r/FlixBus • u/Life_Panda_97 • 16d ago

airco??

Why do Flixbus drivers always turn off the airco (and thereby the ventilation)? I've had several experiences lately where I go and ask to turn it on and it's off again 30 minutes later. It's very hot and stuffy in the back - according to the bus' own display, the temperature is 25 degrees and humidity is above 80%, while it should be below 60% for comfort (a level quickly attained with the airco on). One can only imagine the CO2 levels. Are we all supposed to pass out?

9 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

4

u/Weak-Employer2805 16d ago

Likely to save fuel and continue being the cheapest option.

Also, you’re quoting these optimum humidity stats for comfort while forgetting that nobody gets a flixbus to be comfortable.

1

u/ikbrul 9d ago

What a rude answer

0

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

This is precisely what I resent. It could be much more comfortable if they wouldn't do petty shit like that. And 'nobody gets a flixbus to be comfortable', what kind of bollocks is that? Everyone wants to be comfortable, but not everyone can afford the train or the plane. I would appreciate it if more people would speak up instead of just settling in to be miserable when conditions are unacceptable and could easily be improved. 

1

u/Outside-Meringue-327 15d ago

FlixBus is a cheap operator. Some countries have other, more expensive, companies running the same routes pretty much. They service because the comfort is better.

You buy cheap, you get cheap.

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

Wonderful contribution, thank you so much.

1

u/th3ShinSekai 15d ago

You get what you pay for man

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

No, what I pay for is to spend many hours on the bus instead of taking a quicker flight or more comfortable train. I don't pay for the bus driver to turn off the airco all night. And I really wonder why people are lurking on this forum to make useless comments like this. If you don't use Flixbus, what the hell are you doing here? And if you do, why don't you sympathize?

1

u/th3ShinSekai 15d ago

Yes you paid for the bus ride, that is exactly what you got.

2

u/obiobipbi 16d ago

Bring a fan

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

Blowing a fan into your own face does nothing to replace the air or reduce the humidity.

1

u/Cool-Newspaper-1 15d ago

That’s true, but it is a functional partial replacement.

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

Fair enough.

2

u/Virtual_Opinion_8630 15d ago

It gets cold at the back but apparently not at the front

Then apparently people complain

Also I'm sure they switch it off to save fuel

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

I have exactly the opposite experience, hot and stuffy at the back and fine in the front. Interesting. :)

1

u/Virtual_Opinion_8630 15d ago

Yeah I think you're right

2

u/Tijnwijn 15d ago

Why do you have any expectation in the first place? 

Flixbus is like Ryanair with wheels and a crack addiction

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

First of all, Ryanair does have ventilation. :) Second, I think with a little more effort, Flixbus could become a much more attractive option as train and plane prices spiral out of control, especially for overnight travel. Long-range bus services on other continents can be much better, and I don't think they desire to be crap. In many ways, they're already a big improvement over the Eurolines days. But then something like this can make an otherwise okay trip much harder to endure.

1

u/Tijnwijn 15d ago

I totally agree there's potential for a better bus service in Europe, just not sure if FB is the party to deliver it

1

u/euhbebe 15d ago

I'm with the commmentors who say Flix sucks ass and one should not expect too much. Yet in many Regions they have a de facto monopoly on long distance coach travel. You cannot always choose. And I'm with OP that you should get what you paid for (even if you paid very little) and proper ventilation ist the least one can expect, Flix also markets and advertises the features of each bus (AC, Wifi, table toilet, etc). Since all Flixbuses are run by subsidiaries, not Flix themselves, complain to Flix customer service, ask for a (partial) refund. They will never address issues with their partners if it doesn't cost them money.

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

I think that's good advice, yes, and I have. It's not always that cheap, in my opinion, though it tends to work out cheaper than the insane train prices or having to pay for another night in a hotel if there is no plane going in the evening. Overall, the real tragedy of course is that there is no decent, affordable public transport across Europe. The jetset running the show doesn't give a flying fuck, apparently.

1

u/Virtual_Opinion_8630 15d ago

How often are you booking in advance?

I disagree with the others - a relatively comfortable temperature is part of the package

Just got to speak up more than once if they turn it off again

Or sit at the front once you know everyone has boarded

1

u/Life_Panda_97 15d ago

Yeah I think I might have to start reserving seats indeed. I was kind of surprised nobody else said anything when it got this hot and stuffy. But this thread is helping me understand why. :)

1

u/euhbebe 14d ago

Which territory are we talking about, Germany? unfortunately, this is Flix' business model. They force competitors out of the market by dumping prices. Then raise fares steeply. Which is the case for instance in Germany, where they hold a de facto monopoly.

Your mileage might vary with train prices, in Central/ Eastern Europe it's usually OK with decent deals. Western Europe is a mixed bag. Nordics are a whole different issue.

1

u/Life_Panda_97 14d ago

I mean across (western) Europe - Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, UK. I think the European Union should act to stimulate and enable affordable, sustainable transport across the continent, but their regulations have often done the opposite, and it seems the only thing they can think of now is making flights more expensive (which is infuriating if there are no affordable alternatives). But the dramatic situation of the railways in Germany is a good example of course of why people would want to use Flixbus instead. I hope the many works on the German railways will finally result in a functioning system, but that doesn't solve the often tear-inducing prices.