations. A round-trip seat on Bolt Bus will cost you $63, and Greyhound charges $60 round-trip. Cabin's round-trip fare came out to be $213, but remember, that's for a moving bed.

Aside from the bargain fares offered by all the bus companies: there are no middle seats to deal with.

Have you ever or would you ride a bus between SF and LA? Why or why not? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

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Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis.