Which features are offered on the bus?
Are you looking for more information about the comfort and services available on the coach? Do you want to know if WiFi or electrical outlets are available to use? With CheckMyBus you’ll learn all about the amenities available on the coach – from the air-conditioning to restrooms, to leg-room and accessibility.
Is there a Media Center available? Are snacks and drinks available to purchase and is a seat- reservation possible?
Comfort and Service on Board Intercity Buses
Inexpensive intercity bus travel is no longer a new topic. Due to several marketing campaigns from the UK bus providers, such as National Express and megabus UK, the image of inexpensive intercity coach travel has been rooted in most people’s mind. However, a common question that goes hand in hand with low price is quality. To create a positive image, most major UK bus companies are making serious efforts to enhance their services. They’re adding a variety of attractive facilities. Apart from the free luggage policy and convenient on-board restroom, some great features like power sockets, extra leg room, soft reclining seats and most importantly, free and fast Wi-Fi await you! CheckMyBus gives you an overview over amenities aboard the intercity bus. Let’s take a look!
What Amenities Can I Expect On the Bus?
A coach can take you from city to city, as well as from country to country. However, it might take some time before you reach your destination. Thus, on board amenities hugely influence the comfort and satisfaction of passengers’ intercity bus ride. Most coach providers in the UK have already realized that service quality is an indispensable element for every coach trip.
Therefore, they have enhanced the service level of the intercity coach itself. A lot of UK bus providers use modernised coach models. The newer buses share some great characteristics: a longer coach body increases on-board space, ensuring XXL legroom and higher flexibility of the reclining seats. Moreover, the enlarged compartment area allows you to take some luggage items in the cabin. Bulky luggage, such as bicycles or skis can be stored on the bus as well, however most companies will ask you to register oversized items when booking your ticket.
Different types of coaches
National Express, for instance, uses six bus types, among which Caetano Levante, the model exclusively used by National Express, is operating on the main coach lines and is the size of 12.6 m with 8 m³ of free luggage compartment. The Oxford Tube, among other coach providers, operates double decker buses which offer passengers a greater view of London and Oxford. Besides, it has specified space for wheel chair devices and low floor step free entrance, which provides great convenience for disabled passengers when getting on board.
Feel at home on the coach
With all these features granted, lighting system and air conditioning above your head included, travelling by coach can be as agreeable as resting on your couch at home! Moreover, major bus providers always attempt to bring passengers clean and safe coach travel experiences by maintaining the cabinet and on-board restroom clean and fresh. On top of that, children booster seats are frequently applied on the buses of National Express, making sure that passengers will have a comfortable and secure coach journey!
What Entertainment Options are Available on Board?
The major UK bus providers consider passenger experience an essential advantage. Consequently, they will make every effort to achieve in order to maintain ridership. Providing a pleasant coach experience, however, also means constantly adapting to the customers’ needs, which might change over time. Nowadays, for instance, entertainment is one of the major concerns of the bus companies.
One simple way of catering to modern passengers’ wishes is to have free, reliable and fast Wi-Fi on board. Nowadays, there are 40 million people in the UK using internet on a daily basis. Over 60% of them use their mobile devices to access online content. Hence, most of the coach providers in the UK aim to equip their buses with standard 4G/3G Wi-Fi network. This includes megabus, National Express and many others.
Moreover, this free service offers a big advantage to students and business travellers as they can continue with their work before they reach their desired destinations.
Entertainment on European Buses
The German coach company FlixBus, for example, offers a Media Centre on board of their coaches. This allows passengers to access a wide array of tv shows, film, music and e-books. Furthermore, these can be easily streamed on the customer’s own smartphone or tablet. Thanks to this feature, taking the coach is basically as comfortable and enjoyable as going by plane. National Express has a similar feature as well. In November 2016, the coach company launched VUER (short for View – Unwind – Enjoy – Relax), an infotainment system, which gives passengers access to films, tv shows magazines and even Sky Sports News.
Concerned about consuming all the battery before reaching your destination? Free power sockets on board keep passengers’ devices 100% charged during the whole trip so that you can sit back and enjoy, footloose and fancy free. All in all, free Wi-Fi service combined with charging facilities are the perfect combination for making every coach trip as enjoyable as possible.
Can I Bring Food and Beverage on Board?
To allow more flexibility, the major UK bus providers allow them to take their own food and drinks aboard. Plus, bus providers like National Express normally make stops at service stations during a long distance trip. Here, passengers can purchase food and beverages. In spite of this availability, passengers must be aware that the food they bring on the coach should be cold and not emit any smell that might disturb other passengers on board. In addition, hot drinks should have a lid and the general beverage must be non-alcoholic.
What Additional Services and Facilities are Available?
For passengers who travel at night, megabus UK has recently brought out a new overnight sleeper coach between London and Glasgow. This new night bus service travels usually between 23:00 and 8:00 on seven nights per week. Buses are equipped with bunks for each passenger, which have a reading light, curtains, pillows, quilts as well as blankets. In addition, the sleeper coaches also provide passengers with access to an on-board restroom, free Wi-Fi, food and beverages. There is also an overnight pack available. This includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bottle of water, an eye mask and a luggage label. The goal is to help passengers enjoy a sound sleep while travelling from city to city.
48 Comments
Gaz
I have a local disabled bus pass, will this entitle me to any discount on services outside my area?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Gaz,
Thank you for your message. Local disabled bus passes generally don’t work outside their area and many intercity coaches, like National Express, sell their own Disabled Bus passes which work exclusively for their coaches. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Hetty
Hello. I’m travelling on the National Express overnight coach from London to Penzance. Which seats are the best for leg room please?
Regards Hetty
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Hetty,
Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, National Express’ premium seat reservations are currently unavailable. For an added fee, these tickets allowed you to book the first three rows on the top deck, which had extra leg room and a table. Generally, the front seats have the most legroom and it should still be possible to book these with standard booking, if you book fast. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Cheryl Staff
What chance is there that I can ask for a front seat so I can see out of the windscreen. I get coachsick or feel very queasy, but this is the most straightforward way for me.
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Cheryl,
Different bus operators have different policies about reserving seats. On National Express, you can reserve any seat in the first five rows by paying an additional £2 per person. To know whether or not you can reserve a specific seat, it’s best to check with whichever bus company you plan to book your trip with.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Deborah
What suitability is there for disabled passengers and a guide dog?
Thank you
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Deborah,
Thank you for your message. Most bus companies, such as National Express and megabus UK do allow certified guide dogs on board provided that they have the proper certifications and are on a leash. There are also a variety of discounts available for disabled passengers which vary from company to company. To find out what’s available for you, we suggest contacting the bus company you’d like to travel with directly.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Josephine
Hi,
Am looking at 10.00am on 10/06/18 from Stratford to Norwich UEA station. Where can I find the direction maps for both locations.
Next, I have one big luggage with 20kg and a small bag approximately 5kg, do I need to buy for heavy item because luggage size is slightly bigger than allowed size.
Your prompt reply is highly appreciated.
Regards
Josephine
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Josephine,
Thank you for your message. You can generally find the maps for each of the stations on either the company’s website, or on the CheckMyBus webpage, when you search for the route, the address and map of the stations will be displayed. Also, when you book your tickets, the exact address of both stations should be on them.
As for your luggage, this will depend on the company you booked with and usually the dimensions of your luggage are also taken into consideration as well as the weight. If the size of your luggage exceeds the company’s maximum allowance, you’ll have to pay an extra fee to bring it. In this case, it’s best to contact the company directly in advance to let them know so that the driver can prepare for the added luggage space. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch with us again.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Leanne
What are the rules for travelling with Children and babies under two years old? Do I need a car seat, can I book one on the coach?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Leanne,
Thank you for your message. In the UK, minibus and coach drivers are not required to provide child seats for their vehicles. This is considered the responsibility of the individual parents, so many bus companies do not offer them. While on the coach, a child can travel without one if there isn’t one present. With this said, different bus providers also have their own rules, so if you’re unsure, it’s best to contact the provider directly to see what is acceptable.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
Duncan McCallum
My daughter is planning to travel from Tarragona to Barcelona airport by bus with her nine month old son. Are there any restrictions regarding child seats etc that we should be aware of. She was hoping to be able to avoid carrying a child seat with her as she will already have a pushchair and suitcase to contend with.
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Duncan,
Generally, it should not be a problem for you to take a child seat on board. However, this could vary from provider to provider, so we suggest getting in touch with the bus company you booked your ticket with to make sure it’s alright. We also recommend showing up early to your bus stop and giving the coach company some notice about your situation, such as sending an email with the items you’d like to take on board. This is the best way to make sure there’s enough space on the bus and that you won’t encounter any problems.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus Support
PETER RAEBURN
do all buses from dublin airport to waterford have toilet facilities ?
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Peter,
while intercity buses on longer distances are equipped with toilet facilities, companies might use more standard buses on shorter services or airport connections. We recommend getting in touch with the provider Bus Éireann directly (customercare(at)buseireann.ie) in order to make sure that there’s toilets on every bus used on this route.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus-Support
Kathy Lea
Coming on WestJet from Canada arriving 10 am Oct 12 and want to know how to get self and luggage onto bus from the airport. Also think there is a bus leaving for Derby at 11:50 am when our plane arrives at 10. Is it realistic to be to clear customs, get luggage and then try to find our way to the National Bus from the North Terminal at Gatwick? Is there a shuttle from the airport to the buses? Where do you catch that? I am concerned about hauling luggage around to make connections and then haul if not onto a bus. Will want to repeat this when I return Nov. 2 from Derby to Gatwick. At that time my flights leaves at 10:35 am. What bus should I catch in Derby to get to Gatwick, clear customs and be on time for my flight? Please send information and helpful tips to:
Kathy Lea [Canada]
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Cathy,
National Express operates direct connections from Gatwick to Derby. Unfortunately, there is no bus to Derby at 11:50 am but there is one at 12:55 pm, which will get you to Derby by 18:30. Since you arrive at Gatwick at 10 am, you will have plenty of time to get your luggage and to clear customs. Even if your flight is a bit delayed, you should be able to make the bus. The bus to Derby departs at Gatwick North Terminal: You can find the bus stop on the lower level just outside the international arrivals gate.
For your return journey, you can get the National Express bus from Derby at 02:25 am. The bus will arrive at Gatwick North Terminal at 8:25 am, which will give you two hours to check in.
You can find all the information and every available bus trip from Derby to Gatwick and back on our main page. Simply enter your points of departure and arrival as well as the date of travel and pick the option which suits you best.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus-Support
Giovanna
Hello checkmybus, can you tell me if Wifi is available? Want to travel from milano – munich (bavaria) fri – 06/02/2015. thank you
CheckMyBus-Support
Dear Giovanna,
We’ve checked availability for you on Friday, 06th Feb 2015. Actually, you may travel with Baltour or MeinFernbus. The last-mentioned one is offering WiFi on board, free-of-charge.
Best regards,
Your CheckMyBus-Support